Shine Aviation
Geraldton » Tours & Charters » Shine Aviation

Moonyoonooka W.A. 6532 
Phone: Aust: (08) 9923 3600
Int: +618 9923 3600
Mobile: 0147 911 342
Fax: Aust: (08) 9923 3793
Int: +618 9923 3793 
Email: shine@modnet.com.au
WWW: www.abrolhos.com.au 
Contact Person:  Chris & Lorri Shine

Explore the Mid West with Shine. Fly, take a walk have a swim and discover the true Abrolhos!

Departs the General Aviation Terminal on demand with a minimum of two passengers.

The Wallabi Group is located in the North West portion of the Abrolhos so our flight track's 290' north west from the airfield passing just to the north of the city over the New Marina and Museum. At cruising level the Southern Group and Easter Group of islands come into view in the south west 15/20 minutes of cruise flight has us commence descent to a viewing altitude of 350m where you are shown the sight where the Dutch East India Galleon 'Batavia' ran aground in 1629. The position is easily identifiable from the air as it is a large clear sandy patch which will be indicated by your pilot. The timbers of the ship and the stone masonry cargo have been reclaimed from the ocean amongst the coral and taken to the Fremantle Maritime Museum.

The monumental portico which was designed to decorate the entrance to the city of Batavia consisted of 137 stones. The numbers engraved on these enabled the archaeologists of the Western Australian Maritime Museum to reconstitute the gigantic arch and to achieve a magnificent result. Whilst flying over it is not difficult to visualise the ship stuck there nearly 400 years ago, seamen and passengers making their way along the coral and rocky outcrops to Beacon Island, to be their borne for several months. Unfortunately and tragically for some they died, (125 of them).

In the area you are flying over, the more fortunate were rescued when a Dutch ship returned from Batavia (Indonesia) to rescue them. This resulted from the Senior Company Representative (Pelsart), the ship's Captain and other assistants sailing from the Abrolhos in a small boat to Batavia shortly after the ship ran aground to seek help. Misfortune too, for the bad elements, the murderers were tried, convicted and hung at the Abrolhos, a bad start for European involvement in Australia.

The beauty of the coral is everywhere as the aircraft flies to your destination landing at East Wallabi for a break of an hour and a quarter. This allows for a swim with snorkel, goggles and flippers (strongly recommended) or a walk along the beach in beautiful (and I mean beautiful unspoilt Turtle Bay).

After the break with swimming, snorkelling, beach walking and viewing the large sea eagles that reside there, its away and over the coral again, past islands crammed with fishing shacks, over the forts built by the 'Batavia' survivors from where the good people held out against the bad elements those many years ago.

Leaving the Wallabi group it's onto the (central) Easter Group, once again an abundance of excellent sights to view. Coral, sea life including sea lions, dolphins, sea birds, excellent surf breaks. The aircraft then alters heading to the east, climbs to cruising level for the flight across the Geelvink Channel to the mainland with views to the north and south.

As we approach the city, over our Harbours and Maritime Museum to land, disappointed that it's all over. A shower awaits you if you require a freshen up, souvenirs of the trip are in Reception, along with a Visitor's Book.

Allow 3 hours for this adventure from arriving at the Terminal to completion of flight

Fly overs!
Our flights depart from the Geraldton/Greenough General Aviation Terminal (on demand). We require a minimum of two passengers for a flyover viewing of the Southern and Easter Groups of the Abrolhos.

The duration of this flight is approximately 1.15 minutes:

From the airfield we climb to altitude over the southern portion of Geraldton providing great views of the city below and the Greenough Flats, River Mouth and African Reef to the South.

To cruise level (generally 1500m above sea level) the Abrolhos Islands come into view approximately 5Okm ahead. There is generally plenty of activity on the ocean below with rock lobster boats, migrating whales (in season) and large cargo ships passing.

5 to 10 minutes at cruising level and we are on descent to the southern group, dozens of islands. Surrounded by reef and coral as far as the eye can see. Spectacular colours, abundant sea and bird life including sea lions, dolphins, manta rays, sharks and thousands and thousands of birds during their breeding season, October through December.

In addition to the natural sights there are remains of steel ships that ran aground at the Abrolhos around the turn of last century. We also fly past the island (Gun Island) where the 'Zeewick' survivors lived after their ship ran aground in 1726. This is the sight of Australia's first ship building industry. These survivors built a boat from the timbers of their wrecked ship and then sailed to Batavia in Indonesia.

This completes the views of the southern group and we move onto the next (Easter).

More of the same, perhaps even larger and more colourful coral with small island beaches with sunbaking sea lions. The above is flown at an ideal viewing height of 350m. The aircraft then climbs to cruise altitude approximately 750m and we make our way back to the coast. With ideal conditions, we can view the coastline as far away as Kalbarri (12Okm) to the north and inland from the coast to Tallarang Peak in the north/east (15Okm) over our city harbours, commercial and recreational, the new museum then approaching to land parallel to the flat topped Moresby Ranges.

Taxiing in it hits you - you have visited a different world and returned to your old one in a little over an hour! 
 

Awards: 1996 Telstra Small Business Award Midwest Finalist WA Tourism Award, 1997 Midwest Tourism Award Winner - Aviation, 2000

Services
Access With Assistance for the Disabled, Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale, Public phone, Public Telephone, Public Toilet, Shower Facilities, Waiting Area, Water sport equipment

Disabled Access:  Yes 
Children: Yes 
Reception Hours: 24 hour phone