If you are lucky enough to have a car for your spotting trip in MEL, you'll find that you should get some decent shots. As can be seen below, we have given some examples of what kind of shots you get from each area.
If you refer to the map, you will be able to follow that to get to all the spotting areas. Keep in mind that things like ladders and loitering around exits etc are not really looked on that well.
Be ready to be asked to move along if you hang around too close to the gates.
As
you can see by the map, each viewing area is highlighted by a red dot. Each dot
is labeled A through to J. Below is an explanation of each position.
1) Point A - Uniting Rd, RWY 16 Approach (Afternoon)
2) Point B - RWY 16 Viewing Area
3) Point C - Sunbury Rd, RWY 16 Approach (Morning)
4) Point D - Emergency Gate 2, RWY 16 Approach / Lining Up (Morning)
5) Point E - RWY 27 Viewing Area
6) Point F - Operations Rd, RWY 34 Approach (Morning)
7) Point G - Operations Rd, RWY 34 Approach (Afternoon)
8) Point H - Operations Rd, 16/34 Approach / Departures (Afternoon)
9) Point I - McNabbs Rd, RWY 27 Departures
10) Point J - Gellibrand Hill - AKA "Mozza's Hill"
POINT A (back to top)
If you travel along Sunbury Road with the airport on your left, you will come to a road called Uniting Road. Marked point A on the map. This spot is
really only good for afternoon RWY 16 arrivals. Anything else and the sun really
isn't in the right position. Refer below.
A pulled back shot. About 60mm.
Using a zoom of about 200mm.
POINT B (back to top)
Point B on the map is a designated viewing area with car park and all. Its
not really a good spot for photos, but can be a good spot to go and sit whilst
747's or the likes come in for their final approach.
POINT C (back to top)
Point C is a self made "on the day" kind of spot. There is no spot
designated for this point. Its really just a matter of pulling over on the side
of the road. There is plenty of room to park the car and walk around. This spot
is good for morning RWY 16 Arrivals. Once again, make sure you take note of what
spots are good for what time of day. Refer below.
Using a zoom of about 200mm.
POINT D (back to top)
Point D is an emergency gate. It is Gate 2, and is recognisable by the small
red shed standing close to the fence. This spot is good for morning shots and
aircraft lining up on RWY 16. This spot is also not too bad for RWY 34 departure shots, however you will need at least a 300mm zoom. By the time the aircraft really becomes photographable, it is pretty high.Refer below.
Using a zoom of about 170mm.
Using a zoom of 300mm.
POINT E (back to top)
Point E has recently been fenced off and is not easily accessible. Previously it
was a designated parking area for the viewing of RWY 27 approaches, however a fence was erected across the top of the road. If you drive along for a bit you can still
get in behind the fence to the viewing spot though.
POINT F (back to top)
Point F is a good 5 - 6 minutes drive from the other areas. This is probably one
of the more popular spots, and is good for morning shots of RWY 34 approaches.
Plenty of room to see the aircraft coming, plenty of time to get the shot lined
up.........and NO FLIES!
Using a zoom of about 130mm.
POINT G (back to top)
Point G is only 30 meters or so round the same road and is good for
afternoon shots of the same duty RWY. Another popular shot. Also in this area is
the RWY 16 Localizer gate. This area is a good spot to get shots of aircraft
coming round to line up for a RWY 34 departure. Refer below.
Using a zoom of about 210mm.
POINT H (back to top)
Point H is the third designated viewing/parking area and is set out in a way
that all runway arrivals and departures are 'JUST' visible. Whilst not a good spot for photos at all,
this is a good spot to see the workings and movements of the terminals. With a
tall car or something (to stand on, not a ladder), this would actually be a good
spot for both 16/34 arrivals/departure shots.
POINT I (back to top)
The last point is probably one of the least used spots. The drive to get
there is rough and bumpy along a dirt road. It takes you right over the other
side of the airfield, behind the control tower. This spot is really only good
for RWY 27 departures. Refer below.
Using a zoom of full 300mm.
POINT J (back to top)
Gellibrand Hill - AKA "Mozza's Hill" (Named after its founder - Melbourne spotter Daniel Moroz) was discovered 31st June 2002 and even thought it is probably the most out-of-the-way spot at Melbourne, still provides some of the best views!
To get to "Mozza's Hill" from the airport, take the Tullamarine freeway for about 2 mins, going towards the city. Turn off at the Mickleham Road exit, and follow this road to the north for about 7 minutes. You will then have a choice of which way you wish to reach the top of the hill. You can turn left into Swains Road, which is a fire access road with a gate, and entry via this road can not be guaranteed. The best option is to continue north on Mickleham Road for aobut 200 metres, and turn left into Providence Road.
Take this road for a few hundred metres, and then turn left into the 'Gellibrand Hill Nature Reserve Car Park'.
Park your car and get ready for a slight uphill, 15 minute walk.
To the left there should be a dirt path. You can either follow this path, or follow the fenceline uphill. (Beware of bandicoots:-)
At the top of the hill, you will come to a gate, which gets locked of a night time. Enter through here and track towards the BIG radar that should be visible. After all that effort, you should be at the Gellibrand Hill sign - success!
Beautiful 180 degree views of the city to the left and Melbourne airport to the right will have you gasping - no jokes!! With a 500mm lens and x2 converter, full frame action is easy for arrivals down onto runway 27. Minimums here would be at least a 400mm lens for any decent shots, or failing that, at least a pair of binoculars to check out the action down at the Qantas Domestic terminal, like in the pic below.
It would be easy to spend the whole day here. As already mentioned, the views are magnificent! Highly recommended to the locals as well as the visitors!
Using a zoom of full 300mm.
