Darwin Chase - 2011

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Sun 24/04/2011 14:29

Found return flights to Darwin from Christchurch for $765.06 incl taxes
Leaving 26 Nov returning 8th Dec. Not sure what others are thinking but im quite keen to head back, even tho I know its along way out.

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Sun 24/04/2011 16:43

Oh that's so tempting. Air Asia? Via Bali?

The 8 days last time wasn't long enough, so appreciate your going for a longer period.

As my employment isn't garanteed (the contract work I'm doing ends 30th May) I can't commit to anything at this point. Maybe I'll already be over there?

If I get sufficient work, I'll be back over there for sure.

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Mon 25/04/2011 10:30

I'm interested in going this year but I'm not sure if it would be for as long as 12 days. Still plenty of time to decide

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Mon 25/04/2011 10:56

Trust me, go for as long as you can. There is a lot to see up there.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Mon 25/04/2011 17:59

Found those flights thru Jetstar, Prob will only go for 10 days. Do something similar as last time, stay in Darwin chase from there, visit a few sights and never turn the aircon off!

NZstorm · Unread post by **NZstorm** » Mon 25/04/2011 18:53

While I'm interested making it to Darwin I would like to have a crack at storm chasing NSW/SE Qld in November. Its just getting the timing right for a set up.

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Mon 25/04/2011 19:44

NZstorm wrote:While I'm interested making it to Darwin I would like to have a crack at storm chasing NSW/SE Qld in November. Its just getting the timing right for a set up.

Yes, I am thinking NE NSW November otherwise it will be Darwin but I am more interested in a late Nov chase, early Dec being a busy time for me.

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Mon 25/04/2011 21:47

03Stormchaser wrote:Found those flights thru Jetstar, Prob will only go for 10 days. Do something similar as last time, stay in Darwin chase from there, visit a few sights and never turn the aircon off!

10 days would suit me better but any date would be OK for me.

I think that fare is carry on only so $843 with 20kg checked bag ?

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Tue 26/04/2011 07:43

One of the North Aus Chasers forum members is happy to take visiting chasers Barramundi fishing for the cost of Gas, Bait & his Jim Beam/Colas, so that's covered this time around.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Wed 27/04/2011 17:44

Skywatcher wrote:
03Stormchaser wrote:Found those flights thru Jetstar, Prob will only go for 10 days. Do something similar as last time, stay in Darwin chase from there, visit a few sights and never turn the aircon off!
10 days would suit me better but any date would be OK for me.

I think that fare is carry on only so $843 with 20kg checked bag ?

I think that price was checked luggage. Jetstar prices change daily ive found.

Would love to chase in Queensland, NSW but seems to be more hit and miss than Darwin, almost guaranteed a lightning display daily.

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Sat 28/05/2011 09:57

Ok, job wise still nothing is set in concrete, it's looking likely I'll be changing career direction at least a little. Several options under consideration and I'm sitting on the fence for now. I hope to have something sorted within a month and be in a position to start looking/booking.

I still intend to come over to Darwin again if at all possible, probably Nov/early Dec. Hoping for around 10-12 days. I have a few missions I didn't get done last time that I want to achieve this time, so if I join a group, I may slink off on my own for a couple of days.

The missions, Barramundi fishing, Fly over Kakadu & do a cruise in Kakadu.

Otherwise it'll be storms, yeah baby yeah.

So who is interested? Please indicate your intention and preferred timeframe if you are. I've asked in the North Aus Chaser forum their opinion of the timeframe we should be going.

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Sat 28/05/2011 10:13

I'm still keen to go for about 10 days probably late Nov. If everyone else was going for longer then I'd also be able to do the same to make planning easier.

Not really into fishing but the Kakadu flight and cruise look good.

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Sat 28/05/2011 11:41

Yes, I'm thinking late November myself.

spwill · Unread post by **spwill** » Sat 28/05/2011 12:03

I would like to spend some time up there chasing late November.

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Sat 28/05/2011 13:07

Come on up.

And lets hope we have good east-southeast steer in place like last time again.

Keen on the Kakadu flight!! Though it would be best not to book in advance as November slows significantly for tour operators so we could go out when the weather is most stable.

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Wed 01/06/2011 13:06

Ok, a deal caught me.

Expedia again, Travelodge right in town. Just booked 10 nights for NZ$863 Arriving 23rd Nov & departing 3rd Dec.

So I guess I just committed to going

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Fri 01/07/2011 02:00

Jetstar have some cheap flights going at the moment from NZ:

http://www.jetstar.com/nz/en/special-of ... e_20110630

Then to and from Darwin:
http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/special-of ... e_20110630

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Fri 01/07/2011 07:10

Oh Blast... That didn't come up on my search and I booked/paid for my tickets yesterday morning. Would have saved me a few hundred. The QANTAS flights I did get were discounted a couple of hundred though.

I'm arriving in Darwin Wed 23rd Nov at either 2240 or 2340 (ticket time or online booking time) and leaving Sun 4th Dec at 0045.

I decided against extending my stay a couple of days after finding out Stephen had a wedding on the 26th Nov and would arrive later. I'm now going to start trying to save sufficient for a better (finally going DSLR) Camera.

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Tue 05/07/2011 11:57

Ok, I now understand Stephen is unlikely to be joining us in Darwin this year, he will be however concentrate on trying to get to the US next year.

I'm going to add doing a Katherine Gorge cruise to my list of intended non chasing activities. Bonus on the way back is almost garanteed display somewhere on the drive back to Darwin.

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Tue 05/07/2011 13:45

tgsnoopy wrote:Ok, I now understand Stephen is unlikely to be joining us in Darwin this year, he will be however concentrate on trying to get to the US next year.

I'm going to add doing a Katherine Gorge cruise to my list of intended non chasing activities. Bonus on the way back is almost garanteed display somewhere on the drive back to Darwin.

In that case I'll try to book the same dates as you in the next week or so. A quick check is showing no Jetstar seats available on the 3rd or 4th Dec so I might have to return a day earlier (at 7:30am on 2nd) - Qantas have seats but cost over $400 more at the moment !

Gorge cruise looks good.

03Stormchaser · Unread post by **03Stormchaser** » Tue 05/07/2011 19:37

tgsnoopy wrote:Ok, I now understand Stephen is unlikely to be joining us in Darwin this year, he will be however concentrate on trying to get to the US next year.

Yes unfortunately no trip across the ditch this year, just started a 6month job at EQC which may continue into a 12 month job depending on what happens between now and when ever. But USA is on the radar.

Willoughby · Unread post by **Willoughby** » Tue 05/07/2011 22:51

Shame you can't make Steve but congratulations on the new job and good luck with it.

Hopefully the cold SSTs around the Top End at the moment bode well for very isolated, stronger storms with a reduced overall rainfall outlook as we expect stronger sea breezes coupled with hotter temperatures inland.

Skywatcher · Unread post by **Skywatcher** » Fri 08/07/2011 08:48

tgsnoopy wrote:I'm arriving in Darwin Wed 23rd Nov at either 2240 or 2340 (ticket time or online booking time) and leaving Sun 4th Dec at 0045.

Well, I'm booked ! $\:D/$

Jetstar fares had gone up again and still none for the return on the 3rd, 4th or 5th Dec so I decided to grab the Qantas sale fares on offer today. So I'm booked on the same flights in and out of Darwin (2240 on my ticket and QF timetable). This means I don't lose 2 days or have a really long transit in Sydney flying Jetstar - well that's my justification for paying more

I've also booked at the Travelodge but didn't get as good a deal...

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Fri 08/07/2011 09:59

Good stuff. Pleased to hear it.

Shame you didn't get the deal on the hotel.

tgsnoopy · Unread post by **tgsnoopy** » Sat 15/10/2011 08:24

Getting closer to the trip now. I've recently done a full upgrade of my camera equipment, so I hopefully will be in a better position to actually take some reasonable lightning photo's this time.

QANTAS firstly cancelled my return red eye flight, I then managed to alter my return to a slightly later red eye to Adelaide, the across to Melbourne & back to Auckland from there. Then they moved the Adelaide to Melbourne flight forward 30 mins so it wouldn't connect with the inbound Darwin flight.

So now I'm staying another day! Will be there late Wednesday 23rd Nov until very early Mon 5th Dec.

Any other kiwi storm chasers tempted to join us?

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