Location, Travel, Transport and XC Retrieve Information
Location (Google Map at bottom of this page !)
Manilla is located 345kms north of Sydney by air and is 220kms inland from the east coast.
Mt Borah is 12kms NW of Manilla S30*40’45” E150*36’22”.
Getting to Manilla/Mt Borah - Travel Information :
Car : WARNING - Be careful using GPS directions as they quite often take you the LONG way !!!! Always confirm your route with the directions listed here. Detailed directions are at the bottom of this page.
From Sydney (409kms) via M1 Motorway towards Newcastle, then towards Singleton via Hunter Motorway and New England Hwy (A15) through the Hunter Valley to Muswellbrook and Tamworth, then Fossickers Way (B95) to Manilla. Travel time from M1 Motorway entry at Hornsby is approx 4.5hrs. Travel time from Central Sydney to M1 at Hornsby varies between 30mins and 1hr depending on traffic. From March 2014 the new Hunter Motorway has reduced the total travel time by 30-45mins !
From Brisbane there are 2 options. Via New England Highway (Warwick, Armidale, Tamworth, Manilla) 622kms, 7hrs. Via Cunningham Hwy and Fossickers Way (Warwick, Ingelwood, Texas, Yetman, Warialda, Bingara, Barraba, Manilla) 530kms, 6hrs.
Tamworth > Manilla is 45kms, approx 30mins driving time.
Manilla > Mt Borah is 12kms, approx 10 minutes driving time.
Be careful when using web based maps such as Google and WhereIs for driving directions ! Not all routes shown are the shortest ones - always check a real map first ! Full driving directions from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and North Coast NSW are at the bottom of this page !
Bus :
Greyhound operates daily services from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne to Tamworth via its national network : www.greyhound.com.au
There is a local bus service between Manilla and Tamworth on weekdays only. Bus # 443 : Dep Tamworth 10.40am (Kable Av) and 3.50pm (Train Station), Dep Manilla 7.32 am and 11.25am. Check web site for updated timetable info : www.tamworthbuslines.com.au
There is also a Manilla to Tamworth daily bus service available via Country Link (see below) that departs Tamworth Railway Station 4pm and Dep Manilla 10am every day.
Train :
CountryLink has a 1x daily train/bus service each way between Sydney and Manilla via Tamworth (except Tuesdays - only to Tamworth). Departures are around 10am, arrive 5pm (7hrs) both ways. A bus is used for the Tamworth to Manilla section. www.countrylink.nsw.gov.au . Pick ups to accomodation at Mt Borah can be arranged by contacting Manilla Paragliding 02 67856545.
Air :
Tamworth has a major regional airport.
There are currently up to 5 daily return QANTAS Q400 turbo-prop commuter services to/from Sydney (45mins) www.qantas.com
There are also LINK Airways return flights to Brisbane (70mins).
NEW for 2023 : : BONZA Airlines has just started return flights to Tamworth from Melbourne and Sunshine Coast (Queensland).
Tamworth to Manilla and Mt Borah Transport :
Tamworth Airport Pick ups (A$90) to accommodation at Mt Borah can be arranged by contacting Manilla Paragliding 02 67856545 or by email. There is also a Tamworth Taxi Service in - cost approx A$180 from the airport to Manilla.
Manilla to Mt Borah Transport :
There is no public transport between Manilla and Mt Borah.
FREE pick ups for guests to Manilla Paragliding's cabin and camping accommodation at Mt Borah can be arranged by contacting Manilla Paragliding at least 2 days prior to arriving : 02 67856545 or email : Click here !
Mt Borah Take Off Pilot Transport :
The Borah Basher runs on flying days all summer XC season (Oct-April) providing transport up and around Mt Borah from landing areas. Cost is $10 per ride. Free for competitors during some events. Regularly departs Godfrey’s HQ in the mornings from around 10am. There is a WhatsApp Group called "Borah Basher" to co-ordinate rides up - the QR Code to join the group is posted at HQ.
XC Pilot Retreives :
There are usually a large number of pilots flying in Manilla on a daily basis over the XC season (Oct > April) so there are some options for XC retrieve. Many pilots hitch hike back from XC's to save $$'s.
Pilots with cars often hire a local driver @ $100/day and get a few others to join in to share costs - contact Manilla Paragliding for details. There is a Whatsapp Manilla XC Retreive group that serves as a communal centre for messgaes and pick up co-ordination. The QR Code to scan to join the group is posted at HQ.
Car and Bus Hire, Car and 4WD Sales :
Tamworth also has all 5 major national, and 2 local, car hire companies present with a variety of types available including cars, station wagons, 4WD’s and mini-buses. It is cheaper to rent cars from Sydney as they have unlimited kms, the Tamworth ones generally only have 200kms/day free.
There are a number of cheap non-national ones in Sydney.
There is also the backpackers car market which operates daily in Kings Cross, Sydney for those that want to buy a car there and who know about what to look for (ie: they have bought cars before).
Manilla Taxi Service : is no longer operating !!
Driving directions to Manilla Paragliding/Mt Borah
From Sydney (430kms, approx 4.5hrs once on the M1 Motorway) :
From Central Sydney follow signs to "North Coast/Newcastle" via Harbour Bridge/Tunnel and then Pacific Hwy for the first 20kms, then join the M1 Motorway just before Hornsby in the direction of Newcastle. 20kms before the end of the motorway turn left on to the newly opened Hunter Motorway - look for the "Singleton" sign (it also says Newcastle and Kurri Kurri). The new 40km Motorway takes you to Singleton after which you are on the New England Highway (A15) to Muswellbrook, Scone and then Tamworth.
In Tamworth arriving from Sydney on A15 (approx 45mins to go to Mt Borah):
- Arrive at 1st set of traffic lights - turn right towards town centre.
- Drive over Peel River Bridge
- Drive through Traffic Lights (2nd set)
- At 3rd set of lights (Peel St – shopping street with Palm Tree’s) turn left.
- Drive north 45kms on Peel St / Fossickers Way (B95) > Manilla
From Manilla (approx 10mins to Mt Borah) :
- Drive through town and then head (direction Barraba) north via the town centre by-pass over the new Namoi River Bridge, or if in the main shopping centre street head north over the old narrow Namoi River bridge.
- 800m after crossing the new Namoi River bridge, turn first left onto Charles St which takes you straight on the Boggabri sign posted road - IMPORTANT - DO NOT drive straight ahead to Barraba and Upper Manilla like most Car GPS Navi units tell you to do !!!!! From the town centre, 200m after the old bridge turn left onto the Boggarbi Rd
- Drive 1km towards Boggabri
- Just after Manilla River concrete bridge turn right into Wimbourne Rd (you will see a paraglider graphic right pointer sign), after 300m Wimbourne Rd has a T intersection where you continue to the right.
- Drive 11kms (its gravel after 6kms)
- Count 2 big creek dips on the way – go slow they are badly designed !
- Just after the 2nd big dip (gully crossing) at 11kms turn right into Manilla Paragliding sign posted driveway.
- NOTE : Mt Borah access road is 50m further along Wimbourne Rd on left.
Wimbourne Rd continues on to Upper Manilla (7kms) and meets with the Fossickers Way to Barraba.
From Brisbane (575kms, approx 6.5hrs) :
Refer to a map and drive via the following towns : Warwick (on A15), 20kms before Inglewood (on State42) turn left onto A89 and the Greenup Limevale Rd towards Texas, Texas, Yetman, Warialda (on B95), Bingara, Barraba then continue on the Fossickers Way (B95) to Upper Manilla (its 15kms before Manilla). Pass by the Split Rock Dam turn off which is on your left, then after 1km turn RIGHT into Wimbourne Rd (there is a smiling paraglider man sign pointing) – On Wimbourne Rd drive 7kms on the gravel road (keep LEFT and go over the cattle grid at the first Y intersection and turn RIGHT at the T intersection at 4kms), at 6kms turn LEFT into the well signposted MPG driveway (Mt Borah is on your right -= be careful not to drive up !).
From North Coast NSW (500kms, approx 6hrs from Byron Bay) :
Refer to a map and drive on Pacific Hwy (A1) via Grafton. Turn off right and to head to Nymboida and Ebor via the Waterfall Way (B78) to Armidale. Then New England Hwy (A15) via Bendemeer. Once in Moonbi (at the bottom of the Moonbi Hills decent) just after the 50km/h sign turn right into Moonbi Gap Rd (for 10kms towards Moore Ck area), then turn LEFT at T Intersection onto Moore Creek Rd, drive 6kms then turn RIGHT into Davidsons Lane (beware it has some 90degree bends !) towards Attunga. At the T Intersection Turn RIGHT towards Attunga and Manilla on Fossickers Way (B95)
From Mid North Coast NSW (approx 3.5hrs Coffs Hr/Port Macq):
Coffs Harbour > Drive to Armidale on Waterfall Way (B78) then as above (Moonbi etc)
Port Macquarie > Drive to Walcha and Bendemeer on Oxley Hwy (B56) then as above (Moonbi etc)
From Melbourne (1150kms, approx 12.5hrs) :
Freeway to Seymour, then LEFT on Goulburn Valley Hwy > Shepparton, Tocumwal, then Newell Hwy (A39) > Narrandera, Forbes, Dubbo, then RIGHT on to Golden Hwy (B84) > Dunedoo, after 8kms LEFT on Black Stump Way > Coolah, Tambar Springs, Mullaley, then RIGHT on to Oxley Hwy (B56) > Gunnedah, then RIGHT towards Tamworth (still Oxley Hwy B56), 29kms turn LEFT toward Lake Keepit and Manilla. Once in Manilla’s main shopping street as noted above (over Namoi River Bridge direction Barraba 200m then left etc).