Skydive Nagambie

I did alot of tandems there and a few AFFs but got banned from AFF by the owner Don Cross. For what ? asking too many questions! I have seen manifest there being very rude to new jumpers.(thankfully not to me)

Definite Clique (esp a few female jumpers who seem to think they can chose who is welcome and who is not) and they are only low level employees.

Oh, yeas, I liked it there! A couple of days at Summer Camp boogie (December, 2006) were really fantastic! Warm, absolutely fragile sky after Moscow cold and clouds…
Welcoming atmosphere, friendly people, great place to hang out!
Fast and convenient plane, soft packing area, excellent packing service.
The stuff is very professional, that is right!

Thanks guys!
If I ever visit Australia again, I will surely be there, at Nagambie’s sky!

I did a tandem and most of AFF at Nagambie a couple of years ago, so this review may be somewhat out of date. I didn't want to write it then because I had no other DZs to compare it to, but now I do.

To start with, the location is pretty much perfect. The drive to Nagambie from Melbourne is pleasant, and as you get closer you pass wineries and country pubs, not to mention the rickety bridge across one of the lakes next to the DZ.

Don (DZO) and Louise are welcoming to students, and I felt extremely confident in their AFF instructors and the TMs taking me and my friends to 14k in their (very nice) Cessna Caravan. Someone said the Caravan was hors d'combat and they have a PAC now, but I can't confirm that.

The view on the way up is stunning. Lush fields as far as the eye can see, and on early morning loads the lakes shine copper and gold in the sun... nothing better to give you an appetite for that bacon and egg sandwich you thoughfully ordered before you got on the load ;)

The bunkhouse is very basic and a bit rickety-looking, but very roomy. Food onsite is limited to a guy operating out of a trailer, so you get the usual selection of fried things (yay fried things!) and if he's not there, it's into Nagambie town to the pub. But frankly, you're not there for the food.

As an AFF student, I found the local jumpers a bit l33t and didn't have much luck finding people other than my own JM to talk to or answer questions. It wasn't a big deal, but further travels have revealed that there are much more welcoming places. Having said that, returning to Australia as a more experienced skydiver some time in the future, I'm sure it'll be much easier and Nagambie struck me as a brilliant place to go further into your career. The staff really do know their stuff and there seems to be a dedication to skydiver education there - courses, safety days and the like. And I really did like that Caravan.

If you are going there to do AFF, keep in mind that in 2003 they were training on the SOS deployment system, which will require re-training (in both main *and* emergency procedures) to get you onto a sport rig after you're off student status. As a newbie I have no comment on its goodness or badness, but my instructors elsewhere have said that it's been abandoned outside Australia.

This review sounds a bit critical, but in all honestly I intend to make Nagambie my home DZ when I get back to Melbourne. It's a lovely place, and I have good memories of my trips there.

A great Drop Zone that makes everyone welcome. All equipment is excellent from the hire gear to the packing mats and a fantastic plane. This place is run by Skydivers to promote Skydiving from a Tandem fun Jump to a training place for champion teams and everyone in between. All staff and jumpers are friendly, this place quickly becomes a home away from home. Don't plan on visiting this place once - you will return again and again.

This is the place where my dream became a reality, It started with a tandem with Lee, and is now a fully blown!! AFF course.

I love the place, love the people and love skydiving!

All the staff here are all very professional. From the way that you are manifested to the way that the guy taking the video treats you it is all first class.
Top quality gear is used with top class packers.
Good padded packing area. After jumps, A foose table and well stocked bar seems to be the way to go to relax and wind down.
A great place to do your first jump or do some rel work or a bit of free flying.

Well, i think Nagambie is a great place to jump. Its well set out and all the staff are extremely friendly.
I was there for the 2001 Xmas boogie and in the 3 days i was there, i was encouraged and trained and managed to get my starcrest. Thanks guys.
My sister also did a tandem with Don and had an absolute ball.
Definitely worth checking out if you're in the lovely state of Victoria, Australia ;)

Blue skies