Skytrans - Sydney to Toowoomba - 19th August 2012

[Kylie36]

View attachment 11317 Prologue:
In early July I contacted my best friend Dee if I could come up and stay in August. Originally I was going to use fly buys points + cash towards a SYD-BNE, then the usual train to the city and then Greyhound coach to Toowoomba or Dalby, which is my usual trip.

Dee then asked if there were any flights to Toowoomba, due to the workers in the mining industry etc. A quick look online saw that YES there are again flights to TWB from SYD.
As Skytrans had just started their SYD-TWB flight I was able to pick up one of their special fares for around $150.00.

At that stage Dee, her partner Bruce and their son were still living in Toowoomba but not long before I arrived they had moved to a farm just outside Bell on the foothills of the Bunya Mountains.

So all booked and away we go.

Thursday 16[SUP]th[/SUP] August 2012
Was awake at OMG time of 0445 and got ready (quite please with myself for being packed and ready to go the previous night). Mum and I left home for the station just before 0600. Got to the station and bought my ticket and then made our way up to the first carriage as that is the closest to the lifts at Central.

Arrived at Central at 0737 and change platforms for the Airport line. I arrived at the Domestic Airport at around 8am. As I made my way off the escalators at the check in areas, I just about ran slam bang into the Skytrans – Brindabella Airlines etc check in desk where there was one person being served. Check in was quick and made my way through security and was in the food court looking for breakfast by 0830. After breakfast a little retail therapy and a bit of plane spotting.


Skytrans depart from Gate G1 & G2 (If I remember correctly). The flight was called and I made my way down the escalator and followed the yellow arrow pathway to our bay, boarding passes were checked and I jumped on the bus. It great being so close to the jumbos as we passed by to reach our little DH3.


Once at the plane we disembarked the bus and waited on the tarmac to board. It wasn’t a full flight and we boarded quickly and I had a window seat and the seat next to me spare.

Skytrans
Q60015 or Q615
Dep: SYD 1000
ETA TWB 1230 (1220 actual)
De Havilland Dash 8
Flight time – 2hrs

I haven’t been on a plane this small since flying from Penang to Langkawi as a child in 1986/7. So I was both a bit excited and apprehensive especially as I was over the wing/propeller. A safety demonstration was given and then we went for the usual long leisurely drive to our allotted runway for takeoff. Take off was a bit bumpy, rattly and noisy. I just prayed that the propeller didn’t come off and come through the window and decapitate me (a bit melodramatic I know, I was right when we got going).

Once in the air pax were offered a newspaper (The Toowoomba Chronicle) and a bottle of water. As we were ascending higher and higher I wish I had my camera on me instead of in the overhead
locker and my phone was switched off, reason being as we were so low over Sydney there was a beautiful view of the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and the sparkling blue harbour.

Up in the air and cruising along cabin crew came around and offered a snack box which had a very tasty corned beef wrap and a Tim Tam biscuit. Soon after drinks were offered. As I sipped my diet coke and listened to one of my Stephen Fry audio books while taking in the view making the time fly past. Close to landing the flight crew came and offered lollies. It reminded me of flying to Christchurch on Air New Zealand. It was interesting coming into Toowoomba over the houses, businesses and shops. We had a bit of a bumpy landing but it was all okay.


Toowoomba had turned on the weather for us. It was sunny and quite warm. Disembarkation is quick and easy with a short walk to the tiny Toowoomba terminal. I made a quick pit stop to the ladies and once out I found my luggage waiting for me and a few minutes Dee and her son Coby arrived to pick me up.


We headed out of the airport to have lunch before running some errands before heading to Dalby for the night at her mums before heading out to the farm to help with the unpacking and cleaning.


Epilogue
All in all a great trip and saves the extra travel from Brisbane. The only thing is I don’t think I will be doing it very often as the flights are now very expensive, especially if you are not flexible with your dates. I was looking to fly with them when I got back up to spend Dalby with my relatives but the prices were ridiculous.
So I am flying with Qantas on the 20[SUP]th[/SUP] of December 2012 (which is a first since 2008) as I got a cheap flight (even cheaper using points and pay) on QF19 I don’t mind leaving and arriving from and international terminal, plus I can get the Greyhound bus straight from the airport without having to rush to get a train to get to Roma Street in time.

Sorry this has taken so long to post this TR. It has taken my three attempts this afternoon with the power going on and off due to a storm.

 

[GladstoneTim]

Thanks for the trip report. Nice to get one on this novel route. I'm assuming the aircraft was doing the return leg to Toowoomba from earlier that morning hence the local paper.

 

[moa999]

Many thanks.

 

[austgap]

Very interesting TR, was curious to try the route myself having grown up in Toowoomba. So the flight actually lands in Toowoomba, not the Oakey army base that was being used previously as "Toowoomba airport"

 

[dajop]

Thanks for report. Looked at doing this trip myself earlier this year when I needed to visit Toowoomba, however my tight schedule meant that picking up a car in BNE made more sense for me (originating my journey in MEL, also time wise makes little difference going via BNE/drive and SYD/flight).

 

[Simo]

Hope this flight keeps going as it is very handy for the Toowoomba locals.

 

[UP4014]

Thanks, alway enjoy a trip report with photos.

matt

 

[markis10]

Very interesting TR, was curious to try the route myself having grown up in Toowoomba. So the flight actually lands in Toowoomba, not the Oakey army base that was being used previously as "Toowoomba airport"

Both the ex Sydney and ex Brisbane flights land at TWB and not the Army base.