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Drone flying in Brisbane parks — every legal launch site

Brisbane is one of the friendlier Australian cities for recreational drone pilots, but only because the council has designated specific parks for take-off and landing. Fly anywhere else without a permit and you're breaking the rules — and a curious ranger will let you know. Here's exactly where you can launch, the CASA rules every pilot must follow, and the practical tips that make for a stress-free flight.

The legal short version

For recreational pilots flying drones under 2kg in Brisbane, you must:

• Take off and land only at one of the council's 9 designated drone launch sites (or on private land with the owner's permission).
• Stay below 120 metres (400 feet) above the ground.
• Always keep your drone within visual line of sight.
• Stay at least 30 metres away from people not involved with the flight.
• Fly only during daylight hours.
• Never fly over crowds, sporting events, beaches with people, or roads with traffic.
• Stay 5.5km from controlled aerodromes (Brisbane Airport, Archerfield) — much of inner Brisbane is restricted.
• Register your drone with CASA if it weighs more than 250g (free, takes 5 minutes).

Penalties for breaking these rules can hit $11,000 per offence. Take the rules seriously.

The 9 designated launch sites in Brisbane

Brisbane City Council has approved nine specific parks for recreational drone take-off and landing. They were chosen because they're outside the major airport restriction zones, have open space, and have low foot traffic. The current list (always check council website for updates):

• Banoon Reserve, Indooroopilly
• Bayside Park, Wynnum
• Beth Boyd Park, Aspley
• Carindale Recreation Reserve, Carindale
• Currumbin Court Park, Bracken Ridge
• Hibiscus Sports Complex, Upper Mt Gravatt
• Murarrie Recreation Reserve, Murarrie
• Sandy Camp Wetlands, Wynnum West
• Tingalpa Reservoir Reserve, Belmont

You can find all of these on the FindMyPark map by enabling the "Drone launch sites" filter — it'll show you the exact pin, parking, and any nearby amenities like toilets and water.

Why airspace matters in Brisbane

Brisbane Airport sits north-east of the CBD, and Archerfield Airport sits south-west. CASA bans recreational drone flying within 5.5km of either — and that 5.5km bubble covers most of the inner suburbs from New Farm to Indooroopilly. That's why all 9 council-approved sites are in the outer suburbs. Use the OpenSky app (CASA's official tool) to check the airspace for any spot before you fly.

Best practices for a clean flight

• Check the weather first. Anything above 10 m/s wind is risky for sub-1kg drones. Brisbane afternoons get gusty.
• Fly early or late. Mornings before 9am have the best light and the calmest wind. Sunset gives the prettiest footage.
• Pre-flight checklist: battery 80%+, props secure, SD card in, GPS lock, return-to-home set.
• Tell people nearby. A friendly heads-up to anyone in the park goes a long way.
• Carry your CASA registration label if anyone asks.
• Don't chase wildlife. Especially at Sandy Camp Wetlands — the bird life is the attraction, not a target.

What if I want to fly somewhere else?

You'll need a permit. Council issues filming and aerial activity permits through their parks team — the process takes 4–6 weeks and costs $150+. For commercial work (real estate, weddings, video production), you also need a CASA Remote Pilot Licence (RePL) and an operator certificate (ReOC). The recreational sites above are for hobbyists only.

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