โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
New Moon Airport (NMP) is a remote airstrip serving the New Moon Station in the Basalt region of northern Queensland, Australia. The terminal is a minimal, functional structure designed primarily to support the movement of station personnel and essential supplies in this isolated part of the country. it is a critical lifeline for the local community, especially for the delivery of mail and providing a critical point for emergency medical evacuations.
Facilities at the airstrip are virtually non-existent, reflecting its isolated location in the rugged outback of northern Queensland. Travelers using this airstrip must be completely self-sufficient and ensure that all ground logistics, including transport and supplies, are pre-arranged with the station management. The airstrip serves as an important hub for private aviation and Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) operations.
The airport's location in the vast and rugged Basalt landscape offers travelers unique views of the ancient lava flows and the sprawling savannah during arrival and departure. It remains a critical piece of infrastructure for the connectivity and safety of the remote stations in this historically significant part of Queensland. Arriving at New Moon offers an immediate and raw experience of the Australian outback, highlighting the resilience of those who live and work in this isolated region.
๐ Connection Tips
New Moon Airport (NMP) should be treated as a station strip in remote Queensland rather than as any kind of public regional airport. If you are using it, the real connection work has already happened before the aircraft departs: station permission, pilot coordination, pickup, and whatever road movement follows after landing. The airstrip is valuable because it reaches isolated country efficiently. It does not offer passenger services that can rescue weak planning after arrival.
That means outback rules apply in full. Carry water, essential medicine, sun protection, and whatever communications backup or driver details you need before wheels-up. If weather, strip condition, or station operations cause a delay, there may be no practical substitute other than waiting and re-coordinating locally. The airport is a tool for station access, RFDS support, and charter movement, not a place to improvise onward travel.
Use NMP only within a controlled itinerary. Confirm who is meeting the aircraft, what vehicle is being used, and whether the next leg involves rough station roads or a longer pastoral transfer. The airstrip works well when the whole chain is managed as one remote-area movement. It works poorly when travelers expect airport-style flexibility after arrival. At New Moon, the successful connection is the one that was organized before departure, not the one you hope to figure out on the ground.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
The terminal at Arrabury Airport (AAB) is a misnomer in the traditional sense, as the facility is essentially a private unsealed airstrip serving the Arrabury Station and the remote Tanbar region. There is no formal terminal building, but rather a basic staging area that may include a small shed or shelter primarily used for storing essential supplies or providing temporary respite from the intense Queensland sun. Ground operations are handled on an as-needed basis by station staff, and the apron area is simply a cleared patch of ground adjacent to the runway.
Because the airport serves private and charter aviation almost exclusively, there are no passenger facilities such as check-in desks, security checkpoints, or baggage carousels. Travelers arriving here are typically visitors to the cattle station, government officials, or emergency services such as the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The check-in process usually involves direct communication with the pilot or station management. The environment is one of extreme isolation, with the nearest significant infrastructure being hundreds of kilometers away.
The lack of amenities is total; there is no running water, electricity, or telecommunications infrastructure dedicated to passenger use at the airstrip itself. Any needs must be met at the Arrabury Station homestead or through the supplies brought by the aircraft. The transition from aircraft to ground transport, usually a 4WD vehicle from the station, is immediate and takes place directly on the dirt apron. It is a functional facility designed for utility in one of Australia's most rugged and sparsely populated landscapes.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting at Arrabury Airport requires exceptional pre-planning as this remote cattle station airstrip in Queensland's Channel Country operates without any scheduled commercial services. All flights must be arranged as private charters or station-coordinated aircraft, typically originating from regional centers like Charleville, Mount Isa, or Longreach. The 7,600 square kilometer Arrabury Station, located approximately 186 kilometers southeast of Birdsville and 106 kilometers north of Innamincka, represents one of Australia's most isolated pastoral properties, making aviation the only practical means of access for much of the year.
Runway conditions at this unsealed airstrip are critically dependent on weather patterns unique to the Channel Country, where rare but intense rainfall events can transform the normally dry landscape into impassable flood plains. Pilots must obtain current runway condition reports directly from station management before attempting any landing or departure, as the dirt surface becomes completely unusable when wet, potentially stranding aircraft and passengers for days or even weeks. During the wet season, which typically occurs between December and March, the Cooper Creek system can flood extensively, cutting all ground access routes and making the airstrip the sole lifeline for emergency evacuations.
Coordination between arriving and departing aircraft requires direct communication with Arrabury Station management, as there are no air traffic control services, ground handling equipment, or refueling facilities available at the airstrip. Charter operators familiar with Channel Country operations typically carry sufficient fuel for return journeys and advise passengers to bring all necessary supplies, including water, food, and emergency equipment. The Royal Flying Doctor Service maintains this location as a potential emergency landing site, and travelers should be aware that medical evacuations take priority over all other aircraft movements, potentially affecting connection schedules without notice.
โ Back to New Moon Airport