The Best Parks if You Want to Fly a Drone in Brisbane

Want to know where you can fly a drone in Brisbane? And do you want to know what the rules are around flying a drone or model aircraft for fun? If you or someone you know wants to fly a drone in or around Brisbane, you might want to brush up on these rules and make sure you don’t put yourself or anyone else at risk.

Where can I fly a drone in Brisbane?

The Brisbane City Council currently has 10 designated parks participating in a trial allowing the recreational use of drones in them.

In what parks can I fly a drone in Brisbane?

These are the local Brisbane City Council parks that are participating in a trial specifically allowing you to fly a drone in Brisbane.

• Canterbury Park
• Lacey Road Park
• Carindale Recreation Reserve
• Preston Road Park
• Wishart Community Park
• Moggill Ferry Park
• Voyager Drive Park
• The Common Park
• Keperra Picnic Ground Park
• Cliveden Park

Parks not included in the list of Brisbane parks above:

Individuals can fly drones and other remotely piloted aircraft from any Brisbane City Council park without Council consent if:

• the drone is a children’s toy, or weighs less than 0.5 kg; or
• the drone weighs less than 0.1kg when flown in Council parks located within 5.5km of the Brisbane Airport or Archerfield Airport*; and
• the drone is being flown for recreational purposes; and
• the drone is being flown in a manner that does not endanger, interfere with or cause nuisance to the park, park users or adjoining properties; and
• the operator follows the Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) safety rules for flying drones and other remotely piloted aircraft recreationally.

*CASA requires that drones and remotely piloted aircraft that weigh more than 0.1kg must not be flown within 5.5km of the Brisbane or Archerfield airports.

All other flying of drones and other remotely piloted aircraft from Brisbane City Council parks is a ‘restricted activity’ under Council’s Public Lands and Council Assets Local Law 2014 (PLACA) and can only be undertaken in designated areas or with Council consent.

Where can I buy a good drone in Brisbane?

You can buy cheap drones or you can buy good drones. Don’t mix them up!

Here are some of our favourites:

Social Media Flying Camera: Folding Mini Pocket Selfie Drone

The rules around flying drones for fun

These rules are for ‘recreational drone useage’  if you want to fly a drone in Brisbane. These safety rules are designed to protect other people in the air and on the ground.

You must not fly your drone in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person or property, so follow these rules every time you fly.

These rules do not apply to all drone flyers. If you hold a remote pilot licence (RePL) and operate according to a remotely piloted aircraft operator certificate (ReOC) or have an authorisation from CASA, you will be exempt.

Follow these general rules for the safety

• You must not fly your drone higher than 120 metres (400 ft) above the ground.
• You must not fly your drone over or near an area affecting public safety or where emergency operations are underway (without prior approval). This could include situations such as a car crash, police operations, a fire and associated firefighting efforts, and search and rescue operations.
• You must not fly your drone within 30 metres of people, unless the other person is part of controlling or navigating the drone.
• You must fly only one drone at a time.
• If your drone weighs more than 100 grams:
  • You must keep your drone at least 5.5km away from controlled aerodromes (usually those with a control tower)
  • You may fly within 5.5km of a non-controlled aerodrome or helicopter landing site (HLS) only if manned aircraft are not operating to or from the aerodrome. If you become aware of manned aircraft operating to or from the aerodrome/ HLS, you must manoeuvre away from the aircraft and land as soon as safely possible. This includes:
    • not operating your drone within the airfield boundary (*without approval)
    • not operating your drone in the approach and departure paths of the aerodrome (*without approval)
• You must only fly during the day and keep your drone within visual line-of sight.
  • This means being able to orientate, navigate and see the aircraft with your own eyes at all times (rather than through a device; for example, through goggles or on a video screen).
• You must not fly over or above people. This could include festivals, sporting ovals, populated beaches, parks, busy roads and footpaths.
• You must not operate your drone in a way that creates a hazard to another aircraft, person, or property
• You must not operate your drone in prohibited or restricted areas.

* Approval is generally linked to an approved model flying association and its members

Please respect personal privacy. Don’t record or photograph people without their consent—this may breach state laws.

Important: tips for flying within the law

• There might be local council and/or national park laws prohibiting drone flights in certain areas. The parks listed above are good to go, but that doesnt mean that all parks in all areas welcome drone flying.
• Make sure you research the area you plan to fly and contact your council or national park if you’re unsure.
• Don’t operate near emergency services aircraft – if you fly, they can’t.