Chase NT/Darwin Dec 2010

[tgsnoopy]

Looking at the flights, QANTAS might be $77 dearer, but it's 10 hours quicker one way and 4 hours the other. They also serve meals.

I think my choice of airline is likely to be a forgone conclusion at this point.

My income is down dramatically on last year and things aren't looking too rosy for the coming months so this will be a hard call. Two years ago I had 5 international breaks, this year I've already had one, I have another in September to a training course I need to get under my belt and I'll try to justify this third trip.

Foggy's La Nina comment has got me keen to manage to make this trip.

[tgsnoopy]

Ok, I took a $600 gamble. Expedia has half price Hotel accommodation in Darwin on 3 day half price sale at present (It finishes tomorrow night).

I'm booked into the Vibe, Fri Dec 3rd to Fri Dec 10th.

Note that this hotel is not yet 2 years old, is on the waterfront, a darn good place to stay at a very reasonable price.

[tgsnoopy]

Hmm, maybe I got that deal as I regularly checked the pricing? Now I'm booked in, I checked the URL in my post worked and the price is somewhat higher?!?

Try looking several times, closing your browser in between maybe over the course of several hours and it will deliver the goods?

I'll admit I am an Expedia member and suspect they are tracking my inquiries.

Good luck guys.

[NZstorm]

Good to see a number of the forum will be heading for Darwin, storm chasing in December. As its my busy season with work I likely won't be able to make it. I have read the mean start date for the monsoon is Dec 24th but with a standard deviation of 15 days. I guess the best chasing will be before the monsoon kicks in.

[Willoughby]

The Vibe is in a very nice spot tgsnoopy. Good to see you coming along!

[tgsnoopy]

The Vibe is in a very nice spot tgsnoopy.

Yes I know, remember I was trying to get up there while it was being built. At the time my partner was working for the developers as a Manager between the construction and finance sections, it was one of the projects she was involved in. Toga redeveloped a big chunk of the waterfront of Darwin on that project (done in conjunction with NT government).

I was very pleased to be able to secure accommodation there at a very reasonable rate.

[spwill]

I reckon owning a Rental Car company in Darwin would be a good earner as they all seem to have a km charge for km travelled over 100 / 200km per day (25c + tax), the Northern Territory is a big place.

[Willoughby]

I think there are a couple of places that have unlimited milage.

Quick search: http://www.discoveraustralia.com.au/car ... ntals.html

[spwill]

Thanks Foggy, rental cars with unlimited km I see this company is based in Perth.

[03Stormchaser]

So looks like Spwill and Tg will be there Fri Dec 3rd to Fri Dec 10th, and myself till 14th. Havent heard from anyone else so looks like it will be us 3 and foggy when he is free. Tg you wanting to split a rental costs when Simon and I are there? The only problem being if we end up in Kathrine etc if you have book accommodation in Darwin.

[spwill]

The only problem being if we end up in Kathrine etc if you have book accommodation in Darwin.

Foggy, should we make plans to be back in Darwin each night or do you think the chasing might take us well away from Darwin a times ?.

[tgsnoopy]

Tg you wanting to split a rental costs when Simon and I are there? The only problem being if we end up in Kathrine etc if you have book accommodation in Darwin.

Oh... You guys might stay in Katherine? Doh!

Sharing costs for a shared rental car is good with me, I just hope it ends up practical.

[Michael]

Probably people dont go that far there,maybe palmerston,jabiru but the other towns a quite a distance really and theres just nothing to see for hours.

I reckon owning a Rental Car company in Darwin would be a good earner as they all seem to have a km charge for km travelled over 100 / 200km per day (25c + tax), the Northern Territory is a big place.

[tgsnoopy]

From memory Katherine is a 4 hour drive. I recall it being mentioned in conversation, Katherine being my partners name and with her working in Darwin, I thought maybe she'd been out there for a look, but at 4 hours each way it wasn't practical to do it on a work trip.

I recall them saying going South or East from Darwin was long drives inland away from the coast. I got the impression there were practically no coastal roads over there.

Foggy please feel free to chime in at any stage.

[tgsnoopy]

Hotels.com had Vibe bookings over our visit for NZ$87 a night tonight when I checked. In case anyone else is interested

[Willoughby]

The only problem being if we end up in Kathrine etc if you have book accommodation in Darwin.

Foggy, should we make plans to be back in Darwin each night or do you think the chasing might take us well away from Darwin a times ?.

Really hard to make a judgment! We normally chase as far south on the Stuart Highway to Adelaide River township and as far southeast as Mt Bundey on the Arnhem Highway. If there is extreme instability forecast and the sea breeze cas penetrate as far east as Katherine I know of a few that will chase down there, I have not had that chance yet. (Apparently a very good place for CG lightning when it does go off)

How's this!! First ever known lightning shot taken in July in the Top End (July 31): http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2010/0 ... tnews.html

No lightning around the Darwin area in July/August in over 35 years!! Bizarre.

[tgsnoopy]

Ok, I've now got flights booked as well.

[03Stormchaser]

Nice!
Unsure about accommodation yet for me, think I will book that very close to the time or while im over there. Havent booked my flights yet, have the money put aside as im watching AirNZ to see if a good deal comes along (really want to increase my air-points with Singapore air) if not Jetstar will do.

[Willoughby]

Tiger airways have recently expanded into Darwin and they're offering super cheap flights from $99 from Melbourne as just an FYI...

[tgsnoopy]

Unfortunately Tiger stops it's Darwin flights during the wet and they won't be running while we are there, they were an option I looked at.

QANTAS doesn't fly from Melbourne so it was a good move on their part.

[NZstorm]

Notice all the instability out in the Coral Sea with storms near the Tropical Qsld coast this morn. Quite unseasonal!
A good sign for an early start to top end storms I would say.

[tgsnoopy]

Notice all the instability out in the Coral Sea with storms near the Tropical Qsld coast this morn. Quite unseasonal!
A good sign for an early start to top end storms I would say.

Any implication for an early start to the wet?

If it does start before we get there, will we still get storms?

[NZstorm]

If it does start before we get there, will we still get storms?

Darwin gets a storm nearly every day in December tgsnoopy so you have no worries there.

[03Stormchaser]

Arriving 3rd December at 1:30am!

[tgsnoopy]

Arriving 3rd December at 1:30am!

Oh bugger! I'm 11 hours after you.