Opening Times:

April - September: 7.30am - 5.30pm
October - March: 6.30am - 7.00pm

Location:

The Airport Viewing Area is on Dunreath Road - the road which links the domestic and international terminals. Dunreath Road can be reached by car or taxi, from Brearley Avenue or from Horrie Miller Drive. The Airport Viewing Area is signposted, about halfway along Dunreath Road, near a pair of mobile phone towers.
Located to the west of Runway 03 - see map HERE

Advantages:

• Only 320 metres from centreline of runway 03/21. Excellent views of traffic landing on runway 03 and taking off runway 21. Recommend a zoom lens of 300mm or above to photograph smaller aircraft taking off or landing.
• Only 100 metres from centreline of taxiway A3, and 200 metres from taxiway M, where aircraft turn to line up on runway 03. Excellent views of aircraft taxying along these taxiways.
• Great for afternoon or late morning photography
• Elevated position
• Plenty of free car parking bays, and a bus parking bay
• Disabled parking and wheelchair ramp access available
• Shelters provide some protection from sun and rain
• Seating available
• Rubbish bins available
• Earplugs available

Disadvantages:

• Wind sock sometimes gets in the way of touchdown photos
• Trees on extreme left can sometimes obstruct aircraft taxying along taxiway A3 or during rotation for take-off.
• Most aircraft landing on runway 21 turn off before reaching the viewing area (using taxiway L2).
• Some aircraft taking off from runway 03 turn onto runway before reaching the viewing area (using taxiway L1).
• Early morning photography will be facing the sun.
• Photographing smaller aircraft on runway requires a telephoto lens of at least 300mm.
• Cannot photograph aircraft using Runway 06/24.
• No toilets
• No food/drink vending machines
• Shade from shelters is limited, and as afternoon progresses seating position is exposed to sun

LEFT: The Airport Viewing Area is signposted from Dunreath Road.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: To help protect the Airport Viewing Area from vandalism and other criminal activities, the area is closed at night.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: Morning view of the Airport Viewing Area.

It has plenty of parking, including a bus parking bay, and it is all FREE.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: Another view of car park, taken from the Airport Viewing Area.

Dunreath Road is visible centre left, on the other side of the mobile phone towers.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: Afternoon view of the Airport Viewing Area, taken from the car park, showing the walkway which is also designed for wheelchair access.

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 is visible, having just taken off from runway 21.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: Sign near the walkway, advising of the opening times and with warnings about not smoking.

Please be careful with rubbish, which presents a hazard to aircraft.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: Sign near one of the disabled parking bays, and one of the rubbish bins.

Please be careful with your rubbish, as it presents a hazard to aircraft.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: View from the Airport Viewing Area of the walkway, which is also designed for wheelchair access

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: Welcome sign at Airport Viewing Area.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT: This straight pathway at the Airport Viewing Area is 120 feet long - the same distance as that flown by the Wright Brothers on their first flight.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
Perth Airport Viewing Area, facing towards the International Terminal.

The shelter design is based upon the upper deck structure of a Boeing 747.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
Perth Airport Viewing Area, facing towards the threshold of runway 03.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
Perth Airport Viewing Area, facing towards Dunreath Road and the carpark.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
Perth Airport Viewing Area, facing towards the International Terminal.

The signs on the handrailing overlooking the runway and taxiway are designed to loosely resemble aircraft passenger windows.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
These were the first children to visit the Airport Viewing Area, watching as a Boeing 717 of QantasLink lands on runway 03 at 10:42am as flight QF1903 from Karratha, on the official opening day - 16 December 2011.
Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
Unfortunately, three trees at the left partially obscure the view of aircraft rotating for take-off, as this photo of a Qantas A330 shows.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
The trees also partially obscure the view of aircraft taxying along taxiway A3, as this photo of a Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 shows. There is a taller tree to the left of this which blocks the view entirely.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
The wind sock is positioned near the touch down position on runway 03, so care needs to be taken to avoid photos like this.

VH-OJE Boeing 747-438 of Qantas landing on runway 03 as flight QF581 from Sydney.

** The centreline of the runway is only 320 metres from the Airport Viewing Area. **

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
B-6502 Airbus A330-343X of China Southern Airlines, operating flight CZ320 from Perth to Guangzhou and Beijing, taxying along taxiway A3, towards taxiway M at 10:31am, before lining up for take-off from runway 03.

** The centreline of taxiway A3 is only 100 metres from the viewing area, meaning the wing tip of this A330 passed only 70 metres away. **

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
VH-VUR Boeing 737-8FE of Virgin Australia, named "Star City", taxying past at 10:33am as flight DJ1437 to Darwin.

Note the First Officer in the cockpit looking at the guests assembled for the opening ceremony.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
VH-VUR Boeing 737-8FE of Virgin Australia, named "Star City", holding on taxiway M whilst VH-NXK Boeing 717-231 of QantasLink lands on runway 03 as flight QF1803 from Paraburdoo at 10:34am.

Taxiway M is only 200 metres from the viewing area.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
VH-OJE Boeing 747-438 of Qantas, named "City of Adelaide". Operating flight QF582 to Sydney, climbing after takeoff from runway 21 at 1:53pm.

This shows some of the close-up views you can obtain with a telephoto lens.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
VH-VZD Boeing 737-838 of Qantas, named "Port Geelong" and wearing a special colourscheme for the Optus / Qantas Frequent Flyer promotion.

Operating flight QF1114 to Port Hedland, climbing after takeoff from runway 21 at 2:16pm.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
VH-NHP Fokker 100 of Network Aviation.

Operating a flight to Camp Nifty Airport (YCNF), climbing after takeoff from runway 21 at 1:29pm.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
PK-GMO Boeing 737-8U3 of Garuda Indonesia.

Operating flight GA725 to Denpasar (Bali), climbing after takeoff from runway 21 at 3:16pm.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
9V-SRQ Boeing 777-212ER of Singapore Airlines.

Operating flight SQ226 to Singapore, climbing after takeoff from runway 21 at 4:10pm.

Photo © David Eyre

LEFT:
VH-FNE Fokker 50 of Skywest Airlines.

Operating flight XR114 from Geraldton, landing on runway 03 at 9:58am.

Photo © Neville Murphy