I did a search without much success here. Does anyone have any helpful travel hints when headed to the Northwest territory to hunt? Most flight schedules show a route from Los Angeles to either Melbourne or Brisbane,, then to Cairns,, then to Gove. The last leg in will be by charter it appears to the hunting area. Any place better to overnight,, or not to overnight? Anyplace to try and avoid? Any input will be appreciated. Thanks, drwes

There is a direct flight from Brisbane to Darwin (QF824). Then you can hop a flight to Gove. Darwin has a good hotel right out side the airport and its not a bad place for a stop over. Cairns isn't bad either.

drwes

We just did that in September. LA to Brisbane, Brisbane to Cairns, then Cairns to Gove. There is a nice little Motel in Gove we stayed a day or so to catch up with ourselves then on to camp. Then we returned to Gove, then Cairns--Sydney spent the night, then from Sydney to LA and onward home from there.

Anyway you cut it, it is not an easy trip. I hate air travel, I hate airports, I hate travel period---it is a long way across the pond and no easy way to go as I know of! But if you get enough shooting in it is worth it---See below my hunt with Paul Truccolo!

Michael

Thanks loads,,, that sounds like a good plan,, I was trying not to re invent the wheel so to speak, I am sure Paul made it a good hunt. It is a brutal trip I am sure but so is Africa,,, and so is anywhere now days. I spent 12 hours this last weekend gettting to a friends house and I could have driven it in 10,,,if things went smooth it should have been 2 hours. Thanks for your help, wes

I always take the Brisbane-Darwin route and avoid Sydney if at all possible. Sydney seems to have more anti hunters in the customs area and the airport is bigger and slower to get around in. Darwin gets lots of hunters, so no big deal there and there are plenty of hotels a short cab ride away from the airport.

Hi ,

just got back from there . Flew from LA to Auckland to Cairns and then to Gove where we took the small plane to camp.

We used Esplande travel who did a nice job for us.

Cairns was an easy customs clearing port compared to the larger cities.

Good luck

LUX

What did you guys pay for airfare to Gove?

We just did the buff hunt in August. Australian domestic airfares are quite reasonable. However, scheduling due to limited flights to Gove is poor. We arrived in Sydney and were required to spend the night there. Next day our domestic flight went to Brisbane and Cairnes and arrived in Gove about 1930. We stayed at the only lodge in Gove called the Walkabout. Commercial flights into Gove are very limited, probably two or three a day.

Subject to where you will be hunting in Arnhemland, you can arrange a road or aircharter. That will be the more expensive part of domestic travel.

Geoff