Planning the Queensland Mining Towns trip January 2008

[JohnK]

Yes I know it sounds crazy but I am about to book this trip.

• Saturday SYD-CNS
• Monday morning CNS-TSV, TSV-MKY, MKY-ROK, ROK-GLT-BNE
• Monday afternoon BNE-HVB and then bus Hervey Bay-Bundaberg
• Tuesday BDB-BNE, BNE-BCI and then bus Barcaldine-Blackall
• Wednesday BKQ-LRE-BNE and then bus Brisbane-Charleville
• Thursday CTL-RMA-BNE, BNE-ZBL-BLT and then bus Blackwater-Emerald
• Friday EMD-BNE, BNE-SYD

The trip will cost just over $1000, including bus fares, earn 155 SCs and 15,682 QFF points. I will be staying at the Hilton in Cairns plus Best Western and Golden Chain motels.

I know there is not a lot to see and I do not have a lot of time for sightseeing but if anyone has any recommendations I would greatly appreciate it.

For the milk run it will not accept the 20 minutes transit in TSV and MKY as the minimum connection time is 25 minutes. If I go ahead and book these separately does anyone see any issues. I will be on the same aircraft so there is little chance I will miss the connection.

 

[Reggie]

Is this to increase the number of QF destinations you have been to?

 

[moa999]

you wouldn't want to miss the bus

 

[Mal]

All I can say is wow

That's an impressive list of destinations in only a few days, and creative use of QF schedules and bus schedules.

Regarding the milk runs, I've never tried a sub MCT connection. Really, you should be able to use online Checkin and collect the BP's, then leave the plane and re-board before it leaves. But that can be problematic too. At least small Qld airports don't have security scanning unless they are visited by 737's or above (ie a turnaround frorm incoming gate to outgoing gate in some cities is about 30 seconds )

 

[JohnK]

Is this to increase the number of QF destinations you have been to?

Not really. I have wanted to travel on the milk run for a while now and also to see a little of the Queensland outback. Time constraints and money rule out a road trip. The easiest way to see the outback is by air as there are vast distances between towns.

All I can say is wow

That's an impressive list of destinations in only a few days, and creative use of QF schedules and bus schedules.

I love a challenge and have been planning parts of this trip for many months now. As soon as I saw the $65 airfares for January 2008 I thought go for it.

Regarding the milk runs, I've never tried a sub MCT connection. Really, you should be able to use online Checkin and collect the BP's, then leave the plane and re-board before it leaves. But that can be problematic too.

I was thinking that I may be able to get away with it if I tell them in CNS in the morning. After all it should be the same crew and even if I miss a boarding call at the next stop the crew should be able to forward on the rest of the itinerary.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Interesting trip. Lots of red lines on Great Circle Mapper.
Did you consider Qld Rail for any segments like Brisbane-Charleville ? Better than the b↔s. BNE to/from Roma St station is simple

In LRE will you have time to wing walk the Qantas 747 VH-EBQ ?
Sydney Airport Message Board :: View topic - Qantas founders museum, Longreach

This post on FT is similar to what you want to do on the Qld southern milk run (see your posted on that thread).

 

[JohnK]

Did you consider Qld Rail for any segments like Brisbane-Charleville ? Better than the b↔s. BNE to/from Roma St station is simple

Yes I did but the schedules do not match. The bus departs twice a day where as the Westlander only departs on a Tuesday and Thursday. I get back into BNE at 12:30pm on Wednesday and the bus leaves Roma St station at 4:30pm and arrives at Charleville at 4:00am the next day. The Westlander does not leave Brisbane until 7:15pm and arrives into Charleville at 12:00 noon. Unfortunately the CTL-BNE flight leaves at 9:20am.

In LRE will you have time to wing walk the Qantas 747 VH-EBQ ?

That is a great suggestion but the way I have my itinerary I only have 20 minutes in Longreach.

If I change the itinerary to travel BNE-LRE I arrive into LRE at 2:15pm and the bus leaves Longreach for Blackall at 3:25pm. Is that enough time?

This post on FT is similar to what you want to do on the Qld southern milk run (see your posted on that thread).

Yes it is similar and that is what actually gave me hope that I will be able to do the Qld southern milk run as individual flight numbers. It costs the same doing CNS-MKY, MKY-BNE as it does doing individual flight numbers.

 

[Mwenenzi]

bus leaves Roma St station at 4:30pm and arrives at Charleville at 4:00am the next day

Red eye in a b↔s. urrhhhh :shock:

If I change the itinerary to travel BNE-LRE I arrive into LRE at 2:15pm and the bus leaves Longreach for Blackall at 3:25pm. Is that enough time?

Never been to LRE, but I doubt it. You may be struggling to get into the town if that b↔s does not via the airport.

 

[JohnK]

Red eye in a b↔s. urrhhhh :shock:

It is OK. I can sleep on a bus easily and no need to recline.

Only problem is I snore.

 

[Mal]

Never been to LRE, but I doubt it. You may be struggling to get into the town if that b↔s does not via the airport.

Here's the map of Longreach with the (apparent) bus stop marked:
Google Maps

I think he'll make it

As for the museum, that would be touch and go, but a very quick trip probably possible (it's just next to the airport)

 

[QF WP]

What!!??? You're not visiting the inaugural Mining town - ISA ???

That's an interesting schedule, JohnK. Still don't know why you'd want to go BNE/CTL on a b**. Reminds me of Paul Kelly's song "From St Kilda to Kings Cross"....13 hours on a bus

 

[JohnK]

What!!??? You're not visiting the inaugural Mining town - ISA ???

No time. I may do Mt Isa next time on the Macair milk run from CNS.

Still don't know why you'd want to go BNE/CTL on a b**.

No suitable flight and rather than spend a night in Brisbane....

 

[Bundy Bear]

That is some itinerary.

Only suggestion I have is: Have a back up plan and/or have someone you can call who can check the internet for possible alternatives and prices.

I have just flown a 15 segment run around Australia which should have been 16. 35 minute delay on a 45 minute connection required some quick thinking.
Trip report to come.

 

[littl_flier]

This sounds like a great trip JohnK- finally the Milk Run is going to happen. Any chance of you posting a TR?

You should enjoy the trip- I've never done it by air but outback Qld can make for an interesting trip, although yours seems a little rushed. Shame you'll miss the QF 747 in Longreach but that's just another excuse to head back.

 

[JohnK]

This sounds like a great trip JohnK- finally the Milk Run is going to happen.

Yes I have had my eye on the milk run for over a year now. I will also do the Macair milk run one of these days.

Any chance of you posting a TR?

I will but my trip reports are very simple.

 

[JohnK]

OK, finally booked.

• Saturday SYD-CNS
• Monday morning CNS-TSV, TSV-MKY, MKY-ROK, ROK-GLT-BNE
• Monday afternoon BNE-HVB and then bus Hervey Bay-Bundaberg
• Tuesday BDB-BNE, BNE-BCI, BCI-LRE and then bus Longreach-Blackall
• Wednesday BKQ-LRE, LRE-BNE and then bus Brisbane-Charleville
• Thursday CTL-RMA, RMA-BNE, BNE-ZBL, ZBL-BLT and then bus Blackwater-Emerald
• Friday EMD-BNE, BNE-SYD

The airfares cost ~$1250 and should earn 205 SCs and 18,790 QFF points.

Some minor drama as I had booked OOL-SYD departing at 11:15am on the Friday but I only arrive into BNE at 9:15am. What was I thinking? I cancelled the booking and a big thank you to the lovely lady at the Qantas premium desk service centre who was able to assist with the new booking. Basically meant ~$90 down the drain on that mistake as the taxes are fully refundable and had to find a new airfare that was more expensive than the old airfare.

Also confirming that as long as flights with the same flight number are booked, and paid for, separately then you will receive SCs and FF points for each sector. The only time that is not the case is for through flights, eg book ROK-BNE but the aircraft stops in GLT.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Hi John,

I did something similar to the MKY-ROK, ROK-GLT-BNE but in reverse as I wanted to go sailing in the Whitsundays a number of years back and the more direct flights were all taken (there wre 5 of us).

The short time between flights did not matter as we just stayed on the plane as other who were embarking or disembarking came or left.


One of the best thinks about this route is that the views along the coast are fantastic so try and make sure that your seat has good access to a window without a wing in the way..


....the only bad thing was a very grumpy flight attendant as the overhead flight locker was a lot shallower than on the larger MEL-BNE jet and she was not impressed about our carry on bags size!!!!

Cheers

 

[JohnK]

The short time between flights did not matter as we just stayed on the plane as other who were embarking or disembarking came or left.

Not sure I can do it this way. I have booked each sector as a separate flight and I will more than likely have 4 boarding passes and 4 different seat allocations. I want to make sure that I do everything possible to get SCs and FF points for every sector and I also think that they will be waiting for me to board at each airport as I will be doing online checkin the night before.

One of the best thinks about this route is that the views along the coast are fantastic so try and make sure that your seat has good access to a window without a wing in the way.

Thanks I will try to find a window seat with uninterrupted views. I am really looking forward to this part of the trip.

 

[JohnK]

I don't think it is a good time for this trip with all the flooding in the area the past few weeks. It will be sad visiting areas that have been affected.

Does anyone know if bus/coach transport has been affected in anyway? How about accommodation? Emerald has had more than its fair share of problems but to what extent?

The way my trip is structured it could well fall apart by the middle of next week.

 

[Mal]

Does anyone know if bus/coach transport has been affected in anyway? How about accommodation? Emerald has had more than its fair share of problems but to what extent?

I presume your trip starts tomorrow?

Can't give you direct information as I'm not in those areas. But keep an eye on the RACQ website for updates on road closures etc:
http://www.racq.com.au/cps/rde/xchg...l/Motoring_Road_Cond_Report_Foun_ENA_HTML.htm

Your best bet is to call Qantas, the various bus companies and/or motels and get an update from them as to local issues. I'm not aware of any closures of airports (that Qantaslink flies into, and nothing seems to be listed on the Qantas website about closures), so your flight plans shouldn't be affected.

Qantaslink have a very flexible policy at the moment on rebooking/changing plans due to the flooding http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/info/qflink_WQLDfloodsJan08.pdf
(If you want to take up a rebooking/change option you must do so by midnight Monday).