Australia’s north Queensland coast is one of the planet’s most alluring destinations. Home to the renowned Great Barrier Reef, the largest coral reef in the world, the area is defined by long stretches of white sand beach, turquoise waters, and lush tropical vegetation.
Exploring this part of Australia from the air brings unforgettable, mesmerizing views. Long, elegant arcs of sand disappear into the distance, seeming to merge with sea and sky. Evocative forms, both on and beneath the sea’s surface, spring forth with each passing view.
The ever changing mood of the sky, with clouds billowing and casting shadows beneath them, always adds a flair of drama.
This flight traverses the heart of this region, beginning at Cairns and coming to a close on Hamilton Island, exploring this wondrous arena of beach, sky, and sea.
Assistance on the trip will be available in the form of a ‘Back on Track’ button on the VFR Map — however, be advised that using this will disable achievements tied to the activity.
Total Legs: 5 Total Distance: 406 Total Time(125kts): 3 hours 14 minutes
Leg 1
Cairns Intl to Tully Airport
Leg Distance: 112.33 Approximate time at 125kts: 54 minutes.
Cairns Intl(YBCS) to False Cape(POI1)
Distance: 2.53NM Bearing: 130° 1 minutes
After taking off from Cairns Airport, follow the coastline to the southeast to False Cape.
False Cape(POI1) to Green Island(POI2)
Distance: 14.25NM Bearing: 42° 7 minutes
Turn to the northeast, flying just offshore and then over open water, to Green Island, a coral cay that is one of the gems of Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park World Heritage Area.
Green Island(POI2) to Thetford Reef(POI3)
Distance: 12.95NM Bearing: 97° 6 minutes
Fly over open water to the east-southeast to Thetford Reef, a renowned dive site in the Great Barrier Reef region.
Thetford Reef(POI3) to Moore Reef(POI4)
Distance: 4.83NM Bearing: 144° 2 minutes
Turn to the southeast and visit Moore Reef, another beautiful facet of the area.
Moore Reef(POI4) to High Island(POI5)
Distance: 20.73NM Bearing: 210° 10 minutes
Head to the southwest, back toward shore, to visit High Island, also known as Caparra Island, which is important for sea life, notably the green sea turtle.
High Island(POI5) to Frankland Islands(POI6)
Distance: 6.18NM Bearing: 126° 3 minutes
From High Island, turn to the southeast to the Frankland Islands, legendary among naturalists the world over for their abundance of life, including green sea turtles, pythons, dense tropical flora, and migratory birds.
Frankland Islands(POI6) to Ella Bay(POI7)
Distance: 13.84NM Bearing: 179° 7 minutes
Head to the south, flying at first over open water, then skirt the coast, to reach Ella Bay, a gorgeous setting where lush, tropical mountains meet the turquoise sea at a strip of white sand beach.
Ella Bay(POI7) to Etty Bay Beach(POI8)
Distance: 6.56NM Bearing: 162° 3 minutes
Skirt the coastline to Etty Bay Beach, renowned as one of Australia’s most beautiful stretches of coast and home to the southern cassowary, the country’s largest flightless bird, as well as monitor lizards and saltwater crocodiles.
Etty Bay Beach(POI8) to Sisters Island(POI9)
Distance: 11.79NM Bearing: 153° 6 minutes
Fly south-southeast over marshland and then open water to visit Sisters Island, an important breeding site for terns.
Sisters Island(POI9) to Kurrimine Beach(POI10)
Distance: 3.76NM Bearing: 232° 2 minutes
Kurrimine Beach, an important habitat for a number of species of tropical rainforest birds, lies just to the southwest of Sisters Island.
Kurrimine Beach(POI10) to Bingil Bay(POI11)
Distance: 3.26NM Bearing: 167° 2 minutes
Just to the south of Kurrimine Beach lies Bingil Bay, a picturesque nook on this coastline with a deep history of plantations for tea, bananas, mangoes, and other tropical fruit.
Bingil Bay(POI11) to Tully Airport(YTUY)
Distance: 11.65NM Bearing: 231° 6 minutes
From Bingil Bay, turn to the southwest and head inland, passing over lushly forested mountains, and land at Tully Airport (YTUY).
Leg 2
Tully Airport to Townsville Intl
Leg Distance: 134.01 Approximate time at 125kts: 64 minutes.
Tully Airport(YTUY) to Beaver Reef(POI12)
Distance: 31.53NM Bearing: 75° 15 minutes
After launching from Tully Airport, gain altitude by corkscrewing up, then set a course to the east-northeast and fly over open water to Beaver Reef, notable for its diverse sea life that includes sea turtles, reef sharks, stingrays, and a host of tropical fish.
Beaver Reef(POI12) to Otter Reef(POI13)
Distance: 13.97NM Bearing: 153° 7 minutes
The aerial voyage over the Great Barrier reef continues from Beaver Reef by heading south-southeast to Otter Reef.
Otter Reef(POI13) to Britomart Reef(POI14)
Distance: 11.73NM Bearing: 147° 6 minutes
Continue on a south-southeast course to Britomart Reef, known for its spear fishing, and sharks.
Britomart Reef(POI14) to Bramble Reef(POI15)
Distance: 10.29NM Bearing: 157° 5 minutes
A short flight along the south-southeasterly course lies Bramble Reef, a famous fishing location in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Bramble Reef(POI15) to Pelorus Island(POI16)
Distance: 14.55NM Bearing: 228° 7 minutes
Head back toward the coastline and visit Pelorus Island, which is also known as North Palm Island, and is surrounded by beautiful fringing reefs right off of its shores.
Pelorus Island(POI16) to Fantome Island(POI17)
Distance: 7.68NM Bearing: 163° 4 minutes
Fly a route just to the east of the line of islands to the south of Pelorus Island to reach Fantome Island, part of the Palm Island Group that was once a leper colony.
Fantome Island(POI17) to Havanna Island(POI18)
Distance: 9.92NM Bearing: 165° 5 minutes
Continue on a southward course from Fantome Island to Havannah Island, part of the Palm Island Group.
Havanna Island(POI18) to Rattlesnake Island(POI19)
Distance: 12.04NM Bearing: 155° 6 minutes
Continue flying to the south-southeast to Rattlesnake Island, a Royal Australian Air Force operations area.
Rattlesnake Island(POI19) to Bay Rock(POI20)
Distance: 9.64NM Bearing: 114° 5 minutes
From Rattlesnake Island, head to the southeast to visit Bay Rock, which lies just to the northwest of Magnetic Island.
Bay Rock(POI20) to Magnetic Island(POI21)
Distance: 4.46NM Bearing: 93° 2 minutes
Head east-southeast (93°) from Bay Rock to fly over the heart of Magnetic Island.
Magnetic Island(POI21) to Townsville Intl(YBTL)
Distance: 8.2NM Bearing: 200° 4 minutes
From Magnetic Island, head southwest and land at Townsville Airport (YBTL).
Leg 3
Townsville Intl to Ayr
Leg Distance: 46.06 Approximate time at 125kts: 22 minutes.
Townsville Intl(YBTL) to Townsville(POI22)
Distance: 3.05NM Bearing: 92° 1 minutes
After returning to the air, fly to the east-southeast to the coastal city of Townsville, considered the unofficial capital of North Queensland.
Townsville(POI22) to Cleveland Bay(POI23)
Distance: 6.86NM Bearing: 65° 3 minutes
Turn east-northeast at Townsville and fly over open water to the heart of Cleveland Bay.
Cleveland Bay(POI23) to Cape Cleveland(POI24)
Distance: 5.25NM Bearing: 53° 3 minutes
Continue flying to the northeast to Cape Cleveland, named by Captain Cook during his 1770 voyage throughout the Pacific Ocean.
Cape Cleveland(POI24) to Cape Ferguson(POI25)
Distance: 6.24NM Bearing: 148° 3 minutes
From Cape Cleveland, turn to the southeast and fly just inland of the coastline to reach Cape Ferguson.
Cape Ferguson(POI25) to Haughton River(POI26)
Distance: 8.59NM Bearing: 148° 4 minutes
Continue on course, flying just offshore, to reach the Haughton River where it meets the sea.
Haughton River(POI26) to Ayr(YAYR)
Distance: 16.07NM Bearing: 128° 8 minutes
Fly over low coastal plains and then marshland and then land at Ayr Airport (YAYR).
Leg 4
Ayr to Bowen
Leg Distance: 60.56 Approximate time at 125kts: 29 minutes.
Ayr(YAYR) to Cape Upstart(POI27)
Distance: 25.13NM Bearing: 98° 12 minutes
Once in the air again, fly to the east-southeast, traversing the Burdekin River where it meets the sea, then out over open water to the prominent Cape Upstart.
Cape Upstart(POI27) to Abbot Point(POI28)
Distance: 21.22NM Bearing: 112° 10 minutes
Fly out over open water to Abbot Point, which is the home to the North Queensland Export Terminal, the most northerly deepwater coal port in Australia.
Abbot Point(POI28) to Queens Bay(POI29)
Distance: 11.27NM Bearing: 114° 5 minutes
Maintain a southeasterly heading, flying over open water at first, then skirting marshland, to reach Queens Bay.
Queens Bay(POI29) to Bowen(YBWN)
Distance: 2.94NM Bearing: 213° 1 minutes
From Queens Bay, turn to the southwest and land at Bowen Airport (YBWN).
Leg 5
Bowen to Hamilton I.
Leg Distance: 52.68 Approximate time at 125kts: 25 minutes.
Bowen(YBWN) to Gloucester Island(POI30)
Distance: 13.61NM Bearing: 83° 7 minutes
After launching from Bowen Airport, head east and cross the mouth of Edgecumbe Bay to visit Gloucester Island, home to a colony of Proserpine rock-wallabies.
Gloucester Island(POI30) to George Point(POI31)
Distance: 6.57NM Bearing: 108° 3 minutes
Turn to the southeast at Gloucester Island and fly to George Point.
George Point(POI31) to Double Bay(POI32)
Distance: 8.45NM Bearing: 149° 4 minutes
From George Point, head south-southeast, skirting the shoreline of capes and coves, to Double Bay.
Double Bay(POI32) to South Molle Island(POI33)
Distance: 13.11NM Bearing: 102° 6 minutes
At Double Bay, head to the southeast and fly to South Molle Island, which lies just off the mainland.
South Molle Island(POI33) to Long Island(POI34)
Distance: 5.47NM Bearing: 163° 3 minutes
Turn south at South Molle Island, cross over open water, and then fly along the spine of Long Island.
Long Island(POI34) to Hamilton I.(YBHM)
Distance: 5.47NM Bearing: 79° 3 minutes
From Long Island, head east and land at Great Barrier Reef Airport (YBHM) on Hamilton Island to bring this Australian Coastal adventure to a beautiful finale.
