Self-Guided Adventure
If you have never experienced the thrill of watching an Airbus A380 or Jumbo Jet take off or land just meters above you, you are missing out on one of life’s greatest pleasures. Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, situated on the shores of Botany Bay, offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a day on the water, while indulging in some top-class airplane watching and a beach retreat.
AT A GLANCE
Type: Self-guided
Total distance: Not Applicable
Estimated duration: One hour or all day - Your choice
RIDING CONDITIONS
Botany Bay is a large open ocean embayment where water conditions can change rapidly. It can be flat and calm, with a glass-like surface, at one moment and windswept, choppy, and wild the next. Therefore, it is essential to check the weather forecast before heading out onto the water. The Georges River and Cooks River both flow into Botany Bay.
RIDE OVERVIEW
Whether heading out into Botany Bay by boat or Personal Watercraft (PWC), there is an excellent choice of quality boat ramps. The nearest to the airport runway and a sandy area known simply as The Beach is the Kyeemagh Boat Ramp Reserve. Watch the Yamaha Marine Academy’s Rate-The-Ramp short film to find out more.
If you fancy scooting across the bay from George’s River, the boat ramp under Tom Uglys Bridge at Blakehurst is excellent. Botany’s Foreshore Road Boat Ramp is a must if you suffer from boat ramp parking anxiety.
When launching from Kyeemagh or Foreshore Road, the ride to the runways is just a few minutes. The second and third runways take off and land over the waters of Botany Botany (depending on which way the wind is blowing), and there are two major runways, so take your picture.
A quick survey of the area will reveal which way the planes are taking off and which runway is most in use. From there, it’s simply a case of shutting off the engine and enjoying the show. While we recommend getting as close to the yellow exclusion zone markers as possible for a great experience, going beyond them is an offence, and doing so will catch the attention of airport security very quickly.
Other enjoyable activities include racing planes from The Bach to the end of the runway as they take off and welcoming/farewelling passengers and crew as they cruise along the taxiway adjacent to runway two. The Beach is also an interesting place to stretch your legs and get the sand between your toes. Make sure you pack your sand anchor. Learn how to correctly use your sand in the Yamaha Marine Academy PSC basics short video series. https://www.yamaha-motor.com.au/ownership/yamahamarineacademy/stories/know-your-pwc/know-your-pwc-basics
RIDE MAP - CLICK TO ENTER GOOGLE MAP
