We got in touch with a local company in Gladstone, which had float planes and did trips to the reef. I found them to be a great bunch of people, and the addition of the float plane trips really turned the holiday into something special.
Here are a few photos:
We took the trip out in a 182 on straight EDO floats.
We departed from a lake just inland from the coast.
Southern parts of the reef, this is called Wistari Reef.
Heron Island, note the Beaver parked off the beach.
Touristy as.
The 182 sailing back off the beach, Beaver just airborne.
The Beaver - Wipline 6100 Amphibs with a STOL kit. The floats are huge by they way!! Man-handling the 182 was child's play compared to effort required to keep the Beaver in one place, or move it back as the tide went out.
The Wiplines were definitely easier for beach loading passengers.
We had to negotiate a few thunderstorms on route. It's not fast with the floats & STOL kit, but no need to worry it can still burn a gallon every 2 minutes. There was a lot of heat & noise coming back from the engine compartment.......
I thought it looked big in the water.... and I'm not a short guy. Yes, it's wing is well above the re-fueling station's roof!
This Beaver fuels from the port side with three belly tanks under one hatch.
Cheers!
