The Drone Weather Forecast zone map has 3,015 drone zones in Australia, from DJI FlySafe. 1,018 of them close the airspace from the ground up. Below are the zone types, the largest zones, the rules at a glance and the official links to request permission when you need to fly inside a zone.
Zone types
| Zone | Count | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 🟥 Prohibited | 4 | No flying from the ground up without a special permission: the area closest to airport runways, prisons, military sites, capital-city no-fly areas. |
| 🟧 Authorization required | 1,014 | You may fly only with an authorization from the aviation authority or the airspace manager, for example around airports and in controlled airspace. |
| 🟨 Warning | 1,997 | Not closed, but fly with care and follow the local rules: heliports, small airfields, military training areas, stadiums, nature reserves. |
Largest restricted zones
| Zone | Strictest part |
|---|---|
| Tamworth Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Oakey Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Sydney Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Melbourne Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Launceston Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Perth Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Brisbane International Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Darwin International Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Adelaide/Parafield Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| RAAF Base Pearce | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Adelaide International Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| RAAF Base East Sale Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| RAAF Base Amberley | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Alice Springs Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
| Brisbane Archerfield Airport | 🟧 Authorization required |
Drone rules in Australia at a glance
- Aviation authority: Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
- Maximum height: 120 m (400 ft) above the ground, unless an authorization allows more.
- Registration: Drones flown for business or work must be registered with CASA, whatever their weight; drones flown only for sport or recreation do not need registration. Official page
- Official map: CASA-verified drone safety apps
- Fly only in daylight and within visual line of sight, at least 30 m from other people.
- States and territories have their own rules for parks and reserves.
How to get authorization to fly in a restricted zone
Steps and links from official sources, checked in September 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official website (CASA) before you fly.
- Check your location in a CASA-verified drone safety app before flying. Official page
- Drones over 250 g must not fly within 5.5 km of a controlled airport without approval; drones of 250 g or less may fly there up to 45 m, but not over approach paths or inside the airport boundary. Official page
- Holders of a remotely piloted aircraft operator's certificate (ReOC) can get automated authorisation near selected controlled airports and Sydney Harbour through a participating app. Official page
- Otherwise the ReOC holder applies to CASA with form 101-09; assessment can take up to 70 days. Official page
- Flying a DJI drone? With the authorization in hand, request an unlock on DJI FlySafe. DJI's unlock does not replace the authority's permission.
Check zones and weather before you fly
The Drone Weather Forecast app shows these zones on a map with their real shapes and height limits, next to the hourly wind, gusts, rain, KP index and satellites for your drone model.
Frequently asked questions
Where can't you fly a drone in Australia?
Around airports, military bases and other restricted areas. The app's map has 1,018 zones in Australia where you cannot fly from the ground up without an authorization; the official map is CASA-verified drone safety apps. Temporary restrictions can appear at any time, so check before every flight.
Do I need permission to fly a drone near an airport in Australia?
Yes. Flying inside an airport zone or other restricted airspace needs an authorization. Responsible authority: Civil Aviation Safety Authority. The official steps and links are on this page.
How high can you fly a drone in Australia?
Up to 120 m (400 ft) above the ground under the general rules, unless an authorization allows more. Near airports the limit can be lower, or zero.
Where does this zone data come from?
From DJI FlySafe's GEO zones: no official zone dataset in Australia can be used in the app yet. DJI's GEO zones are a safety layer built into DJI drones, not the official airspace: the binding zones and rules are the ones published by the aviation authority, Civil Aviation Safety Authority (official map: CASA-verified drone safety apps).
Zone counts and names: DJI FlySafe, as shipped in the Drone Weather Forecast app on October 14, 2026. A safety guide, not the official airspace: the aviation authority publishes the binding zones and temporary restrictions.