Great Missendon

Great Missendon (formerly known as Landscape) sits about 70 km north of Melbourne near Seymour. The 577 m launch works on N, NE and NW winds and offers real cross-country potential — but the local club recommends the site only for Advanced-rated pilots, or Intermediate pilots with genuine mountain-XC experience and an on-site Advanced pilot supervising with current local knowledge. Approved landing zones are limited and glide-to reachability is not always guaranteed, which is why the site is treated as committed rather than casual. A single-wire power line runs from the tower east of the north launch down the spur and across the river — it has marker balls but is still difficult to see. Controlled airspace over launch caps at 8,500 ft and drops sharply to 4,500 ft at Broadford less than 10 km south, so any southbound XC toward Melbourne needs careful airspace management.

Launch & conditions

West- and north-facing earth-ramp launch. Main north LZs are directly in front of launch across the road and across the river to the north-east of take-off — both a fair glide, so know the bomb-out first. The bomb-out is the sloping paddock west of the vineyard at the end of the spine: set up over the SW corner of the vineyard and land between the dam and the shoulder.

Getting there & local rules

Access from Ennis Rd via the Hume Highway, or Fairview Rd via King Parrot Creek Rd. The two roads join; turn north into West Falls Rd and drive to the Big Green Gate. Access through the LOCKED GATE is on PRIVATE PROPERTY — the lockbox can be awkward, so make sure it is truly locked because cattle and horses roam within. Continue to the launches staying on the property track.

Local rules & hazards

The site is recommended only for Advanced-rated pilots, or Intermediate pilots with real mountain-XC experience under an on-site Advanced pilot with current local knowledge. Watch the single-wire power line running east of the north launch down the spur — marker balls are fitted but it is still hard to spot. Do not infringe controlled airspace southbound: 8,500 ft ceiling over launch drops to 4,500 ft at Broadford within 10 km.

Check conditions before you fly

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