TOWING IN AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA “Dry, flat and absolutely huge”

Photo: Phil Kirkman

TOWING IN AUSTRALIA

Ping off the towline late in the morning and land as the golden sun sets into the red dust. This is Australia; dry, flat and absolutely huge. When the north shivers, Australia bakes under a relentless sun. An average towing season runs from October to March with French hotshots breaking records in December and January whilst the months either side are less full-on.

“The Outback” conjures up a certain image in the visitor’s mind (think Big Red Rock) and some tow safaris do make it out towards the centre, but most of the action takes place in the expansive farmland of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. This landscape is remarkably varied with huge paddocks interspersed with national parks and wild places untouched by modern colonisation.

Wildlife is plentiful. Wedge-tailed eagles fly happily with you most of the time but occasionally rip your wing to shreds; kangaroos are ubiquitous; and cockatoos and kookaburras will wake you at dawn if you camp in the bush.

The long-running drought has supercharged conditions in places but you can still expect a friendly welcome from the hardy farmers and rides back to the road on various agricultural vehicles are a regular occurrence. Being presented with a cold beer on landing isn’t unheard of. Australia is no longer a cheap destination so bring some cash to spend in the local towns; they’ll certainly appreciate the business.

There are a couple of ways to organise an Australian tow trip. Less experienced pilots or mixed groups often base themselves in one place and fly each day. A variety of tow strips close to each other cover various wind directions and each pilot can fly off as far as they want or land at a predetermined goal.

For a real adventure, pack up everything into rugged vehicles, check you have spare everything and head off on the road. Each day the group tows up, flies away and then camps where they land. Depending on weather this can mean a straight line, an out-and-return or even a huge circuit – think 1,000km and 50 hours’ flying in a trip!

Whichever you choose, local knowledge is almost essential. Australia has embraced rules and regulations wholeheartedly so be sure to contact the national association when you visit.

Allen Weynberg

Best time: Oct-March

Info: safa.asn.au, flydubbo.com, skyoutparagliding.com