Top End to Glitter Strip
Darwin-Gold Coast air route begins service today
IN a boost for Gold Coast tourism, the Glitter Strip is now more accesible to northern Australians looking to holiday here.
Northern Territory-based Airnorth will now fly from Darwin to the Gold Coast, via Townsville, and return twice weekly – Wednesdays and Sundays – from today.
And those arriving on the first flight into the Coast this morning will be greeted with an aviation tradition – a firefighting truck’s water cannon will provide a spectacular welcome while passengers will get gift bags from Destination Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Airport chief operating officer Marion Charlton said the new Airnorth service to our city had been welcomed by both cities.
“This service will provide quick and easy connectivity between the northern Australian ports of Darwin and Townsville and the Gold Coast,” Ms Charlton said.
“Forward bookings from the Darwin market, in particular, have already been strong.
“This will be a great link between some of Australia’s top tourism attractions – the Northern Territory’s Outback, the Great Barrier Reef and the Gold Coast’s beaches. What better way to see Australia?”
The trip from Darwin to the Coast is expected to take about five hours, including a 30-minute stopover in Townsville.
Airfares from Darwin to the Gold Coast start at $219 and from Townsville to the Gold Coast from $169.
And in news to please our neighbours across the ditch, Air New Zealand has retimed its Coast schedule from this week, creating easier routes for locals looking to connect to the Americas from Auckland.
The airline will also boost capacity by 43 per cent during the July peak travel period.
“New Zealand is the second largest visitor market for the Gold Coast and it is the number one international market for Gold Coast Airport,” Ms Charlton said.
“The change in schedule means an easy two-hour transit in Auckland for passengers travelling on to destinations in the US, giving them a more streamlined journey.”
Ms Charlton said it would also encourage more visitors from the US to include the Gold Coast in their travels.