Long Reef NE

Long Reef NE on Sydney's northern beaches is a good hour-building site — easy ridge soaring with great views north to Whale Beach. Take care on summer days: the sea breeze nearly always strengthens. Launch is a grassy area near the crown of the headland with room for a couple of gliders; it gets significant compression in stronger conditions. Sand spit on the point, beach in front of the golf club, or top-land — all good options depending on the tide and where you find yourself.

Launch & conditions

Grassy area near the crown of the headland, roughly level, room for a couple of gliders. Significant compression in stronger conditions.

Getting there & local rules

NE face of Long Reef Point, 45 minutes from Sydney city. Park in the car park on the northern side of Long Reef (near the golf club) and walk up to the lookout — or park in the Long Reef beach car park on the southern side and walk along the Greenlink track. Parking meters in both. Landings: sand spit on the point, or the beach in front of the golf club next to the lower car park (need to be above the ridge at the NW end to make the glide) — watch the pine trees whose lower branches reach out over the sand. The concrete boat-launch ramp is quite hard. If you get low, various bits of sand in front of takeoff work — narrow at high tide. Top-landing is relatively easy from the NW.

Local rules & hazards

Lower level of controlled airspace at 2,500 ft. Strong compression at times — getting blown over the back would not be good for your health. Summer sea breeze nearly always strengthens through the day.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Long Reef NE, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Long Reef NE with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.