Newhaven Airport

Newhaven, AU 🇦🇺 Closed Airport

ICAO

AU-0690

IATA

Elevation

46 ft

Region

AU-VIC

Local Time

Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: -38.524667° N, 145.327578° E

Continent: OC

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: YNHE YNHE

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

Live Flights

Nearby Points of Interest

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What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

It appears there might be a misunderstanding regarding "Newhaven Airport (AU-0690) in Newhaven, AU." Searches for this specific airport in Australia did not yield any relevant recent traveler reviews or information. However, the search results consistently point to Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. The following summary reflects traveler experiences at Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN).

Overall, traveler sentiment at Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) is mixed, with many appreciating its convenience and efficiency for a small airport, while others express significant frustration with its limited facilities and occasional operational inefficiencies. The airport generally receives positive ratings for its small size and quick processes, but its rapid growth with airlines like Avelo and Breeze has highlighted existing infrastructure challenges.

What Travelers Love

Small and Convenient: Many travelers appreciate the airport's small size, leading to quick arrivals and exits, often allowing them to go from plane to car in minutes.
Efficient Security/Immigration: Security and immigration processes are generally described as efficient, contributing to quicker overall travel times.
Good Food Options (for its size): Some travelers have noted that the single food counter offers "really good food," often exceeding expectations for a small airport.
Avelo Airlines Experience: Several reviews specifically praise the experience with Avelo Airlines from HVN, describing it as solid and affordable.
Cleanliness: The terminal's cleanliness is also a valued aspect for many passengers.

Common Complaints

Limited Terminal Space and Amenities: The terminal is frequently described as too tiny and overcrowded, lacking sufficient check-in counter space, holdroom space, and amenities like multiple bathrooms or refreshments.
Tarmac Boarding/Deplaning: Passengers often have to walk out on the tarmac to board or deplane, which can be confusing and inconvenient, especially without covered ramps.
Poor Signage and Ground Transportation Issues: Travelers often report poor signage for rental car returns and general airport navigation. Additionally, picking up passengers can be challenging due to a single entrance/exit, leading to long wait times and congestion in the parking/pickup areas, sometimes described as dangerous.
Operational Inefficiencies/Staffing: Some experiences highlight slow check-in processes, disoriented or stressed staff, and a lack of willingness to help, leading to missed flights or extreme stress.
Capacity Limitations: The airport can struggle when multiple planes land simultaneously, leading to delays in baggage claim and passengers waiting on planes for terminal space to clear.

Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) offers the advantage of convenience due to its compact size, which facilitates quick transit through security and arrivals. However, its rapid expansion and increasing passenger volume have exposed significant limitations in its terminal infrastructure, parking, and ground transportation, leading to a polarizing experience for travelers. While it serves as a convenient option for many, particularly those utilizing Avelo Airlines, the current facilities may lead to frustration during peak times.

Generated False weeks ago

This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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For Pilots

Designation	Length	Width	Surface	Status
`04/22`	2952 ft	- ft	X	Active

Type	Description	Frequency
CTAF	CTAF	`119.1 MHz`

Ident	Name	Type	Frequency

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025

Closure Date

Late 1980s. While an exact date is not publicly recorded, local historical accounts and news reports consistently place the closure and subsequent redevelopment in this period, likely around 1988-1989.

Reason for Closure

Economic reasons. The airfield was privately owned and was sold to a property developer. The land's value for a residential housing project had become significantly greater than its value as a general aviation airport, leading to its sale and subsequent redevelopment.

Current Status

The site has been completely redeveloped into a residential housing estate. The original runway and airport facilities are gone, replaced by suburban houses and streets. The layout of some streets, such as Forrest Avenue, loosely follows the alignment of the former runway, and the name is a likely nod to the airfield's historical name (Forrest's Airfield). The location is now entirely residential with no remaining aviation infrastructure.

Historical Significance

Known locally as Phillip Island Airport or Forrest's Airfield, it was the main air access point to the popular tourist destination of Phillip Island for many years. The airport primarily handled general aviation traffic, including private aircraft flying in for tourism and events. Its most significant role was supporting local tourism through charter companies, such as the former Phillip Island Air Services, which offered scenic joy flights over the island's famous attractions, including the Penguin Parade, the coastline, and the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. It was an unsealed (grass or gravel) strip that was a key piece of the island's tourism infrastructure before its closure.

Reopening Prospects

There are zero prospects for reopening the original Newhaven Airport, as the site is now a fully developed housing estate. The idea of building a new airport elsewhere on Phillip Island is a recurring topic of local debate, with proponents citing benefits for tourism and emergency services (air ambulance), especially during major events like the MotoGP. The Bass Coast Shire Council has commissioned feasibility studies in the past. However, due to significant challenges including high costs, potential environmental impact, and opposition from residents concerned about noise, there are no concrete or funded plans to establish a new airport on the island.

Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.