Burns Beach

Burns Beach is a coastal soaring site north of Perth, Western Australia, flying in southwest to west winds — some sections, like the dunes further north, can work in a south-southwest wind too, though pilots say it's rarely worth the detour. Launch sits right at sea level on the dune line, and the call to fly usually comes down to two official wind readings: roughly 10–17 knots at the Ocean Reef weather station and at least 9 knots at Hillarys. Above about 17 knots, a mini-wing is the safer choice, since a standard wing risks getting blown back over the dunes — and being blown back here matters, because the ground behind the dune line has snakes, rocks and fencing. Launching is a short, physical routine: walk down onto the beach, ground-handle the wing until it's stable overhead, then walk up into the lift band at the dune's edge and push off, without climbing so high up the dune that a gust can drag the pilot back over the top. Staying in front of the dune line is the standard safety margin pilots use here.

Launch & conditions

Ground-handle on the beach until the wing is stable, then walk up into the lift band at the dune's edge and push off — without climbing too high up the dune, or a gust can drag you back over the top.

Local rules & hazards

The usable wind window is roughly 10–17 knots at the Ocean Reef weather station with at least 9 knots at Hillarys; above about 17 knots a mini-wing is recommended, since a standard wing risks being blown back into terrain with snakes, rocks and fencing.

Check conditions before you fly

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