Join me on an escorted group-led tour taking in the incredible Shellharbour airshow and visits to the world class HARS Aviation Museum and also the Naval Air Fleet Arm museum at Nowra Air Force Base.
Airshows Downunder Shellharbour is held in the Illawarra on the NSW south coast, just over an hour south of Sydney. Situated in a picturesque location with an amazing backdrop of the Illawarra escarpment, experience the thrill of the flying displays, get up close and personal with historic, military, modern and aerobatic aircraft on the ground and have a great family day out with free carnival rides, market stalls and dining options.
The event’s diverse program includes ground displays and flying demonstrations of historic, military, modern and aerobatic aircraft as well as vintage car and motorbike displays, children’s rides and other aviation and technology related exhibitions. In November 2013 the then “Wings Over Illawarra” was born and has grown substantially over the years- rising to 33,000 spectators in 2017. They were drawn by the great variety of performers, the carnival family atmosphere of the event and a series of “firsts”, including the debut of Australia’s only flying World War II era German Focke Wulf FW190, and performances by Australian aerobatics legend Matt Hall. They were in good company, flying alongside the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes aerobatic team, F/A-18 Hornet jets and a World War I Fokker DR1.
Airshows Downunder Shellharbour is a two-day carnival of aviation with something for everyone. It will showcase the best of modern defence force aircraft, civil aerobatics performers, restored historic and warbird aircraft and ground displays, with two action-packed days of flying and a wide range of aircraft on the display program.
Departing New Zealand on Thursday 12 March and spending four nights in a comfortable local hotel, we’ll be having a tours through the HARS Air Museum as well as visiting the historic R.A.N museum at Nowra seeing their incredible display of historic aircraft and also taking in the 3-day Shellharbour airshow which includes the Friday and two main show days Saturday/Sunday and then heading home on Monday.
The HARS museum
The HARS Aviation Museum is a world-class aviation museum located at Shellharbour Airport. The museum has an extensive collection of aircraft, and other aviation memorabilia, that is significant to Australia’s aviation heritage.
The museum’s mission is to recover, and where possible restore to flying condition, aircraft or types of aircraft that have played a significant part in Australian Aviation History both in the Civil and Military arenas.
Whilst their collection centres around a parade of airliners from the “Southern Cross Replica” (a faithful replica Fokker F.VIIb/3m trimotor) through our three flying C-47 / DC-3 aircraft (one of which is the “Hawdon”, TAA’s first passenger aircraft), Convair 440, DC-4, Fokker F27 Friendship, Super Constellation and Boeing 747-438, they also have a number of other historic aircraft types. There is the Catalina, two Caribou, three P-2 Neptunes (two flyable), AP-3C Orion, CA-27 Avon Sabre, Canberra, two Vampires, Mirage IIIO, Winjeel, Auster J5G Autocar, Tiger Moth, Victa Airtourer and an F-111C, among others.
The RAN Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra
One of the largest regional aviation museums in Australia, FAAM holds over 30 aircraft (Hawker Sea Fury, A4 Skyhawk, Fairy Firefly, Sea Venom and more) from the early twentieth century through to the modern era. Along with a collection of technology, models, clothing, personal memorabilia and audio-visual displays, the museum tells the fascinating stories of members who have served Australia in the Fleet Air Arm. Designed to resemble an aircraft hangar, the museum overlooks the runaway at HMAS Albatross, the Navy’s largest operational naval establishment and only air station.
Shellharbour Hotel – King or Twin Room
Lakeview Hotel Motel offers 25 well-appointed rooms designed with families and travellers in mind. Each room features an en suite, air-conditioning, bar fridge, microwave, toaster, tea/coffee and TV, providing all the essentials for a relaxed stay. Located in the heart of picturesque Shellharbour, the hotel is only a 10+min walk (or 2 min Uber ride) from the Shellharbour Shopping Centre. The hotel also has a bar and restaurant open for lunches and dinners also. Breakfast and café options are a short distance away (10min walk or 2 min Uber).
Package includes: Return Economy class (Premium and Business class options also available) flights ex Auckland to Sydney (incl meals, drinks, movies and baggage), private coach transfers for our entire trip, 4 nights hotel accommodation at Shellharbour, visits and entry to both the HARS Aviation Museum and the RAN Air Fleet Arm Museum at Nowra, daily private transfers from our hotel to the Shellharbour Airshow (Saturday & Sunday) and departure hotel to airport transfer.
Packages start from $2,289 per person (twin share or single willing to share). Single room please add $710.
2026 Ticket options & pricing TBA (2024 prices: General Admission AUD$85 p/day or Gold Pass AUD$175 p/day).
For packages with additional domestic flights or different international flights, please contact me for a quote.
I look forward to travelling with you ~