Dills Hill

Dills Hill west of Warkworth on New Zealand's North Island is a small, friendly site — PG rated P2, HG Novice — with takeoff at 700 ft ASL, 400 ft above the landing paddock. The site often closes for lambing during September, so check before you drive. Access is by a clay dry-weather-only track to the top, through two gates to the trig point.

Launch & conditions

Site rating PG P2 / HG Novice. Takeoff 700 ft ASL, 400 ft above the landing paddock.

Getting there & local rules

West of Warkworth. North on State Highway 1 to Warkworth, first turn left as you enter the township onto Woodcocks Road; follow it 10 km to a railway crossing, then continue uphill about 1.5 km to a sharp right-hand bend with a pullout and a gate to a pine forest on the left. On the right there's a clay dry-weather-only track leading to takeoff — through two more gates up to the trig and into the launch area. Landings: good top-landing in the paddock to the left of takeoff, but do NOT go behind the crest (expensive in aluminium and pride). Multiple valley paddocks work but scout them on foot beforehand — some have streams, gullies, and bulls. Landing can be turbulent in E–SE wind.

Local rules & hazards

Site often closes for lambing during September — check before you go. Site is in TMA C with a 4,500 ft ASL ceiling. Kaipara Flats airfield almost directly NE is a parachute drop zone with a 3 NM no-fly. Notify BOTH Kaipara Flats and North Shore airfields before flying. If you plan XC to the SW (anything on the south side of Woodcocks Rd linking through to Araparera), remember the ceiling drops to 3,500 ft ASL. Beware of scratching low amongst the spines in very cross winds.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Dills Hill, 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 Dills Hill with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.