Joy flights, Albion Park: Scenic flights from Shellharbour Airport
Albion Park, NSW, is home to Shellharbour Airport. Not many scheduled flights depart from the Albion Park airport, but NSW Air Flight Training offers scenic joy flights along the Illawarra Coastline.
Joy flights from Albion Park let you get the big picture of the Illawarra coastline.
Albion Park is a suburb of the City of Shellharbour in the Illawarra region of New South Wales. Chances are, the only interaction you’ll have with Albion Park is passing through on the Pacific Motorway from Sydney or Wollongong to the New South Wales South Coast.
Shellharbour Airport in Albion Park, NSW
However, Albion Park is also where you’ll find Shellharbour Airport – formerly known as the Illawarra Regional Airport. Some call it Albion Park Aerodrome or Wollongong Airport too.
Theoretically, Shellharbour Airport is the main airport for Wollongong. But only one airline, Link Airways, flies from there. Link Airways operates flights to Essendon Airport in Melbourne and Brisbane Airport, but not frequently enough to be all that useful.
Realistically, because Sydney Airport is on the south side of Sydney, it serves Wollongong and the Illawarra reasonably well. It’s a short enough drive to ensure that Shellharbour Airport is never going to receive major scheduled traffic.
6 fantastic Wollongong experiences to book before you arrive
- Tandem hang-gliding flight from Bald Hill – float down towards the beach.
- One hour private surf lesson in Woonona – learn the basics, and get standing on your board.
- Illawarra Fly ziplining course and treetop walk – test your nerves high up in the canopy.
- Tandem skydive with beach landing – feel the rush of freefall.
- Explore the city on a scavenger hunt – a fun way to get to know Wollongong better.
- Half day deep sea fishing adventure – haul in some big boys.
Illawarra scenic flights from Shellharbour Airport
Shellharbour Airport in Albion Park, therefore, tends to be used for pilot training. Five Point Aviation runs a lot of courses there. NSW Air Flight Training also operates a flying school. But, more importantly for visitors, NSW Air Flight Training also offers scenic flights from Shellharbour Airport.
The $450 Bridge To Beaches scenic flight essentially covers the Illawarra region. This Albion Park joy flight takes in Lake Illawarra, Wollongong, Stanwell Park Beach and the Sea Cliff Bridge, before turning round and going along the coast towards Kiama.
Beaches you’ll probably see on this Illawarra scenic flight include Windang, Austinmer, Woonona and Towradgi Beach. But the real prize is seeing the contrast between the coastline and the looming Illawarra Escarpment.
You can also do Wollongong helicopter flights with Touchdown Helicopters.
More New South Wales travel
Chill out at Currarong Beach in Jervis Bay.
Visit the Big Bogan in Nyngan on the Dubbo to Cobar drive.
Go swimming at Yarra Bay Beach on Botany Bay.
Go swimming in the Blue Pool, Bermagui.
Watch the ocean crash as you swim at Wylie’s Baths in Coogee.