Spotting at Sydney Airport

[Sydney Airport]

Hi everyone,

We’ve noticed a number of people using the top level of one of our car parks to take in the great view and to also to capture photography.

If you’d like to use the car park to capture photography, we ask that you stay safe by refraining from climbing or sitting on ledges or walking down the vehicle ramps. Please use the lifts provided. Please also take your rubbish with you when you leave.

We have a number of plane spotting sites to enjoy, including the new dedicated viewing area at Shep’s Mound.

Don’t forget to use #sydneyairport so we can share your pics on our channels!

Thanks and have a great Christmas and New Year!

Sydney Airport

[Grahame Hutchison]

Cheers - Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all staff working at Sydney Airport :)

[Kurt A]

Merry Christmas Sydney Airport and thank you for all your ongoing support and engagement in 2017. Looking forward to 2018.

[Philip Argy]

Hear hear!

Thanks for your support of the Spotters community. :)

[Terence W]

Belated Seasons Greetings to SACL and everyone working to keep the aviation industry moving and safe over this holiday season!

Thanks too to Kurt for his work on keeping this board going and to all regulars like Grahame and Philip who keep the topics interesting and up to date!

Wishing you all a great 2018!

Cheers,
Terence.

[Sarah C]

In my recent visits, I am noticing a lot of rubbish including cigarette butts. It is disgusting and only ruins it for others (I also see butts at the Mound, despite clearly visible bins)

While it shouldnt be needed, do we need some signage on the wall, plus have a small bin in the area where the lifts are? There is rubbish though the car parks so it is not plane spotters only but it is people not respecting others and thier property.

[David C]

While it seem so a good idea to have rubbish bins installed , it’s regarded as a security risk . It’s much better to have rubbish lying around than to have a bomb secreted in a rubbish bin . It’s the sad situation that we live in now unfortunately .
Dave C

[Nigel C]

They're probably the same tossers who flick butts out their car windows too...

[Grahame Hutchison]

A couple of weeks back there were empty cigarette packets, 22 butts, food and drink containers littering the area right at your feet when you sat on the bench seats at Shep's Mound. Fortunately that morning the Bayside Council workers cleaned up the mess quite quickly.

I think No Smoking signs would be appreciated by most people using this public area.

[Dave Powell]

from PPrune

https://www.pprune.org/spectators-balcony-spotters-corner/614367-sydney-spotters-cool-your-jets.html

[Robbie J]

Which exact carpark are we talking about? There appears to be conflicting information around. The staff car park at the International Terminal is a good spot, but officially it's currently closed if I'm not mistaken. Depending on your luck on the day, you could be asked to leave, or you could stand there for hours. So, who knows, especially at an uncertain time like this.

[Sean L]

I myself have only been to 2 spotting areas in Sydney, the beach and sheps mound. I plan to go to the carpark for VH-OEJ's departure on the 22nd as it is the only spotting area accessible by public transport. I've been told the famous carpark spotting area is the top level of P7 parking near the International terminal. Currently the only way I know how to get there is to stop at the international train station, walk to the pick up area and on the way you'll find ramps or lifts that'll take you up to the top level. Please correct me if I'm talking about the wrong carpark. Also, I currently know nothing about the domestic carpark and whether it is used as a spotting area. If it is, how do we get there? Does it cost money?

[Bob Kimmings]

Sean, turn right out of the international station, go out of the terminal exit and cross the road. Walk down the little road beside Rydges and turn right. There you will find 4 lifts. I don't know if they are working in these dodgy times

[Sean L]

Ah, so it isn't the P7 carpark? Thanks
Edit: Oh wait I think that's the way up to the top of the P7 carpark...

[Kent Broadhead]

Sean, turn right out of the international station, go out of the terminal exit and cross the road. Walk down the little road beside Rydges and turn right. There you will find 4 lifts. I don't know if they are working in these dodgy times

The lifts and almost all lighting have been off in P6 for weeks. I usually ride my bike there (about to head out now), cross-the L2 bridge from P7 pass through P6 and cycle up the ramps for the exercise. I admit that I go under a single barrier to do this.

If people are there, please put your rubbish in the bin - it's over in front of the lifts. I hope it hasn't been people from this board leaving stuff there, but I picked up several weeks' of rubbish last Friday, and there was more trash sitting there on Sunday.

[Robbie J]

I currently know nothing about the domestic carpark and whether it is used as a spotting area. If it is, how do we get there? Does it cost money?

Sean L., you can spot from anywhere with a view.

The Domestic Terminal airport is not the best vantage point unless you want views looking due south, mostly. You can see the East-West runway (which has been closed for some time) or the smaller parallel runway, which is east of the main runway. (However, the smaller parallel runway is very distant when viewed from the Domestic car park. For photos, you'd need a long lens. For spotting, the two car parks along Foreshore Road will get you much closer to that runway.)

There is no cost involved at the Domestic car park, unless you want to park-and-pay, but you've said you're relying on public transport, so it'll be free.

Considering that there's no cost involved, maybe check it out, but the placement of the Domestic car park is not ideal for spotting or photos, and some of that carpark (the most easterly end) is currently closed.

Considering that the airport car parks are all as empty as the airport itself, don't expect too much action during the current era.

The two spots you mentioned, Shep's Mound and the beach, are both good locations, as you've discovered for yourself.

(The beach is called Tower Beach, but I don't know if that is its official name on maps and in government officialdom - it seems to have gotten that nickname from its old air-traffic Control Tower that became dis-used when the newer tower was built beside Shep's Mound.)

Part of the fun can be exploring for new and dynamic vantage points.

At the north end of the main runway, you might like Swamp Road. Most people do. It can be reached on King Street South / The Princes Highway. You turn off near the large Ikea store.

The best section of Swamp Road for spotting is adjacent to the container terminal storage facility that runs from Tempe Reserve all the way up to Ikea. By public transport, I guess the best way to get there is to take a train to Tempe Station and cut across.

Edit: Public Transport:
- Bus 400 (which runs from Bondi Junction to Burwood) goes to the Domestic and International terminals.
- Trains go directly to both airport terminals from the city but are over-priced.
- Buses to the Mascot Shops will get you within walking distance of the Domestic Terminal and the private jet base near McDonalds and KFC.
- A train to Tempe Station will get you within ten minutes walk of the International Terminal.
- Any bus that goes along Grand Parade will get you to Tower Beach. (Alight at the Endeavour Bridge over Cooks River.)
- The beaches south of Tower Beach (Kyeemagh Beach and Bright-Le-Sands beach) are also nice spots for viewing the main runway.

[Robbie J]

I usually ride my bike there (about to head out now), cross-the L2 bridge from P7 pass through P6 and cycle up the ramps for the exercise. I admit that I go under a single barrier to do this.

Ten speed bicycle, red jacket?

[Kent Broadhead]

Mountain bike (27 speed) but mostly red top (not jacket)

I think I’ve met the person you’re thinking of.

[Sean L]

Sean L., you can spot from anywhere with a view.

The Domestic Terminal airport is not the best vantage point unless you want views looking due south, mostly. You can see the East-West runway (which has been closed for some time) or the smaller parallel runway, which is east of the main runway. (However, the smaller parallel runway is very distant when viewed from the Domestic car park. For photos, you'd need a long lens. For spotting, the two car parks along Foreshore Road will get you much closer to that runway.)

There is no cost involved at the Domestic car park, unless you want to park-and-pay, but you've said you're relying on public transport, so it'll be free.

Considering that there's no cost involved, maybe check it out, but the placement of the Domestic car park is not ideal for spotting or photos, and some of that carpark (the most easterly end) is currently closed.

Considering that the airport car parks are all as empty as the airport itself, don't expect too much action during the current era.

The two spots you mentioned, Shep's Mound and the beach, are both good locations, as you've discovered for yourself.

(The beach is called Tower Beach, but I don't know if that is its official name on maps and in government officialdom - it seems to have gotten that nickname from its old air-traffic Control Tower that became dis-used when the newer tower was built beside Shep's Mound.)

Part of the fun can be exploring for new and dynamic vantage points.

At the north end of the main runway, you might like Swamp Road. Most people do. It can be reached on King Street South / The Princes Highway. You turn off near the large Ikea store.

The best section of Swamp Road for spotting is adjacent to the container terminal storage facility that runs from Tempe Reserve all the way up to Ikea. By public transport, I guess the best way to get there is to take a train to Tempe Station and cut across.

Edit: Public Transport:
- Bus 400 (which runs from Bondi Junction to Burwood) goes to the Domestic and International terminals.
- Trains go directly to both airport terminals from the city but are over-priced.
- Buses to the Mascot Shops will get you within walking distance of the Domestic Terminal and the private jet base near McDonalds and KFC.
- A train to Tempe Station will get you within ten minutes walk of the International Terminal.
- Any bus that goes along Grand Parade will get you to Tower Beach. (Alight at the Endeavour Bridge over Cooks River.)
- The beaches south of Tower Beach (Kyeemagh Beach and Bright-Le-Sands beach) are also nice spots for viewing the main runway.

Thanks for the info, greatly appreciated.

[Robbie J]

No worries. Also try the Nigel Love Bridge at the north end of the main north/south runway. It is situated on Airport Drive, which is the road that runs between the International and Domestic terminals.

Please also note that when I said "the Domestic Terminal airport is not the best vantage point unless you want views looking due south, mostly" I actually meant to say "the Domestic Terminal car park is not the best vantage point unless you want views looking due south, mostly."

Let us know how you go. YSSY is a big place... a car, scooter or bicycle would assist you greatly.

[Kent Broadhead]

I hope it isn't spotters from here, but there has a been quite a bit of takeaway food rubbish dumped on P6 L12 recently. If you're thinking of leaving rubbish there, really? The bin is just over near the lifts.

[Kent Broadhead]

Anyone know what’s happened with P6? I’ve just been to L12 as I have hundreds, maybe thousands of times before, and a couple of security guys indicated that due to an incident, L12 and L11 are no longer ok for spotting. L10 (where I’m standing) apparently on but severely restricted view.

[Bob Kimmings]

I was there on Wednesday with no problems. There was a bloke lurking behind the wire mesh that has been put there, but I saw no incidents!!

[Kent Broadhead]

I couldn't quite understand what the sercurity guys were saying, but they we refrring to "an incident the other day".

I was back there a couple of times over the weekend and there was no security presence. Knowing now about the control tower incident the previous weekend, perhaps they were clearing those levels in case a backup was needed urgently?

[Robbie J]

Maybe a jumper (suicide)? Car thefts? I've seen a few local teenage hoons up there on mountain bikes, but not very often.

Have they indicated how long things will remain closed for? It may be back to normal already.

[Kent Broadhead]

I encountered them last Thursday, but no sign over the weekend.

[Robbie J]

There is another thread here in the Spotting and Movements page about new restrictions at P6, but that thread has been closed and locked down.

Rydges Hotel may re-open their spotting platform, but it won't be free, and I've never used it, so I don't know if their location is anywhere near as good as the locations within P6. They were immensely popular spots, and rightly so.

The Sydney Gateway road system has its official launch and opening day on September 1st. Hopefully it will present some good locations for spotting and photography.

The Nigel Love Bridge and canal walkway are also good, but the bridge seems to have been closed during construction works. I will do some scouting around in the next few days and report back.

[Robbie J]

The pedestrian/bicycle path on the 'gully' side of Airport Drive has been beautified around the same time work was done to build the new 'Sydney Gateway' road system into and out of the airport. That pedestrian path now has a couple of good spotting / photography locations that also include seating and water fountain 'bubblers' for those hot days out at YSSY.

[Gavan L]

Just wanted to mention the updated fence from Sheps mound. It's a shame its now higher, can't get the taxiing photos which were easy and clear to get. I did contact Sydney Airport on social media, asking if its was true but they never seem to reply. I have only seen the new fence with the latest JetPhotos.

[Kurt A]

New fence is government mandated, not Sydney Airport's own initiative. It's there to stay. You'll notice the entire airport boundary receiving the same treatment.

[Robert.M]

Indeed! There is also been a push to have similar/same fencing at other major airports (including regionals). So expect to see it at more places.

[Brenden S]

Interesting that Sydney is the only airport with this fencing around the place. At the end of the day if someone really wanted to jump over it they will. Just like what happened in Perth recently. Someone decided to jump 2 fences!

[Greg Hyde]

Unfortunately its the world we live in, like it or not.

The incident at Avalon in March made worldwide news.

Even those who hide under rock my find themselves fenced in.

[Brian Wilkes]

Interesting that Sydney is the only airport with this fencing around the place. At the end of the day if someone really wanted to jump over it they will. Just like what happened in Perth recently. Someone decided to jump 2 fences!

Melbourne is being encompassed by it as well, albeit slowly! New runway works start whenever that is, Melbourne will be completely cut off.