Fly around Australia under 24 hours

[lisabella]

For something a little different, I'm considering a circumnavigation of Australia on scheduled commercial flights, visiting all mainland states (sorry Tassie) and the NT and returning home in under 24 hours, maybe in July or Aug, from BNE - BNE.

Is this a realistic and achieveable schedule? Any unforseen problems or possible snags? Comments welcome.......

QF501 DPT BNE 6AM ARR SYD 7.35AM
QF419 DPT SYD 9AM ARR MEL 10.30AM
QF683 DPT MEL 12PM ARR ADL 1PM
QF585 DPT ADL 2.35PM ARR PER 4.30PM
QF1006 DPT PER 7.10PM ARR DRW 12.05AM
DJ446 DPT DRW 1.35AM ARR BNE 5.45AM

Total travel time 23 HOURS 45 MINS

 

[russ]

As you are aware, it's only the north island, so it doesn't count!
And Perth/Darwin and Darwin/Brisbane are serious shortcuts!

 

[Slats7]

Extend your schedule and include Tassie!

 

[harvyk]

Is this a realistic and achieveable schedule? Any unforseen problems or possible snags? Comments welcome.......

QF501 DPT BNE 6AM ARR SYD 7.35AM
QF419 DPT SYD 9AM ARR MEL 10.30AM
QF683 DPT MEL 12PM ARR ADL 1PM
QF585 DPT ADL 2.35PM ARR PER 4.30PM
QF1006 DPT PER 7.10PM ARR DRW 12.05AM
DJ446 DPT DRW 1.35AM ARR BNE 5.45AM

Total travel time 23 HOURS 45 MINS

In a word - fog, one delay will cause you problems, especially as you only have about an hour of leeway in each place. Assuming however that the weather is on your side I don't see there being any problems.

I personally don't know if I could stand to be on a 737 for that long (I'm assuming the majority of flights are 737 flights with one, maybe two 767 flights for good measure).

Good luck with it...

 

[v8Statesman]

For something a little different, I'm considering a circumnavigation of Australia on scheduled commercial flights, visiting all mainland states (sorry Tassie) and the NT and returning home in under 24 hours, maybe in July or Aug, from BNE - BNE.

Is this a realistic and achieveable schedule? Any unforseen problems or possible snags? Comments welcome.......

QF501 DPT BNE 6AM ARR SYD 7.35AM
QF419 DPT SYD 9AM ARR MEL 10.30AM
QF683 DPT MEL 12PM ARR ADL 1PM
QF585 DPT ADL 2.35PM ARR PER 4.30PM
QF1006 DPT PER 7.10PM ARR DRW 12.05AM
DJ446 DPT DRW 1.35AM ARR BNE 5.45AM

Total travel time 23 HOURS 45 MINS

My Bolding spoils it. Otherwise a good run

 

[chrisb]

QF1006 DPT PER 7.10PM ARR DRW 12.05AM
DJ446 DPT DRW 1.35AM ARR BNE 5.45AM

Total travel time 23 HOURS 45 MINS

You had me upto the DJ bit - Do you really want to find yourself stranded in Darwin at 1am? I'd be happier with all QF - At least if it goes pear shaped you know QF will get you back to BNE somehow.

Oh, and including BME would improve the "round the country" concept - Maybe Skywest would help.

 

[beardoc]

You had me upto the DJ bit - Do you really want to find yourself stranded in Darwin at 1am? I'd be happier with all QF - At least if it goes pear shaped you know QF will get you back to BNE somehow.

That would be my thought. If QF fails to get you to DRW on time, then DJ won't necessarily get you back home. Seems a gamble to me.

 

[lisabella]

I was really trying to do it in under 24 hours - adding in Hobart and/or Broome and/or Cairns would probably take it out to at least 36 hours. It seems clockwise is the way to go, as flights heading in the counter-clockwise direction aren't nearly as user friendly. With tighter connections maybe I could shave a couple of hours off the total. Have heard that severe headwinds are making some of the westbound flights to PER very late recently.

DJ is the only option DRW-BNE at that time of the morning - there are no QF flights that get me back to BNE before the clock strikes 6am!

Early morning fog in either BNE/SYD/MEL & other bad weather I foresee as the two biggest obstacles. Would Sept/Oct be a better time of the year to attempt a round-AUS trip?

 

[harvyk]

I personally would include Broome \ Hobart \ Cairnsin the mix and allowing 36 hours, and keep it all on one carrier, otherwise you may be in for some problems if anything goes wrong. At least if it's all on the one carrier they will get you home if something goes wrong. With your current schedule, QF will only want to get you as far as DRW, and DJ may not get you home (because you haven't checked in \ boarded in time), if something happens before you get to DRW...

 

[straitman]

I personally would include Broome \ Hobart \ Cairnsin the mix and allowing 36 hours, and keep it all on one carrier, otherwise you may be in for some problems if anything goes wrong. At least if it's all on the one carrier they will get you home if something goes wrong. With your current schedule, QF will only want to get you as far as DRW, and DJ may not get you home (because you haven't checked in \ boarded in time), if something happens before you get to DRW...

lisabella,

I must agree with harvyk on this about using the one carrier.

Maybe, as suggested extend to 36 or even 48hrs and make it a truly representative trip and include Hobart, Broome and Cairns.

 

[harvyk]

Also don't forget CBR, it's only the capital and all... besides, it'd mean that you'd have been everywhere and the ACT was not the one missing state \ territory in your trip...

 

[lisabella]

Guys - It's a 24 hour thing!!! Can it be done? Can it be beaten?

 

[harvyk]

In my opinion, yes it can be done provided the weather is on your side, however it's very risky and you could very easily end up stuck in DRW with no way home or needing to fork out big dollars to get yourself back home.

 

[docjames]

There is a 145am jetstar flight on Monday, arrives BNE @ 6am..

 

[harvyk]

There is a 145am jetstar flight on Monday, arrives BNE @ 6am..

If JQ can be booked under the same ticket as your QF flights, then that reduces your risk. Whilst there are no guarentee's you'll be successful, it at least means you won't be stuck on the wrong side of the country if it doesn't work as smoothly as you'd like.

 

[docjames]

QF585 doesnt go on a saturday

Last flight to BME leaves PER @ 1525 so no going to BME if you cant get to PER by 1445.

 

[straitman]

Guys - It's a 24 hour thing!!! Can it be done? Can it be beaten?

It can be done BUT the risk of coming unstuck is too great in my opinion.

 

[docjames]

/EDIT

Ignore - I forgot Adelaide.


/unedit


Have you tried during daylight saving time (October onwards) - that would potentially take 1hr off return arrival time into BNE

 

[opusman]

Yes it may not be sensible in a normal itinerary to mix different carriers and tight connections, but the naysayers in here are all missing the point that this is a challenge to see if it can be done in under 24 hours. I say just go for it and see how you go! If you come unstuck you can always get yourself on another flight later on, worst case is a few hours delay and maybe some more money but it won't be the end of the world and at least you'll have given it a shot

 

[straitman]

lisabella,

When making your decision think of Bundy Bear's sign off on FT.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do.