Mel-dps-drw-gte-gov-cns-syd-mel

[Virgin Bart]

Hi all, about 6 months ago I booked a cheap flight to Denpasar. After a few weeks a decided to get creative with my route back. The story:

MEL-DPS on JQ43

As a new joined up QC member (and NZ resident) this was going to be the first time I could get myself into a Qantas lounge on my own accord. Very exciting (and thanks to everyone from AFF and FFA).

I've only ever done MEL-SYD twice on the 788, so this was my first time medium haul. Very impressed. I scored an exit row which was nice. Pretty uneventful flight. Didn't order any food or drink, but had a couple of bottles of water with me. In seat entertainment available for $10.. Although on JQ DPS the entertainment is usually in the seat next to you.



Bali

Two nights at Heritage Hotel Kuta. Nice hotel. Enter on ground, reception on L1, and pool with restaurant on L4. I scored two nights at 1,000,000IDR each (~$100). This included transfers, mind you a taxi from DPS to Kuta is a fixed 50,000/$5 so no biggie.

Nice rooms, quiet. Two bottles renewed daily (a necessity in Indonesia with hardly potable water in tap).

Breakfast was also included with a good array of local and attempts at western food. As usual I lost all control at breakfast and it turned into a breakfast/lunch both days.

As for Bali.. Well, i surprisingly enjoyed myself more than I did when I was there at age 19. The weather wasn't that humid which helped, so I was on foot a lot and eating the local cuisine seemingly constantly. Decent meals for $7-9. Restaurant quality for $10-12. Drowned myself in watermelon juice ($2) and Bintangs (long neck $3.5).

Transfer at 1200 for 1440 Indonesia Air Asia flight to DRW. As I arrive at airport o see "RETIMED", luckily only 50 minutes delay.

The new DPS airport is great. World class. Check in took 1 mibute, including waiting time. Security took 30 seconds, incl. And immigration took 30 seconds, incl. Fantastic experience to be honest.

I walked around and checked out the only lounge at the airport - Premier Lounge. The amount of QC/SG/WP attempting to get in and getting turned away disappointedly was amazing. I estimate once every 3 minutes. (The big JQ sign was the cause - of course only for Business Max customers).

Usual inflated-but-cheap prices at duty free. Boarding on time following standard (yet ridiculous) Australian-mandated bag search at the gate.



DPS-DRW QZ540

I really like Indonesia Air Asia. Sure, it's no frills, but if you come expecting that it's a good airline.

Efficient boarding, captain with American accent, smiles all round.

Big tip: pre-order your food online or you won't get anything hot. I ordered Nasi Lemak (Malaysian breakfast fried rice) for 50,000/$5, which was absolutely delicious and came with a cup of sealed water.

Flight landed on time, but an ill pax meant a 45 minute delay upon landing while Quarantine doctors came on board to assess the lady. All clear, through customs and immigration and out the door within 5 minutes of disembarking.

Darwin

Dosembarked at 2100, so straight to Rydges Airport Hotel (not Rydges Airport Resort). An old hotel. Typical of airport hotels I found, they can serve and charge what they like and will still get people. I got a room next to elevator, wheelchair friendly, despite asking to be put as far away as possible. Fine for overnight though.

0430 wake up for 0600 flight. No breakfast at hotel. 5 minute walk to DRW airport and check in on my first Air North (TL) flight. Off to Gove (GOV) via Groote (GTE). Tried my luck at QC and was lucky enough to get a quick breakfast in there post its 0500 opening. Beautiful, new and large lounge. Breakfast offerings similar to Virgin MEL standard fare - toasted sandwiches, some cold stuff and boiled eggs. Delicious coffee.

DRW-(GTE)-GOV TL414

After walking to the small propellor plane I quickly realized how bloody old it is! Or at least old looking. 1-2 configuration. One toilet at the back. 90 minutes to GTE, no disembarking, 30 minutes to GOV.

Very nice cabin crew (one). Served as per picture. Loud, old plane but a nice experience. 80% full. No air con(!). And this is where I wrote up to here. I'll post the remainder of the TR on Sunday.

If there's any questions, just ask!

 

[Virgin Bart]

Delicious Indo duck dish. Name to come.


Buffet breakfast at hotel.


New Denpasar airport.


New QP Darwin.


My E120 in the background.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Onboard the E120


No running water in toilet.


GTE airport from the outside.


Morning snack provided on DRW-GTE.


Everyone has to get off at GTE and reboard for GOV.

 

[Virgin Bart]

GOV onwards TR on Sunday.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Not a single reply! TR fail.

 

[JessicaTam]

Not a single reply! TR fail.

I have only just found it, so consider yourself replied!

I had to look up GTE and GOV.

 

[Virgin Bart]

I have only just found it, so consider yourself replied!

I had to look up GTE and GOV.

Haha thanks Jess, wasn't a waste

 

[KitKat]

Haha thanks Jess, wasn't a waste

Definitely not a waste, enjoying the read.

 

[robd]

Definitely not a waste, enjoying the read.

Me too. Keep going

 

[feezable]

subscribed

 

[Boris spatsky]

Likewise....

 

[Fifa]

Not a single reply! TR fail.

Oh, no, definitely not a fail Virgin Bart!
I am just reading the last couple of days of AFF as I have been working long days and am really enjoying your TR .

 

[samh004]

Interesting read... that new DRW QP looks lush.

I really wanted to do the QQ route BNE-TWB-CTL-ULP-WNR-BVI-BEU-BQL-ISA, and ISA-DMD-BUC-ONG-NTN-CNS... but the former QLD government decided they'd rather award the contract to a non-QLD airline, and in the process send it out of business, and reduce competition

While not GTE or GOV, the lure of a multi-stop route across the outback and seeing (albeit from the air) country towns has a certain appeal to me.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Thanks guys and girls, appreciated.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Hi all, as promised:

As I mentioned I was surprised that all pax were disembarked at GTE, but carry on was allowed to stay on board.

GTE-GOV

To my surprise we received a tiny snack for this 23 minute flight. Very much all that was needed. Cruised at 13,000ft. Landed in no time.

Gove

Surprisingly big and new airport, there was an airport shuttle bus waiting for only me. Since I had carry on only I jumped straight onto the bus, $15 and 10 minutes later I was at my accommodation. The landscape is tropical on this drive.

I stayed at Peninsula Motel Gove, one of two places to stay in town. It was maybe 15 minutes walk into town down the main road. Typical motel type accommodation. $165 standard rate for a single.

Gove is interesting. There is one of everything, which is all you need for a population of 3,800 (2,200 FIFO). The Woolies is a flashback from the 90s, see photos. Prices at Woolies about 20-40% more than what I'm used to in Melb/Ballarat. There are three restaurants in town with limited hours. All meals about 50% more than what I'm used to. I went to the bakery (luckily just before it shut at 1pm) and got some pizza rolls (on a budget).

Interesting situation with alcohol. One needs a permit to take away alcohol, I didn't bother. At pub you can drink though.

The local indigenous seem to be different than what I've experienced in Broome, Derby, Alice, Coober Pedy and Darwin. They seem to be a whole lot more sober, and many of them were clearly employed.
I went for a walk on the beach, saw one croc in the river feeding the beach, saw a local spear fishing, locals bathing, fox tracks in the sand and box jellyfish in the water. The humidity and UV were stifling and tbh, unpleasant.

(Ironically as I walk along the beach I got an email from JQ saying "this time next week you'll be in Hobart").

Would I go back? No.

FYI Telstra reception available everywhere, 3G. NBN available. And Optus GPRS or 3G available everywhere to my surprise.

The next morning, up at 0700 for a 0720 shuttle for a 0845 flight. Check in took 10 seconds, security shorter. FYI security is only open for the jet flights three times a week.

GOV-CNS TL160

My first flight on an E170. Beautiful little plane it is! 19 rows, 2-2 config. I got sear 15D. At the gate, "ding!". Now I knew it is all economy so it wasn't my first ever opup. Moved to 2A. Flight about 40% full.

First two rows totally empty bar the seat next to me (of course), so I moved to 2F.

About 5 minutes after seat belt sign went off I had my meal in front of me! Small maybe but delicious. And a very nice cut of bacon. A minute later tea and coffee came around. Fantastic efficiency.

Two toilets on board, new enough aircraft. A pleasure.

Unfortunately we were 10 minutes late departing. Scheduled to land at 1100 after a 1 hour 45 flight. That leaves me with an hour from landing to 1200 departure of CNS-MEL on VA which I'm trying to fly ahead to. Let's see how I go.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Check in area at GOV.


Snack on GTE-GOV. Incidentally, one of the best brownies I've ever had.


Peninsula Motel, Gove.

 

[kevrosmith]

Subscribed.

 

[Virgin Bart]

Anticlimactic finish to a great trip.

CNS-BNE VA782

Arrived into CNS departures as they were boarding. Got to lounge T-30, but was told it was full. Fair enough.

Got moved to CNS-BNE-MEL, which gets me in at 1915. Much better than my original CNS-SYD-MEL, arriving at 2145.

Intereetingly, was told at check in (at lounge) that "fly ahead was now not available for saver and points fares as of last week". An exception was made. I wonder how true this is?

Great lounge of VA's in Cairns, probably my favourite. Had some Thai Chicken soup and a toasted sandwich (of course), washed down with some wine. Did the trick.

Headed over to the QF lounge (had a friend in there), also looks like a very nice lounge, but didn't stay long. Is it new? Food choices uncomfortably close to VA's.

CNS-BNE was about 80% full. At the gate I had another (this time negative) " beep". Was told I've been moved from 17C to 20F "to protect the spare seat next to me". Good I guess. Interestingly I didn't get a new boarding pass, just a scribble with the new seat number.

I've totally lost track of when VA offers snacks and drinks and when not. I was surprised to be offered no snack at all on the 2 hour 5 minute CNS-BNE leg.

Departed on time, arrived on time.

Headed over to the VA lounge for some of the usual VA food (none of the "new choices" which have been touted lately).

BNE-MEL VA336

On time departure, nose wind made it nearly a 2.5 hour flight. Two awesome crew, one rude and abrupt.

Had an OJ, was offered half a capsicum and cheese sandwich as a snack. I declined because I'm allergic to capsicum (though I like it), and it looked and sounded cough.

Time to drive home to Ballarat and get back into reality tomorrow. End of trip report. Thanks for reading!

 

[kevrosmith]

Interestingly, was told at check in (at lounge) that "fly ahead was now not available for saver and points fares as of last week". An exception was made. I wonder how true this is?

Great lounge of VA's in Cairns, probably my favourite. Had some Thai Chicken soup and a toasted sandwich (of course), washed down with some wine. Did the trick.

Headed over to the QF lounge (had a friend in there), also looks like a very nice lounge, but didn't stay long. Is it new? Food choices uncomfortably close to VA's.

I've totally lost track of when VA offers snacks and drinks and when not. I was surprised to be offered no snack at all on the 2 hour 5 minute CNS-BNE leg.

Interesting to hear about the supposed new rules for fly ahead. Something did change a while ago, but not "last week", as far as I know.

QP is not new, but VA Lounge is very new.

Re food offerings on VA: tell us about it! It is very confusing, and I often feel for the crew who have to work out what route, time of day, etc. to work out what to offer. It must be a pain.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thnxs for the TR Bart. Very informative. I haven't been to Gove for years. Seems some things never change !!