Helicopters are an amazing piece of machinery. However, one of the things I love most about flying helicopters is the freedom they give you. Unlike an airliner that needs a long runway and a purpose-built terminal, a helicopter can operate from a surprisingly wide range of locations.
Well… almost anywhere. Within reason, of course.
As with many helicopter operators, we have access to fantastic airports and landing locations across Victoria.
Some locations are incredibly convenient, and this includes Melbourne Airport, best Airport, worst Airport, Essendon Fields.
Others have amazing facilities.
They are great to visit because of their history and the people who operate there.
But it got me thinking recently:
What is the best airport you have ever been to? Additionally, what is the worst?
To begin, I will list my five favorite airports around Victoria and southern New South Wales. This includes Melbourne Airport, best Airport, worst Airport, Essendon Fields, helping set context before naming the actual least favorite.
And remember, this is very much a personal opinion from someone who spends a lot of time around general aviation airports. What makes an airport great to one pilot might make it frustrating to another.
So, here we go.
1. Essendon Fields – Melbourne
This one probably comes as no surprise. Essendon Fields has to be number one.
Yes, it is our home base for Leisure Heli Tours, so perhaps I am a little biased. But there is something special about Essendon Fields.
For anyone interested in Australian aviation history, Essendon is an incredibly significant location. The airport has been part of Melbourne’s aviation story since the early days of commercial flying and was Melbourne’s principal airport before Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine opened in 1970.
It has seen generations of aircraft, airlines, pilots and passengers pass through its gates.
Essendon was also the scene of some important moments in Australian aviation, including the arrival of international services and the famous visit of US President Richard Nixon in 1953. For many years, it was the gateway to Melbourne for both domestic and international travelers.
Today, the airport has evolved considerably.
It is now home to a diverse aviation community including corporate aircraft, helicopters, charter operators, flight training, maintenance organizations and general aviation.
For us, it is also the perfect location for our helicopter tours in Melbourne.
We can collect guests, settle them into our executive lounge, complete the pre-flight briefing and then take off for destinations across Victoria.
And there is something pretty special about departing Essendon, climbing away from the runway and seeing the Melbourne CBD appear in front of you.
For me, Essendon isn’t just an airport. It is part of Melbourne’s aviation history.
2. Melbourne Airport – Tullamarine
Number two has to be Melbourne Airport.
Now, you might be thinking, “How can a major international airport be one of your favorites?”
For me, it comes down to what can be created around the experience.
Imagine being collected from the terminal in the latest Mercedes, driven across the airport precinct to the Mercedes-Benz facility, and then making your way to your private helicopter.
Everything about that experience can feel premium.
Melbourne Airport is obviously a completely different environment to Essendon Fields. It is big, busy and designed to handle millions of passengers, international arrivals, domestic departures and significant freight operations.
But for a private helicopter experience, there is something quite exciting about being surrounded by the scale of commercial aviation while having your own aircraft waiting for you.
It is particularly appealing for corporate and VIP clients who want to turn a simple transfer into part of the experience.
That is one of the things we love about helicopter charter.
The journey becomes part of the destination.
3. Moorabbin Airport
Coming in at number three is Moorabbin Airport.
For anyone involved in Australian general aviation, Moorabbin is a special place.
It is one of Australia’s busiest metropolitan general aviation aerodromes and is a major center for flight training and general aviation. Airservices Australia describes it as a complex operating environment with a diverse range and high volume of aircraft operations.
Walk around Moorabbin and you will see just how diverse Australian aviation can be.
- Helicopters.
- Light aircraft.
- Flight schools.
- Maintenance organizations.
- Charter operators.
- Private aircraft.
And plenty of pilots wandering around talking about aeroplanes and helicopters.
For someone who enjoys aviation, it is difficult not to like Moorabbin.
There is only one thing I think it is missing.
Parking.
And perhaps a really good coffee shop.
But maybe that’s part of the charm.
Moorabbin is about aviation first, and that is exactly why it remains one of my favorite airports.
4. Albury Airport
Number four is a little further afield: Albury Airport.
Albury is one of those regional airports that punches well above its weight.
Located only around five kilometers from the Albury CBD, the airport provides regular services to Melbourne and Sydney, while also supporting general aviation and charter operations. (AlburyCity). What I really like about Albury is the variety.
You can see commercial aircraft, helicopters, private aircraft and corporate aviation all operating from the same airport.
For helicopter operators, regional airports like Albury are particularly interesting because they can provide an important connection between regional communities and the larger aviation network.
And then there is the location.
Albury sits right in the middle of the Melbourne–Sydney–Canberra triangle, making it a genuinely useful aviation hub for regional Australia.
It has a great mix of commercial aviation and general aviation without feeling like a massive metropolitan airport.
That makes it a winner for me.
5. Avalon Airport
Number five is Avalon Airport.
Avalon is an interesting airport because it has developed into something much more than simply another Melbourne airport.
It has been operating for more than 70 years and is Victoria’s second international airport. Today, Avalon supports domestic and international passenger operations, cargo, general aviation and other aviation activities. (Avalon Airport)
It is also home to the Australian International Airshow, which attracts huge crowds and showcases some of the world’s most impressive aircraft. (Avalon Airport)
There is something quite different about Avalon.
The runway is enormous, the airport has plenty of space and there is a genuine sense of aviation history mixed with modern commercial operations.
For aviation enthusiasts, the combination of large commercial aircraft, general aviation and major events makes Avalon an interesting place to visit.
And now for the difficult part.
And the Worst Airport?
This is where I might get myself into trouble.
Because I don’t want to offend anyone, and I want to stress again that this is completely my personal opinion.
I’ve based this decision on things that matter to me as a helicopter operator and pilot:
- Ease of access
- Fuel availability
- Parking
- Airport facilities
- Food and coffee
- Passenger facilities
- General convenience
And after considering all of that…
Benalla Airport
Sorry, Benalla. But you’re taking the wooden spoon.
Now, before anyone from Benalla Airport sends me an angry email, let me explain.
Benalla itself is fantastic.
The airport has an important role in Victorian aviation, particularly with gliding, general aviation and recreational flying.
But when I’m judging an airport purely from the perspective of a helicopter operator looking for somewhere convenient to stop, refuel, grab a coffee and stretch the legs, it doesn’t quite stack up against my favorites.
Fuel, facilities, food and general convenience all come into the equation. And sometimes, when you’ve been flying for a few hours, the simple things matter.
You want somewhere you can land, shut down, grab a coffee, have something to eat, use decent facilities and get back in the helicopter.
That’s what makes a great aviation destination.
So, What’s Your Best and Worst Airport?
And that is my list.
My five favorite airports are:
- Essendon Fields
- Melbourne Airport
- Moorabbin Airport
- Albury Airport
- Avalon Airport
And my least favorite?
Benalla Airport.
But I would genuinely love to hear what other pilots, aviation enthusiasts and travelers think.
Maybe I’ve missed somewhere, maybe you completely disagree with me. Or, maybe you’ve got an airport that makes Benalla look like a five-star international terminal!
That’s the great thing about aviation. Every pilot seems to have an airport story. Some are about fantastic facilities, Some are about spectacular approaches.
Some are about incredible people, and some are simply about finding somewhere to land, finding a decent coffee and wondering why you ever decided to become a pilot in the first place.
For us at Leisure Heli Tours, airports are more than simply somewhere to arrive and depart.
They are the beginning of the experience.
Whether we’re taking guests on a helicopter flight over Melbourne, heading into the Yarra Valley for a winery lunch, flying towards the 12 Apostles, transferring guests to a major event or simply taking someone on their first helicopter ride, the airport is where the adventure begins.
So, I’ll put the question back to you:
What’s the best airport you’ve ever visited — and what’s the worst?
I’d genuinely love to hear your stories.
I’ve deliberately kept the Benalla criticism light-hearted so the article feels like a genuine personal opinion rather than a negative review, while the airport facts are supported by current official sources.
