lintern 1 #1 May 26, 2006 I am hoping to go to Australia in October this year and want to jump at some dropzones over there. I currently plan on going to Brisbane, Melbourne, then Sydney. Can anyone recommend some good dropzones to visit ? I found a dropzone on the Sunshine Coast but I was dissapointed to find they only have a Cessna 182 available for experienced skydivers. They have a Cessna Caravan but only allow tandems to use it I was going to take my rig with me to Australia - I presume this wont be a problem ? Has anyone taken their rig with them to Australia ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peckerhead 0 #2 May 26, 2006 I would go to Nagambie when in Melborne, they have a Pac-750. It is about an hour and a half north of Melborne. Sydney skydivers is about an hour or so south of Sydney and they have multiple turbines. I had no problem with my rig except for the return from Sydney to Auckland NZ. They wouldn't let me carry it on because it was over the weight limit. (they didn't care what it was, it was just to heavy) I picked it up in Auckland and carried it on for the return back to L.A. That was the only time I have ever had my carry-on weighed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trae 1 #3 May 27, 2006 in reply to "Can anyone recommend some good dropzones to visit ? " .................................. The APF has a DZ directory on their web-site. The weekends are pretty big at most places if the moons out. There's three main DZ's ( OK possibly 4 )on the east coast where you'll get to do regular midweek fun jumping outside boogies. There are fairly regular events around the country- check the APF's calender of events on their web site. Picton NSW has the biggest range of turbine aircraft .(Otter , Skyvan , XL , Beaver .) Ramblers QLD is warmest in the winter. Nagambie VIC is a fun place to jump with heaps of character. . All these places usually get 14000'. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #4 May 28, 2006 Like Trae said if you only do East Coast they are the 3 big DZ, there are numerous smaller ones along the way if you travel by road, Like Byron Bay but if you're flying then those 3 would be the easiest to get toYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JFM 0 #5 May 28, 2006 I´ve been thinking the same thing, i´m probably going to stay in Australia about 6-7 months next winter backpacking (=probably being a dz-bum ) Most likely going first to Sydney, and heading to Picton first, possibly staying there for some time, i believe they have a big swoop pond... so, any tips/contacts from locals would be appreciated JFM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #6 May 29, 2006 When in Brisbane, go to Toogoolawah for a brace of Caravans. Heading down the coast to Byron Bay, there's a DZ with a Caravan and a 206. North of Sydney, there's Elderslie (185), and Warnervale (206 & occasional turbine). In Sydney, there's Picton, with a Skyvan, Otter, 750XL, and Turbine Beaver. Melbourne has Nagambie with a 750XL. Those are all the DZs I've personally visited, and I'm sure there are more, though I think I've covered all the turbines near your intended route. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #7 May 29, 2006 Quotei believe they have a big swoop pond... Yup. November 2007, the 4th WCCP will be held there. Drop me a note when you're coming over and we'll go for a beer. Oh, and if you're going to be in Australia over Christmas, Picton has a $27/slot boogie, with all the beer you can drink included from Dec 26 to Jan 2. Last year they did 6,500 slots over the week. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Scottyp 0 #8 June 4, 2006 Hey Dude I've been out here in Aus now for 3 weeks. Of cause I came with my rig I had a little problem with the whole weight issue. It was over and I didn't want to argue too much as i'd been to a beer festival earlier that day and was trying very hard to seem sober! The nice lady asked if i had anything else in the bag that I could remove in order to get it to the correct weight so I removed my log book. I discovered that if you keep hold of the bag when its on the scales you can remove about 10kg without it fluctuating to badly! I traveled through Hong Kong and had no problems there what so ever. I still haven't hit the DZ yet and I leave Sydney on the 8th........... anyone out there going to Picton this week? Or just fancy a beer or 5? PM me ScottTo beer! the cause of, and solution to, many of lifes problems Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jguy904 0 #9 June 13, 2006 I spent Feb in Oz on holiday and did a bunch of jumping at Picton (Sydney). I also jumped at Coff's Harbor and Byron Bay. Picton far and away has the most of everything re: jumping. The people were really friendly and I had a great time--can't wait to return-- MUFF #3384, DIRTY SANCHEZ #28(Chief Recruiting Officer), FALLING GATOR #7801-A, POPS #10957, FLYING HELLFISH #847, HISPAS #79, SRA #9229, Surfador Rodrigues Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
