Cape Liptrap

Cape Liptrap on Victoria's southern coast is a beautiful coastal soaring site — five large bowls plus about 11 km of low sand dunes, all with superb views over Wilson's Promontory. The five bowls stretch over about 3 km and give excellent flying reminiscent of nearby Flaxmans and Bells. Launch is ideal for paragliders and workable for hang gliders (though not really steep enough). In firm wind the launch is straightforward. This is a remote site with little to no mobile phone coverage — never fly it alone.

Launch & conditions

Rounded ground-ramp cliff-top launch. Ideal for paragliders, adequate for hang gliders (not really steep enough). In firm wind, launch is no problem. Takeoff is the second bowl from the lighthouse.

Getting there & local rules

150 km SE of Melbourne, near Venus Bay. Drive almost to Venus Bay via the South Gippsland Highway and follow signs to Cape Liptrap. Access to launch is via a walking track 200 m before the lighthouse car park (no parking along the road — must park at the car park). Launch is ~500 m along the track. Landing: TOP-LANDING ONLY. Large 60 m × 20 m cleared area to the left of takeoff, clearly visible from the air. Do NOT fly beyond the roadway/powerline — penetration back may fail and you'll undershoot into the tea trees.

Local rules & hazards

Do NOT fly Cape Liptrap alone. Site is remote and lightly visited, with little or no mobile phone reception. Only fly in winds strong enough to stay up — there are no bottom landings. If the wind shifts to W or S the points create turbulence. Bowl adjacent to the lighthouse faces SSW; the rest of the coast faces SW. Long walk out if you bomb out on the beaches to the north.

Check conditions before you fly

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