Groote Eylandt Check in Changes - Vincent Aviation

Groote Eylandt check in changes

From Monday 5th November 2012 all Passengers traveling Darwin
to Groote Eylandt will depart from the

Darwin Airport Main Terminal.

All passengers must check-in for these flights at Darwin Airport Main Terminal.
The check-in desk will be clearly marked with the Vincent Aviation Signage.

All RPT Groote Eylandt and Cairns returning passengers will disembark at the Darwin Main Terminal.

If you have questions regarding the above changes, please do not hesitate to contact Vincent Aviation staff.

Phone: 08 8980 4000
Fax: 08 8928 1399
Email: reservations@vincentaviation.com.au
Website: www.vincentaviation.com.au

IFISH Paul catches a Giant Herring on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory

Paul joins the locals on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory for some traditional fishing.

He's pretty excited when he realises he has a Giant Herring at the end of his line.

Sunglint in Gulf of Carpentaria by Groote Eylandt, Australia

The water along the Gulf of Carpentaria off the coast of Australia’s Northern Territory appears silvery in color due to sun glint. The glint highlights the contours of the coast, including several large bays and the outline of Groote Eylandt, the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Groote Eylandt lies about 50 km from the Northern Territory mainland and eastern coast of Arnhem Land (about 630 km from Darwin), opposite Blue Mud Bay. The island measures about 50 km from east to west and 60 km north—south, a total area of 2,326.1 km². It is generally quite low-lying, with an average height above sea level of 15 m, although Central Hill reaches an elevation of 219 metres.

Sunglint in Gulf of Carpentaria by Groote Eylandt, Australia

Australia - January 15th, 2012

Caught Short Fishing - Groote Eylandt

Jo Starling can cross the cobia off her wish fish list, after catching this specimen off Groote Eylandt. Picture: SUPPLIED

AS Christmas and New Year fold into our past, the inevitable challenge to resolutions made during euphoria begins to plague the mind.

Will I really drink less, study more, lose weight or stop chewing my nails? Dubious, but I'll give it a crack.

One resolution that doesn't fall victim to the sober light of day is my resolve to cross off a few more targets on my wish fish list!

Last year saw three goals met: WA dhufish, cobia and a jewie. Not a bad year! So what's the focus of 2012?

This year, I'm going to throw everything into my quest for a metre-plus barra. I know it's not a unique dream, but that doesn't make it any less worthy.

But there's another goal caught in my crosshairs landing a wahoo!

At the Com Fishing Festival in Timor-Leste in November, four lines were set as we trolled home after a long day three on the water.

I hadn't had a scoring fish all day, but that wasn't for want of trying.

I had tried so hard, in fact, that I'd neglected to relieve myself! It's a little tricky for a chick on a boat full of blokes, so unless I absolute need to, I'd rather not cause the ruckus. Anyway, half way home, without a skerrick of action and I absolutely needed to go.

All eyes forward, came my call and the boys obliged once they realised what was about to happen.

I clambered over the stern on to the transom and dropped out of sight.

Within 15 seconds, there was a huge din from the collected mass of men.

Fish on, they were shouting. I stuck my head up above the stern only to find them all yelling and waving, but still looking forwards.

Only Steve had turned, knowing he could approach without fear of death. The desperate look in his eyes made me look up to find my rod screaming under the weight of a heavy fish!

I stood and worked desperately to get my duds up a tough task on the rolling transom of a slowing vessel.

Steve looked torn, "sorry, love, but I'm going to have to take your line. Otherwise the fish is going to wrap all the others!"

I can't tell you how much it stung when Steve celebrated landing the wahoo.

So the wahoo has jumped up the wish-fish list and become my quest for 2012.

And I hope it's a beauty when it comes aboard and stops Steve and the boys taking the you know what! Happy New Year everybody!

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia open up the top end

Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia announced today the new international and domestic routes between Singapore and Darwin along with the launch of the merged frequent flyer program amidst their recently approved alliance.

Singapore Airlines’ regional full service airline, Silk Air, will begin a service between Singapore and Darwin four times weekly beginning 26 March 2012 with Virgin Australia complementing these services with daily flights between Darwin and Sydney beginning 2 April 2012.

The two airlines will merge their frequent flyer program, enabling KrisFlyer members to earn and redeem frequent flyer points on Virgin Australia’s entire network and vice versa with Velocity members. For eligible customers, reciprocal lounge access is also available.

Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Commercial and SilkAir Chairman, Mr Mak Swee Wah expressed his delight at the addition of Darwin to the network, which provides more travel options for customers as a result of the Virgin Australia alliance.

“Our partnership enables us to better service this important market, particularly with the introduction of a strong business class product and extensive international connections,” Mr Mak Swee Wah said.

Both airlines spoke of the benefits of the reciprocal frequent flyer program, delivering tangible benefits to customers, with more choice for domestic and international travel combined with seamless service.

“From next week, Virgin Australia customers will be able to enjoy the first benefits of the alliance, with the ability to earn and burn frequent flyer points and status credits on Singapore Airlines’ network of destinations and access 14 lounges around the world. We look forward to bringing our customers further exciting benefits as the alliance develops,” Virgin Australia Group Executive of Alliances, Network & Yield Management Ms McArthur said.

“Darwin is the gateway to the Northern Territory’s popular tourist destinations and is an increasingly important commercial hub. Together with Singapore Airlines we will be able to offer visitors from Singapore, Asia and Europe the opportunity to visit the Northern Territory and then travel on to Sydney and the East Coast of Australia. Our services will also be attractive to business travellers who now have the option of a quality business class service from Sydney to Darwin and on to Singapore and beyond,” Ms McAurthur said.

To accommodate eligible Virgin Australia guests and those of its alliance partners, Virgin Australia also announced that it would open a lounge at Darwin Airport.
Both airlines are expecting to commence codeshare arrangements on each other’s services from early 2012.

Darwin Makes Lonely Planet's Top City List

Darwin has been named as one of the best cities in the world to visit in 2012, ahead of all other Australian destinations.

The Lonely Planet's new travel book on the best things to see and do next year lists Darwin as the 10th best city in the world to visit.

London, home to the 2012 Olympics, is in the top spot, followed by Muscat in Oman, and Bangalore, India.

Other cities that came in ahead of Darwin were Cadiz in Spain, Sweden's capital Stockholm, Guimares in Portugal, Santiago in Chile, Hong Kong, and Orlando in the USA.

"With a pumping nocturnal scene, magical markets and restaurants, and world-class wilderness areas just down the road, today Darwin is the triumph of Australia's Top End," the book says.

"It's now a hip city to visit rather than just the end of the road for lost souls."

Cities in the top ten list were chosen by Lonely Planet's in-house travel experts, based on topicality, excitement, value and that special X-factor, the company said.

Uganda was named as the top country to visit in 2012, followed by Burma, Ukraine, Jordan, Denmark, Bhutan, Cuba, New Caledonia, Taiwan and Switzerland.

As well as the famous Mindil Beach Markets, Darwin is close to a host of national parks including Kakadu, and is the closest major Australian city to Asia.

Visitor numbers to the Northern Territory have dropped in recent times, with figures showing tourist arrivals falling by 9.5 per cent during the 12 months to June 2011.

NT Tourism Minister Malarndirri McCarthy said she was pleasantly surprised to see Darwin on the list, but she wasn't surprised people were impressed by the incredible sunsets, the markets, the nature and the historical sites.

"It puts Darwin certainly on the map as one of the best cities," Ms McCarthy said.

(Source: By Xavier La Canna, ninemsn.com.au)

Gemco $279m a Jobs Boost - Groote Eylandt

A FURTHER 35 workers are to be recruited as part of a $279 million expansion of the Territory's Gemco mine.

The work will increase the capacity of the Groote Eylandt operation from 4.2 million tonnes per year to 4.8 million tonnes.

Capacity to expand further to 5.9 million tonnes will be built into the present expansion.

The job is expected to be finished in late 2013.

The first task will be to increase the capacity of the lump bypass facility, which allows higher-grade ore to bypass some of the concentrator processing.

The port, which is used to export ore to Asia, will also be upgraded.

It is the second expansion of Gemco. The first was completed in 2009.

BHP Billiton owns 60 per cent of the mine and will pay $167 million of the expansion costs.

Anglo-American owns the remaining 40 per cent and will meet the rest of the expense.

BHP's manganese president Tom Schutte said: "The first phase expansion confirmed Gemco's status as the world's largest and lowest-cost producer of manganese ore.

"This second expansion will further enhance Gemco's competitive advantages and create additional options for growth."

Groote Eylandt is Aboriginal land and covers 2260sq km.

Manganese mining began in 1965.

The mine site covers 84sq km on the west of the island and manganese ore is extracted by open-cut, strip mining.

After mining, land is backfilled, topsoil added and the ground revegetated with native plants.

Gemco provides 15 per cent of the world's high-grade ore and is the biggest exporter of manganese.