Heya, welcome to the forum.
I visit Melb a fair bit (son there), but usually don't have too much time to fly anywhere metro.
Usually do that on the way to / from, and often go via out of the way routes to see new places.
Ok, there are a few apps now from CASA and Ok2Fly is fine, mostly they all show the same airspace stuff and temp NFZ, none show other places with restrictions, such as National Parks and local councils.
National Parks is fairly straightforward, just say recreational flight is out, even RePL / ReOC ops are hard to get permits, and quite high fees.
Councils. Varies, but a LOT of urban councils seem to have similar blanket bans on drones and other model aircraft, motorised cars etc from operating on land under their authority.
If you google the councils name, followed by drone bylaw, you will usually (but not always) find the info.
I know most metro SA councils have bans, but am yet to see a sign, or yet to be pulled up by anyone when I very seldomly fly in a couple of parks to test something.
I do take great care not to fly unless a place has virtually anyone around, fly a lot mid week, middle of the day etc if possible, or very early morning.
Use some discretion as to where / when you fly, and I doubt very much anyone will bother you.
Be prepared to land if approached and asked to cease flying, plead your innocent flight and flying to CASA drone regs (ensure you are), say you were unaware and will check in future etc etc.
I haven't heard or seen on forums anyone getting fined in Australia for such an 'offence', we have a very ow drone count in general, and it wouldn't be a huge problem in general for councils etc.
Beaches there ?
Try and do sunrise flights, hardly anyone around, be discreet and courteous to others, fly well within CASA rules, get up, 20 - 25 mins, down, move on up the road to another place to check out.
I fly well away from people usually, takes anything from 30mins to a couple of hours to be completely alone and no one to bother you.
edit typo
