Mt Bakewell

Mt Bakewell, in the Avon valley near York about 90 minutes east of Perth, is probably the best thermalling hill within 1,000 km of the Western Australian capital. The 436 m launch works on SE, S and SW winds and offers real cross-country potential, with the tallest summit hosting numerous antennas that give the profile its silhouette. This is a sensitive site — access is on private land, council relations have been strained before, and the site has been lost to paragliding once already. All pilots log in at the box by the house and leave a suggested $2 donation for the landowner. First visits should be made with a club member who has current site knowledge. Summer thermals can be very violent. The site recommends Novice pilots only with Advanced supervision, or Intermediate pilots with a site induction; hang-glider pilots need Intermediate theory plus 15 hours.

Launch & conditions

Three launches on top — use the correct one for the wind. On the ESE launch, inflate as far back from the edge as possible: airflow near the edge causes the glider to overshoot and forces a sharp run back toward the edge before you're flying properly. Beware powerlines and aerials with guy wires near the top launch. In addition to the obvious powerlines on the spur right of the ESE launch, another line runs up the gully to the left with very few poles — extremely hard to spot.

Getting there & local rules

About 1.5 hours east of Perth. Access requires 4WD or a long walk. Engage 4WD on the private track to minimise damage; observe the 30 km/h limit (often much slower for track condition). Do not fly here on a first visit without a club-member briefing; access is on private land and easily lost. The strip of paddock in front of launch (west of the powerline, east of the gravel pit access) is NOT a permitted landing area — the constriction there is why.

Local rules & hazards

PG: Novice with Advanced supervision, or Intermediate with a site induction; HG: Intermediate theory + 15 hours. Summer thermals can be very violent — treat mid-day conditions with real caution. Multiple power lines above and around launch, one of them nearly invisible in the left gully. Access is on private land under a delicate landowner agreement — every pilot logs in and leaves the suggested donation.

Check conditions before you fly

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