Sunshine Coast Adventure Flights offer a breath-taking perspective

PARADISE Seaplanes is launching for a summer full of the best ‘birds eye adventure flights over the gorgeous the Sunshine Coast, offering tourists and locals alike the opportunity to see the region from a breathtaking and unique perspective.

Paradise Seaplanes’s Shawn Kelly said they were blessed to be able to take off from the gorgeous Maroochy River and fly over different parts of the Sunshine Coast.

“Everyone knows the Sunshine Coast is famous for its beautiful natural environment from its stunning beaches and gorgeous hinterland but its not until to get to fly over low and slow that you really get to experience everything,” Shawn said.“We have adventure flights to suit everyone, with all offering an amazing perspective of different parts of the Coast, and best of all, each one includes the exciting river take off and landing.

“We have adventure flights to suit everyone, with all offering an amazing perspective of different parts of the Coast, and best of all, each one includes the exciting river take off and landing.“Guests always marvel at the beauty of the scenery they experience during the flight, but they usually say it’s the take off in the spray of the water and landing again that is the most awesome part of the experience.”

“Guests always marvel at the beauty of the scenery they experience during the flight, but they usually say it’s the take off in the spray of the water and landing again that is the most awesome part of the experience.”“It’s a feeling of pure freedom being able to take off and land on a river, rather than from an airport, and, of course, they will quite literally ‘get their feet wet’,” Shawn said.

“It’s a feeling of pure freedom being able to take off and land on a river, rather than from an airport, and, of course, they will quite literally ‘get their feet wet’,” Shawn said.“You can feel the river beneath you and then quite literally touch the sky, so there really is nothing else like it. It’s also unique because it can be experienced by all ages and will create a special memory that will stay with them for a lifetime.

“You can feel the river beneath you and then quite literally touch the sky, so there really is nothing else like it. It’s also unique because it can be experienced by all ages and will create a special memory that will stay with them for a lifetime.“For me, it doesn’t matter how often I fly, it feels special every time, and getting to experience it anew through our guests’ reactions always makes me smile.”

“For me, it doesn’t matter how often I fly, it feels special every time, and getting to experience it anew through our guests’ reactions always makes me smile.”The only seaplane on the Sunshine Coast, affectionately known as Willy, is as unique as the region.  She’s a rugged Wilga Warbird (PS104-80) and is one of only four in Australia and the only one in the country on floats. Willy is a four-seater float plane and has a 9-cyclinder radial engine. She was designed for reconnaissance and built in Poland in 1982 and is rumoured to have been used to patrol the Berlin Wall before she was brought to Australia in 1984.

The only seaplane on the Sunshine Coast, affectionately known as Willy, is as unique as the region.  She’s a rugged Wilga Warbird (PS104-80) and is one of only four in Australia and the only one in the country on floats. Willy is a four-seater float plane and has a 9-cyclinder radial engine. She was designed for reconnaissance and built in Poland in 1982 and is rumoured to have been used to patrol the Berlin Wall before she was brought to Australia in 1984.“A flight in Willy is really very special – she has more glass than a helicopter, excels at flying low and slow, and sounds fantastic thanks to

“A flight in Willy is really very special – she has more glass than a helicopter, excels at flying low and slow, and sounds fantastic thanks to it’s big radial engine!”Shawn said the adventure flights are a definite bucket-list experience and are popular with aero-enthusiasts as well as those who want a unique perspective of the spectacular Sunshine Coast. Gift vouchers are also available making it a great gift idea for those who have everything!

Shawn said the adventure flights are a definite bucket-list experience and are popular with aero-enthusiasts as well as those who want a unique perspective of the spectacular Sunshine Coast. Gift vouchers are also available making it a great gift idea for those who have everything!“We believe life is for living and adventures are for sharing, so that is what we aim to do.”

“We believe life is for living and adventures are for sharing, so that is what we aim to do.”Shawn said in preparation for the summer season Willy had just undergone a major refurbishment.

Shawn said in preparation for the summer season Willy had just undergone a major refurbishment.“Owning a plane like this is like owning a classic car – you become a bit fanatical about it – so Willy still retains her vintage-warbird-feel, but is now sporting an upgraded, more powerful (but still REALLY quiet) engine, new interior and all-new glass.

“Owning a plane like this is like owning a classic car – you become a bit fanatical about it – so Willy still retains her vintage-warbird-feel, but is now sporting an upgraded, more powerful (but still REALLY quiet) engine, new interior and all-new glass.“There is a longer list a perfectionist would admire that many will not notice,

“There is a longer list a perfectionist would admire that many will not notice, including stainless steel fittings, state of the art corrosion control and retouches on the instrument panel,” Shawn said.

“I think people will notice a smoother ride, which will be better for aerial photography and our customer videos.”
Sunshine Coast Councillor (Tourism, Sport & Major Events) Cr Jason OPray said a joy flight on Paradise Seaplanes was not just an adventure for tourists and guests but also an amazing experience for locals who have ‘done it all’ on the Sunshine Coast.

“One of the very best things you can do on the Sunshine Coast is to take a flight with Shawn at Paradise Seaplanes. This is without doubt the ‘best view on the Coast’ and is the perfect gift for anyone any age this Chrissy.”

“We are all so very excited to have ‘Willy’ back up and across the skies of the Sunshine Coast.  A scenic Joy Flight with Paradise Seaplanes is a cracker of morning out, something young I’ll never ever forget,” Cr OPray said.

There are a variety of great adventure flight options which include:

• The Maroochy River Adventure flight sweeps from Maroochy River, south along the Maroochydore and Mooloolaba beaches, circling over Point Cartwright and returning to Maroochydore.  The Maroochy Adventure is a 10-minute flight, or 30-35 for the whole experience for $149pp. *
• The Sunshine Coast Adventure flight is the most popular tour, departs from Maroochy River, soars over the Mooloolaba harbour and follows the beautiful coastline to Caloundra then returns to gently touch down on the crystal clear waters of the Maroochy River. The Sunshine Coast Adventure is a 20-minute flight, or 40-45mins for the whole experience and is $229 per person.*
• The Noosa River Adventure is the second most popular experience, taking off and following the Maroochy River to the Coast, then bank slowly north over Mudjimba Island, follow the beaches past Mount Coolum, over Noosa National Park to Noosaville, returning over over Lake Weyba, sugar cane fields and past Mt Ninderry. The Noosa River Adventure is a 30-minute flight, or 50-55minutes for the whole experience and is $299 per person. *
•  The Sunshine Surf Patrol is the best flight for beach lovers taking in the entire Sunshine Coast from Noosa to Caloundra. The adventure takes off, then bank slowly north and follow the beaches to Noosa Heads National Park, circle over Noosa Village and return along the beautiful coastline southward, all the way to Caloundra and the north end of Pumicestone Passage Marine Park. Return to touch down on Maroochy River. The Sunshine Surf Patrol is a 60-minute flight, or 80-85min for the whole experience and is $525 per person. *
• For something extra special, you can upgrade to a ‘doors off’ flight so you can feel the wind in your air and get an even better view. This makes the flight and especially take off and landing really special, and we have the only seaplane in Australia that offers this option. It’s just an extra $50.

*The Seaplane can accommodate two to three people per flight with a maximum
passenger weight of 200kg, or 170kg for the Sunshine Surf Patrol tour.

For bookings or to find out more visit www.paradiseseaplanes.com.au, find us on Facebook, email paradiseseaplanes@gmail.com, or call 0437 719 088.