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Texan and Californian Visiting Australia August, 2025

Hauptmann

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My son and I (both droners--him with his Mavic 2 Pro and me with my new Mini 4 Pro) Will be in Sydney in early August. Taking in a performance at the Opera House 8/3. Staying at YHA Sydney Harbour. We'll rent a car for 1-2 days as needed. We want to hike the bridge and do some drone flying around the Sydney area. Then we're off to Cairns for a week plus of snorkeling, sight-seeing and more droning! Any of you Aussies have recommendations as to where to do our flying?
 
My son and I (both droners--him with his Mavic 2 Pro and me with my new Mini 4 Pro) Will be in Sydney in early August. Taking in a performance at the Opera House 8/3. Staying at YHA Sydney Harbour. We'll rent a car for 1-2 days as needed. We want to hike the bridge and do some drone flying around the Sydney area. Then we're off to Cairns for a week plus of snorkeling, sight-seeing and more droning! Any of you Aussies have recommendations as to where to do our flying?
I can't help you with flying locations, but flying a drone in Australia is a bit different from flying in the US an a Part 107 Certification is not valid in Australia.

To fly a drone as a tourist in Australia, you must follow their rules set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which includes: only flying during daylight hours. Unlike her ein the US where yu can fly at night…

Same there, keeping your drone within visual line-of-sight, not flying over people, maintaining a distance of at least 30 meters from others. And that's about 100 feet from people lateraly and that does not matter how high you are flying…

And there are special rule fore drones over 250 grams, perhaps a license and registeration… But I'll let you research that…

Assuming you are flying Qantas, you can bring a drone on their Airlines if it meets their safety and battery requirements. You should contact Qantas directly if you have questions about their policy.

Battery requirements:
*** Lithium-ion batteries in devices must be declared at check-in.
*** Batteries over 160Wh must be sent as freight.
*** Devices with batteries must be completely turned off and protected from accidental activation.
*** Spare lithium batteries and power banks must be carried in your carry-on bag.

Other requirements:
*** You may need approval from Qantas before flying, depending on the battery type and wattage.
*** Qantas will review your item at the airport if you don't have a Dangerous Goods annual approval.

Tips:
*** Use the Can I pack that? app or website to help you determine what you can pack.
*** Get confirmation from Qantas about their policy in case you have issues at the airport.

And here are some more Aussie references about flying Drones in their homeland… Without putting too fine a pint on it, "You are aren't in Kansas anymore…" or the USA…



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I hope you have a great time and post lots of photos and videos…
 
Assuming you are flying Qantas, you can bring a drone on their Airlines if it meets their safety and battery requirements. You should contact Qantas directly if you have questions about their policy.
Qantas and all other airlines flying into Australia have the same battery rules as airlines everywhere.
Batteries must be in your carry-on, not in checked luggage.
*** Batteries over 160Wh must be sent as freight.
DJI consumer batteries are all <100 Wh.
Other requirements:
*** You may need approval from Qantas before flying, depending on the battery type and wattage.
*** Qantas will review your item at the airport if you don't have a Dangerous Goods annual approval.
None of this applies
 
Taking in a performance at the Opera House 8/3. Staying at YHA Sydney Harbour.
Not sure why this is in Pilot Check In since you’ve been around the forum for a while. Anyway, you’re brave to do the bridge climb. That is one scary hike up that narrow walkway. If they still have the harbor lunch cruise next door to the Opera house I strongly recommend it. It’s a buffet and they have Sydney Oysters with a half dozen different sauces. Lots of other great food and a wonderful tour. You’ll love Cairns & the Great Barrier Reef. We went out of Port Douglas. Lots of great eating places.
 
Enjoy your visit and memoires of Australia. We look forward to your stories and your views of your adventure.
 
recommendations
I guess some folk feel that traveling with these batteries is less of a concern than a tube of toothpaste, but Qantas does have rules. I may have overstated what you would need to do but you did not mention if you were also taking other electronics (computers, video cameras, etc…). And in spite of the apparent ease to travel with these batteries, Qantas still requires that you declare them and then they will check them that they are safe to fly (no leaks, not bulging, etc…) and most important, that the batteries' terminals must be "Taped" over to prevent shorting…

And if you did not know that, you might be at the gate, trying to check in and then have to go running all over the airport looking for a roll of tape… But hey, that is what makes an adventure exciting, right?

Me, I would rather wait for the adventure to begin before the excitement starts…
 
but Qantas does have rules. ..
Qantas still requires that you declare them and then they will check them that they are safe to fly (no leaks, not bulging, etc…) and most important, that the batteries' terminals must be "Taped" over to prevent shorting…
I'm not sure where you heard this.
Qantas rules regarding batteries are the same as for all other airlines.
Qantas don't require reporting batteries at check in (unless they are much larger than any DJI consumer drone batteries).
Qantas don't check your batteries.

Regardless of which airline you fly with, all security checkin is done by airport security personnel, not airline staff.
 
There are a couple of sites close to the Opera House that I’ve flown - mainly over the harbour. I’ve been to Cairns quite a few times but not since I’ve owned a drone. Cairns and surroundings have many tourist helicopter flights - just to be aware. There’s no issues bringing a sub 250g drone in (no licensing required).
 
Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!
 

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