UPSIDE DOWN IN A VINTAGE WARPLANE OVER SURFERS PARADISE

Australia seems to be my destination of choice for adrenaline-fuelled activities. Like my jaunt to the Great Barrier Reef, skydiving during my 30th birthday, this Bridge Climb on Sydney's Harbour Bridge, and now this, an aerobatic flight high up in the air at 4,000 feet using a vintage 1930s Tiger Moth open-cockpit plane over the bewitching scenery of the Gold Coast.

Quite a mouthful, yea?

For starters, where's Surfers Paradise?

See that tiny red location icon that is the boundary of the Australian land mass and the South Pacific Ocean? Yep, that's Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. It's usually bypassed by travelers in favor of Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, and Perth. Due to its location overlooking the vast open sea, it's known for its fantastic surf breaks. It has more than its share of endless shores and aquamarine waters, too, making it one of the ultimate spots for a scenic flight!

Cool. Now what's a Tiger Moth?

According to Wikipedia: it's a 1930s biplane designed by Geoffrey de Havilland and was originally operated by the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) as a primary trainer for pilots (it was used as a World War 2 aircraft). Being a biplane, it is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other.

In short, it's a tiny plane that packs a punch. Check out my sweet ride....!

​Double cool. So what do you do on an aerobatic flight?

These flights include manoeuvres such as loops, rolls, snap rolls, vertical rolls, avalanches, spinning and a bunch of other moves that will definitely get your heart pumping! It makes you experience all the sensations of being an aerobatic display pilot ... As my company of choice for this experience, Tiger Moth Joy Rides, oh-so aptly explains in their website. In other words, you're going to have a hell of a great time, upright or upside-down in an eensie-weensie plane in one of the most gorgeous destinations in Australia! ;-)

How does it go?

The day started with a pick up at my hotel in Surfers Paradise (the uber-comfy Outriggers Surfers Paradise - which as of 2015 has changed management and is now called Mantra on View) to a large swath of land with an air strip around 45 minutes from the center. The pilot made full technical and mechanical safety checks and I was given a safety briefing. The flight is dependent on wind conditions so I waited for almost an hour before I was buckled up for the flight.

Before I knew it, up, up and away we went!!!

We started with a scenic flight on the way to the coastline. Just chillin' in mah small plane, giddily taking it all in. Wind in my hair ... and mouth ... and everywhere else ... not a care in the world. Except maybe for the hair in my mouth.

The landlocked views opened up to the panoramic coastline. Gold Coast, YOU BEAUTY!!

Image: Lauren Bath for Tiger Moth Joy Rides

Look at that STUNNING scenery! You can practically see the entire length of the Gold Coast's 70-km coastline from 4,000 feet. I was seeing all of these vividly from my open cockpit. Look Ma, no glass windows!

And now, the FUN part.... We dipped, nosedived, did stall turns for maximum impact, dropped, swirled, made barrel loops, hammerheads, loop the loops ... I now know how it feels like to be inside a giant washing machine, albeit all dry and pinned to my seat by 3G forces!! Haha!

Spinning views of the sky and sea!

One of the most beautiful moments during this aerobatics flight was when I was upside down, I saw a truly magnificent whale, sidling up to a fishing boat with the curiosity of a toddler, while in the open waters of the South Pacific Ocean. It was whale-watching season, after all! That magical moment seeing one of these gentle giants is forever seared into my memory as one of the best in my life. What a DAZZLING day! TWO THUMBS UP!

If you're an adrenaline junkie like myself who want a unique experience in Australia, this flight is for YOU! Nothing quite like seeing the Gold Coast high up & upside down! How's that for a different perspective? :-)

Happy travels! x

In memory of Jimmy Rae, my super awesome pilot. Thank you for the fun, incredible experience and for making me feel safe the entire time.

#Australia