By Justin Heitman 

After months of organisation and a few last minute changes, 11 helicopters in total were getting ready to depart from Helibiz at Moorabbin Airport and descend on Tasmania: nine R44’s and two AS350 Squirrels in all.

We send out our last emails for the week and exit the hangar for what will be a great adventure. Our R44 helicopter ‘RIX’ (owner Rick Hobson) departs from Whitsunday Airport on the preceding Friday. Onboard were Mick Osman our pilot, Troy Holloway (Safari Co-ordinator) and myself. It’s always an exciting time when all the planning starts coming together. En route we stop off to visit family and friends in Maleny, why? Because we are in a helicopter and we can! What a beautiful part of the world. Green rolling mountains and only the sounds of the surrounding wild life including birds and frogs and the occasional wallaby hopping by.

Up in the morning to the smell of bacon and eggs on the BBQ and coffee brewing as we plan to lift off and head for the Newcastle coast. We stay there for the night and pick up the first of the Squirrels, with Safari Veteran Graham Thomas aka BUK (and many other names), along with his mates Steve and PK.

Arriving Newcastle, Graham’s lovely wife, Julie, puts on a feast for dinner with fresh salads and an awesome BBQ. With so much eating so far, I’m thinking that we are going to have some weight issues by the end of this trip. A few light ales and off to bed. Up for brekky, yep eggs and bacon (… about that weight issue): we head off with Moorabbin in our sights tracking coastal following Victor 1( VFR flight route) past Sydney Harbour tracking to south to Moruya, then inland direct to Moorabbin. On arrival we’re met by the local Helibiz guys, Mark Slade and Andrew Giles who appear to have the situation all under control with many of the participants having already arrived. The excitement of the forthcoming Safari is obvious as we all stand around chatting about the days ahead whilst looking at the 11 helicopters now parked outside the hangar.

Day 1
Moorabbin Airport, it’s a beautiful day with clear blue skies and only a slight breeze. We’re looking good. The last of the Safari participants arrive from their hotel and final inspections are carried out before the formalities begin. We all congregate in the hangar where Mark and Troy give a run down on the week ahead with a recap on safety and flying in numbers. We hand out travel packs and head for the skies. The first stop is Latrobe Valley for a fuel top up before donning life jackets for our journey across Bass Strait to Flinders Island, via Wilson’s Promontory. We encounter a small amount of sea fog and mist but none of any concern. Flying over such an expanse of water in a helicopter is a first for me and I’m surprised by the many small islands dotting the deep blue water off the mainland. We arrive at Flinders Island for a fuel stop and a rush for the amenities. Looking at all that water plays with your mind. With everyone topped up with fuel we head South to Lady Barron airstrip on the southern end of Flinders Island. A short bus trip to the Furneau Tavern situated in a quaint little bay with relaxing sea views where we enjoyed lunch before strolling back under a warm sun to the awaiting helicopters.

Departing Flinders Island we track south to pick up the north eastern Tasmanian coastline passing through the Bay of Fires, St Helens and Bicheno before arriving at a remote landing site just North of Freycinet peninsular where we refuel out of drums preparing the helicopters for the next leg of our journey in the morning. With an organised bus service waiting, we all unpack our luggage and put the helicopters to bed.

Whilst we were bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun over the distant horizon, the chef at the Freycinet Lodge was preparing a feast of local seafood and steak with a buffet style salad table consisting of local produce, fresh oysters and salmon steaks.

Day 2
The boys from the Ocean Earth helicopter rise early, grab a cab and climb a mountain, all before breakfast. We rise to yet another spectacular Tasmanian morning. We depart for Port Arthur taking in some spectacular scenery around the southeast coastline including Eagle Hawk Neck, Cape Pillar and Tasman Island. This coastline is nothing short of spectacular, with every corner providing something new to look at and just as beautiful as the last. From stunning white sands and crystal clear waters, to sheer cliff faces with dramatic rock formations. We fly past a lighthouse secluded on a high set island surrounded by monstrous cliff faces completely detached from the mainland. Surely the inhabitants must own a helicopter!

We arrive at the organised HLS, just a short stroll from the Port Arthur Historic sight. Grabbing lunch before heading out for a tour that educates us all on the hardships of the thousands of convicts held here. The sun is out but the breeze is as chilling as the history of this prison. Some of the buildings were destroyed by fire, others have few walls still standing although some are still intact. As you walk into the cells you have to wonder how anyone could have survived. Stone walls, floors and ceilings that must have chilled the convicts to the core. Then its time for a cruise, we head off around the Isle of the Dead cemetery where the convicts, invalids and paupers were buried on the low grounds, the military and civil burials on the high. Then onto Point Puer Boys Prison, where most of the convicts were aged between 14 –17, although children as young as eight could be hanged.

Bobby our youngest adventurer at age six, bows her head and says a prayer whilst Matthew picks flowers to put on the cross bearing the names of those passed here in recent events. It’s a sombre moment and I touch the gravestones of a friend’s wife and his two lost children.

Day 3
Lay day. The Safari crews get to enjoy a selection of things to do around Hobart, including a luxury cruise on the Captain’s deck to Peppermint Bay with lunch at the Peppermint Bay Water Front Restaurant, where the food was delicious. Others caught up with friends and family and a lucky few headed up into the south east ranges near Sorrel where we participated in some guided fly fishing. [Note: if cab driver admits that he doesn’t know where he is going, goes through red lights and narrowly misses parked cars, remove yourself from said vehicle and flag another cab.]

Day 4
Today there are a few clouds to be seen from our hotel window but still looking like a nice day for flying. Whilst the Sri Lankan and Australian cricket teams depart for the Hobart cricket ground, we depart for yet another day of Safari adventure. With the machines full of fuel, checks done and crews keen to go, we track for the south east cape for a remote fuel stop. We find a beautiful white beach and land for a few photos. The water shows cyan to deep blue against the bright white sand and the helicopters all lined up on the beach is a sight to be seen. None of us really want to leave this beautiful spot but there is still plenty of adventure to be had. We set course for Strahan flying coastal via the southeast tip, southeast cape and the Maatsuyker group of Islands off the most southern tip of Tasmania. For a few of us, namely those who participated in the Cape York Safari, passing the southern tip of Tasmania means we have now been to the most Northern Point, Cape York and on the way down the eastern point, Byron Bay and now the most southern!

We all arrive at Strahan airstrip with the awaiting bus ready to take us to our accommodation. Strahan is a gorgeous little town on the west coast and our accommodation is nestled high up on a hill looking over the village.

Day 5
Our last full day in Tasmania. Breakfast at the hotel restaurant proves to be a great way to start the day as we all gaze out over the town to yet another clear blue sky. We depart Strahan for Symmons Plains Race Track via Queenstown and Cradle Mountain. This is our first venture inland as we decide against the coastal run in anticipation of a great day at the V8 Supecars. R44 owner Rod Nash, also Team Owner and Manager of the Autobarn Racing Team, guides us on a Pit Lane tour and then into his garage where we get a full run down of his car. His father in-law Tony, ex race team manager, points out some of the amazing technology. It was great to get so close to these machines and have first hand information about the team.

Helibiz Melbourne manager Mark Slade takes Supercar driver and PPL licence holder Greg Murphy on a pre ‘practice session’ flight. Having just flown around the ranges, Greg comments on it being the most relaxed he has been before a track session and leaves with a smile from ear to ear. We have lunch in the Race Team Pavilion, then head out to the track grounds to watch the first session. It’s a small track with not many opportunities to overtake and one hell of a hairpin. The action is fast and we are up close. A few cars spin off and we get showered in dust, all part of the fun, although Delia, Emma and Libby find a tent in the shade with a cool drink more their style. After the practice session we head back to the garages where we re-group and walk back to the helicopters. Troy, Tony and Caine in Rod Nash’s Red Clipper II, lead the way as we depart Symmons Plains for the Launceston Country Club. The HLS there being the driving range which makes for a humorous photo of helicopters between distance markers. Security insures no practice driving to be done this evening. The country club is another great place to unwind and chat about the day’s events. We head into the main restaurant for dinner, buffet style again. How can a person not want a bit of everything, it all looks so good and then there are the desserts! We spend hours chatting about the week gone by and the great friendships made before heading off to our rooms.

Day 6
Would you believe it’s another clear morning! Obviously booking great weather well in advance has paid off. The country club puts on a good breakfast and we head out to the driving range to prepare for our last day flying. Fuel top ups are carried out at Launceston Airport and lifejackets are put on once again for our Bass Strait crossing. We track north for Flinders Island via Bridport, Ringarooma Bay and Cape Portland where we head over water via Clarke Island and Cape Barron Island landing at Flinders once again for fuel. We have all bonded well and everyone works as a team wheeling the helicopters in an out in turn for fuel. I’m in with Tony and his pilot Caine for the Bass Strait crossing. As we near the mainland we can see inclement weather to the east and west but have a fairly clear corridor to our next fuel stop at Yarram. The two Squirrels arrive well before us and their crews are enjoying a coffee and biscuits as we land. Yarram is the last time we will all be together as many parties split off homeward from here. After refuelling, we take a few group photos and say our goodbyes. Lots of hugs, kisses and hand shakes are shared as we all acknowledge what an amazing adventure it’s been with life long memories.

What an amazing trip! Friendships made, experiences shared, history learnt and the Tasmanian coastline is nothing short of breath taking. The weather gods smiled down on us and we all came home with a sense of achievement and a few extra hours under our belts. It’s a win-win situation for everyone who flew as they shared their experiences and aviation knowledge and those with less hours had the Helibiz Instructors there on hand for the whole trip. Thanks to all the pilots and crews for an unforgettable time.