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
30
minutes
Domestic โ International
60
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Alpha Airport (ABH) is a small public airport located near the town of Alpha in central Queensland, Australia. Owned and operated by the Barcaldine Regional Council, it serves as a crucial link for general aviation, local community flights, and private charters within this remote and expansive region. The airport operates with minimal infrastructure; typically, the "terminal" consists of a basic, unstaffed building or an open-air shelter that provides a rudimentary waiting area.
The layout of Alpha Airport is straightforward and functional, designed to facilitate direct access from the apron to the single asphalt runway (18/36), which measures 1,456 meters (4,777 feet) in length. There are no complex multi-terminal configurations, and all operations are contained within this singular, basic setup. Walking times from arrival at the facility to boarding an aircraft are negligible, emphasizing its role as a practical and efficient access point for the region.
Amenities at Alpha Airport are extremely limited. Travelers should not expect airline lounges, dedicated dining facilities, or extensive retail shops. Any available provisions are minimal, and it is strongly advised that passengers bring their own food, water, and essential personal items, especially for longer stays. Security procedures are basic, consistent with a small general aviation airfield, primarily involving visual checks and adherence to local aviation safety protocols.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting through Alpha Airport involves navigating Queensland's coal mining region aviation network, where this Barcaldine Regional Council facility serves the Alpha Coal Project and surrounding Galilee Basin operations with charter flights supporting the A$6.9 billion mining infrastructure development. Located 2.5 nautical miles west of Alpha township with a 1,456-meter asphalt runway, the airport operates primarily with general aviation and mining industry charter services linking workers and equipment to coal operations, while also serving as an emergency landing site for the Central Queensland mining corridor.
Transfers to commercial aviation networks require coordination with charter operators for flights to larger regional centers including Rockhampton, Mackay, or Brisbane, where connections to Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Qantas provide access to capital cities and international gateways. The airport's strategic position near the proposed Alpha Coal Project rail line, designed to transport coal 495 kilometers to Abbot Point export terminal, creates significant fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) worker movements during construction and operational phases requiring advance coordination with mining companies and accommodation providers.
Rail connections complement aviation access, with Queensland Rail operating twice-weekly passenger services from Brisbane's Roma Street station requiring approximately 20 hours journey time through the Central West line, while freight trains support the coal mining operations that drive regional economic activity. Weather conditions during Queensland's wet season (November-March) can affect unsealed access roads to mining sites, increasing reliance on aviation for personnel and critical supply movements. Ground transportation from the airport requires pre-arranged taxis or mining company vehicles, as no public transport serves this remote location where the nearest major services are in Emerald, 85 kilometers southeast via the Capricorn Highway.
โ Back to New Moon Airport