Recently flew to an ancient gorge in central Queensland aprox 3.5 hrs flying time. Our home strip is around an hours drive from home, on my bike about 45 minutes, keeping a sharp eye out for any highway police.

Here's the little lady a bit nervous about flying to the middle of no where with her old man who forgets where he put his wallet / car keys / child but thats another story.

Flying North West at 6,500', climbing over the Great Dividing Range that runs nearly the full length of the East Coast of Australia. The mountain in the distance is called Mt Lindsey and is part of an extinct volcanic region that formed the topography where we live.

Fuel and lunch at Roma, a town now at the centre of gas mining projects. Had to get into a queue to land here, surprising because it is fairly remote and 10 years ago was a dirt strip. Behind me is a King Air from the Royal Flying Doctor Service, looking after remote stations that are impossible to transport patients from in cars.

Part of the sandstone Gorge at Canarvon.

Gets so hot toads fry mid thought.


Aboriginal art circa 3000 BC. The George was used for ceremonies, such as funerals and initiations, this rock art is about halfway up the Gorge.

Cooling my feet after a 12 kilometre walk. The water was crystal clear and freezing, the feet were numb after a couple of minutes, now to walk the 12k back to camp.

Heading back to the Queensland coast, this area is called the Glasshouse Mountains. Apparently they reminded someone on Captains Cooks ship(The Endeavour) of the glass kilns back in England in the 1770s.

To get around Brisbane International Airport you have to head out to sea and fly down the west coast of Morton and Stradbroke Islands.

Shipwrecks off Stradbroke Island, from here we headed south to our home strip around 40 minutes flying time. Got her home safe and sound
without losing anything.

Very cool. Great trip report!

AWESOME!!! Queensland has been on my bucket list for a long time. Still hope to make it there one of these days. Very nice looking country.

Nice report. Those sandstone bluffs are cool, and remind me of massive ice seracs in how friendly they would be to put down in.

Hi Ozzy
It's John Ashcroft here from SA VH FSG m5 235c
Great pictures how are you getting along with the Maule now?

Awesome pictures!

Thanks for the trip report and keep them coming!

Thanks for the comments fellas. Yeah Zzz that was my thought when flying over them, a hint of a little sphincter clench.
Hi John, the Maule is a humbling aircraft on landings, in the air it's a pleasure to fly, cruise at 120kts at 22sq or slow right down and go whale watching circling at a slow speed. I've been playing with the stall characteristics and find her very benign. Had a couple of frights with ground loops but have managed to bring her back with power and rudder or brake, getting to like x-winds more and more. The closest call I've had was on a very still day just had a bit of complacency creep in and she slapped me around the ears. I tend to wheel land a lot, just like the feeling of planting her to the ground. All in all it's a very versatile plane, four up or one up I love it.
John

Nice pics Ozzy! Roma is my hometown, it's sure changed in the 11 years since I left... I used to fly in to Ingelara and Rewan often. I think the last time I was there was to retrieve a Cessna 310 that got tangled in the fence at the end of the Ingelara airstrip. It's a neat part of the country for sure. And then I moved to Caloundra, so I've done a few circuits around the Glasshouse Mts and Mt Beerwah in the M5-180 I had at the time!! Thanks for photos, I love NZ but sure miss flying in Aus...

nice

I am fricking jealous! I want it!

Nice ride!