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Sydney Airport: Difference between revisions
→Other Spotting Locations: added 16L mound, modified Barton Park Hill formatting
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==Other Spotting Locations== | ==Other Spotting Locations== | ||
=== | ===16L Mound=== | ||
The 16L Mound is a small hill located directly under the 16L approach. The view from this spot is similar to Qantas Drive in that aircraft pass dizzyingly low overhead, however the 16L Mound is less exciting than Qantas Drive in that the aircraft involved are much smaller (16L is normally only used for A330-size aircraft or smaller). Still, the 16L Mound offers the best view of 16L/34R operations, and it is the place to come to see the bulk of 'smaller' movements. | |||
To get to the 16L Mound from General Holmes Drive or Southern Cross Drive, driving west, take the lefthand exit for Foreshore Road. Right after you exit, the road will fork. Take the righthand fork, which brings you to a set of traffic lights. There should be a sign for Gate 16. Go straight through the intersection, following the sign for Gate 16. From here, park somewhere along the bottom of the grass hill on your right (either right after the intersection next to the "end restricted parking area" sign, or further along past the 16L threshhold) and then walk up onto the grass hill. This is the 16L Mound. Make sure you park away from the 16L threshhold, as airport security can be picky as to where you park. | |||
You can photograph from directly under the 16L approach, or from west of it to get a side view of the approaches. Also to the west of the approach path, there is an unobstructed view over the runway (16L/34R) which allows you to photograph 16L touchdowns, 34R touchdowns a bit further away, 16L and 34R departures, and taxiway movements. Photography is best in the afternoon. Approximate required lens focal length is 18mm or thereabouts for photographing aircraft overhead, and about 70 to 400mm for all other shots. | |||
Sample photos from the 16L Mound: | |||
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===Barton Park Hill=== | |||
Barton Park Hill affords an excellent view over runway 07/25, as well as the southwestern side of the International Terminal. 07 arrivals and 25 departures are great viewed from this spot, as aircraft pass very low overhead. 25 departures are especially exciting when there is a crosswind. Further away, some 16R/34L rotations are visible, though activity on that runway is not the main focus of Barton Park. | |||
To get to Barton Park Hill from General Holmes Drive, travel west through the tunnel that passes under 16R/34L and continue along (do not get on the M5) until the first traffic lights. Turn right at the lights, into Bestic St., and then right at West Botany St., again at the first set of traffic lights you come to. Drive along West Botany for a short way (about 500m) until you see an entrance on the right side of the road which leads into the carparks for the park. Continue straight along the small road that leads into and alongside the park, all the way to the end, where you jog to the left and go up a small hill before reaching Barton Park Hill's carpark overlooking the airport. Park here, and either stay at the carpark or up the small embankment next to the fence on the northern side of the carpark, or walk towards the airport to the hill past the carpark (see photography info, below). To get to Barton Park Hill from the northern side of the airport, drive west on Airport/Qantas Drive, which turns into Marsh St. Continue along Marsh St., over the M5, until you reach a T-intersection at West Botany St.. Turn left onto West Botany, and drive until you see a gate into Barton Park on the left side (about 600m from the T-intersection). Turn into the park here, and follow the directions above. | |||
By public transport, take the train to Banksia station. Exit the station, turn left onto the Princes Highway (going northwards) and then turn right into Spring Street. You will be heading eastwards at this point. Follow Spring Street to its very end, where it intersects with West Botany Street. Directly opposite you will see the driveway leading you into Barton Park. Many cyclists also use this driveway, as Barton Park seems to be a popular bike riding location. | |||
There are two slightly different spots for photography. One is the small metre-wide embankment on the northern side of the carpark (the left side as you look towards the airport), right next to the fence. This spot gives you an elevated view that is almost straight down runway 07/25, and it is great for 25 almost-head-on takeoff photos - head-on if there's a crosswind - and 07 touchdown shots. Long-exposure night photography of both 07 arrivals and 25 departures is excellent here, as the whole runway and approach/departure path is unobstructed. The other location for photography is the hill just past the gate that is on the airport side of the carpark, and to the left (as you look at the airport). The view from here is less head-on, but otherwise the view of 07/25 movements is comparable. Photographing 16R/34L activity is a bit easier from this spot, because you are a little closer than you would be at the carpark. 25 arrivals are rather far way, but with a long lens and very little heat haze they are conceivably 'photographable' from both locations. The waters of the Cooks River can make a nice foreground in photos. Lighting for photography at Barton Park Hill is best in the afternoon and evening. Approximate required lens focal length for 07 touchdowns, 25 rotations, and 16R/34L movements is 280 to 500mm. 25 arrivals would required 500+ mm. For 07 approaches and 25 departures (as they pass overhead), you can use about 15 to 60mm. | |||
Although the hill offers close proximity to the airport (and low aircraft overhead on take-offs and landings of the East-West Runway), the elevated view is somewhat obstructed by fences and other construction work on the airport perimeter between the runway and the park. A slightly higher elevation would help improve images immensely. | Although the hill offers close proximity to the airport (and low aircraft overhead on take-offs and landings of the East-West Runway), the elevated view is somewhat obstructed by fences and other construction work on the airport perimeter between the runway and the park. A slightly higher elevation would help improve images immensely. | ||
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The Radar Field (sometimes called the Padap Field) contains a large mound of gravelly construction material which gives you an excellent, elevated view of 16R/34L and the taxiways on either side (Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie). The visible action is similar to that which can be seen from Shep's Hill, however the Radar Field affords an added view of 34L touchdowns which is relatively unique compared to all of the other spots. Note that, because the mound at the Radar Field is on a construction site, access may be limited at times - weekends are your best bet. Also, you may find that the size of the mound changes from one visit to the next, as the material that it is made up of is used for the construction. | The Radar Field (sometimes called the Padap Field) contains a large mound of gravelly construction material which gives you an excellent, elevated view of 16R/34L and the taxiways on either side (Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie). The visible action is similar to that which can be seen from Shep's Hill, however the Radar Field affords an added view of 34L touchdowns which is relatively unique compared to all of the other spots. Note that, because the mound at the Radar Field is on a construction site, access may be limited at times - weekends are your best bet. Also, you may find that the size of the mound changes from one visit to the next, as the material that it is made up of is used for the construction. | ||
To get to the Radar Field from General Holmes Drive or Southern Cross Drive, driving west, take the lefthand exit for Foreshore Road. Right after you exit, the road will fork. Take the righthand fork, which brings you to a set of traffic lights. There should be a sign for Gate 16. Go straight through the intersection, following the sign for Gate 16. From here, park somewhere along the bottom of the grass hill on your right (either right after the intersection next to the "end restricted parking area" sign, or further along past the 16L threshhold) and then walk up onto the grass hill and straight towards the 16R/34L fenceline across a somewhat big field (at which point you'll see the large mound that you stand on). Make sure you park away from the 16L threshhold, as airport security can be picky as to where you park. | To get to the Radar Field from General Holmes Drive or Southern Cross Drive, driving west, take the lefthand exit for Foreshore Road. Right after you exit, the road will fork. Take the righthand fork, which brings you to a set of traffic lights. There should be a sign for Gate 16. Go straight through the intersection, following the sign for Gate 16. From here, park somewhere along the bottom of the grass hill on your right (either right after the intersection next to the "end restricted parking area" sign, or further along past the 16L threshhold) and then walk up onto the grass hill (the 16L Mound - see above) and straight towards the 16R/34L fenceline across a somewhat big field (at which point you'll see the large mound that you stand on). Make sure you park away from the 16L threshhold, as airport security can be picky as to where you park. | ||
The main photographic attraction of the Radar Field is the view it gives you of 34L touchdowns and late 16R rotations and departures. You also have a similar view of side-ons as at Shep's Hill, as well as taxiway movements. Lighting is best for photography in the morning. The approximate required focal length is about 300 to 400mm for 34L touchdowns, and about 50 to 400mm for most other shots. | The main photographic attraction of the Radar Field is the view it gives you of 34L touchdowns and late 16R rotations and departures. You also have a similar view of side-ons as at Shep's Hill, as well as taxiway movements. Lighting is best for photography in the morning. The approximate required focal length is about 300 to 400mm for 34L touchdowns, and about 50 to 400mm for most other shots. | ||