Oz Fest 14 Newcastle, NSW, Australia. USA Memorial Day Weekend May 26 to May 28, 2017
Jan 10, 2017, 2:46 am
#77
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Sydney
Programs: QF Plat, VA Gold, HH Diam, PC Plat, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,082
Actually, you would take the Eastern Distributor (80 km'hr), Harbour Tunnel (80 km'hr), then the Pacfic highway (horrible road - 60 km'hr) before you get onto the Freeway (110 km'hr) to Newcastle. I would allow 2.5 - 3 hours for the trip from the airport but personally would recommend the train as you will probably be tired, and you can sleep on the train.
Jan 10, 2017, 9:13 pm
#78
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Democratic People's Republic of Victoria
Programs: First Time Flyer
Posts: 833
Thanks kpc - Pacific highway is what I am thinking of - anything but a highway... It's a shocking road.
I once drove from the Park Hyatt Sydney to the Crown Plaza Newcastle. The entire ordeal took more than 3 hours. Horrible experience.
I once drove from the Park Hyatt Sydney to the Crown Plaza Newcastle. The entire ordeal took more than 3 hours. Horrible experience.
Jan 17, 2017, 3:39 pm
#79
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: NSW
Programs: QF P1 + LTG VA Plat, AA nothing, HH Diamond, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 769
It takes about two hours with no traffic interruptions to drive from the airport to Newcastle CBD. I travel this route frequently. I use the Eastern Distributor, Harbour Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel and M2 up to Beecroft, join Penannt Hills Rd and then onto the M1. The train is very slow and painful. I would definitely hire a car and drive.
I avoid the Pacific Highway at all costs.
Please list me as Gold for this for now. Subject to rosters. I'll be in ADL until the Sat. No hotel required.
I avoid the Pacific Highway at all costs.
Please list me as Gold for this for now. Subject to rosters. I'll be in ADL until the Sat. No hotel required.
Last edited by Princess fiona; Jan 17, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Jan 17, 2017, 5:58 pm
#80
Join Date: May 2011
Location: CMH
Programs: w/+1: AS MVPG; IHG/Marriott Plat; Hilton/BW Diamond; Hertz Prez; SG Silver
Posts: 1,188
It takes about two hours with no traffic interruptions to drive from the airport to Newcastle CBD. I travel this route frequently. I use the Eastern Distributor, Harbour Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel and M2 up to Beecroft, join Penannt Hills Rd and then onto the M1. The train is very slow and painful. I would definitely hire a car and drive.
I avoid the Pacific Highway at all costs.
Please list me as Gold for this for now. Subject to rosters. I'll be in ADL until the Sat. No hotel required.
I avoid the Pacific Highway at all costs.
Please list me as Gold for this for now. Subject to rosters. I'll be in ADL until the Sat. No hotel required.
Swore never again.
Jan 18, 2017, 12:03 am
#81
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,411
Just wanted to say a fond "hello" to all of you who attended #2 (I think it was #2). To my recollection there were 6 of us, and my 2 kids (about 5 and 9 at the time) and I were 1/2 of the crowd.
P.S. - My bad, I just read the history. I guess I am thinking of a less formal event which was a dinner organized by OzStamps. Hope everyone has a great time!
P.S. - My bad, I just read the history. I guess I am thinking of a less formal event which was a dinner organized by OzStamps. Hope everyone has a great time!
Last edited by sbrower; Jan 26, 2017 at 12:14 pm
Jan 18, 2017, 3:35 am
#82
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SXE
Programs: QF LTG, VA Gold, BA Gold, HH, SFSC
Posts: 502
It takes about two hours with no traffic interruptions to drive from the airport to Newcastle CBD. I travel this route frequently. I use the Eastern Distributor, Harbour Tunnel, Lane Cove Tunnel and M2 up to Beecroft, join Penannt Hills Rd and then onto the M1. The train is very slow and painful. I would definitely hire a car and drive.
I avoid the Pacific Highway at all costs.
Please list me as Gold for this for now. Subject to rosters. I'll be in ADL until the Sat. No hotel required.
I avoid the Pacific Highway at all costs.
Please list me as Gold for this for now. Subject to rosters. I'll be in ADL until the Sat. No hotel required.
Jan 25, 2017, 11:34 pm
#83
Oz Fest organizers
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 259
120 days to go
120 days to go to Oz Fest 14 at Newcastle, NSW
And today is Australia Day (26 Jan) [in this part of the world]. The day is not universally celebrated nor is it the day the country/federation of Australia was officially formed by all the colonies (that was 1 Jan 1901)
By Australia Day the numbers stabilise. Some confirmed attendees will drop out and others will sign up. Normally we only get 2 to 4 more confirmed attendees in total after this day. A few regular attendees are yet to sign up.
32 have signed up as Platinum Definite
15 have signed up as Gold Maybe - possible
4 have signed up as Silver Interested
0 have indicated Bronze can't make it
Of the 32 who are Platinum 19 are from Australia, 9 from USA, 1 from Canada & 3 from NZ
26 of the 32 are repeat offenders .
Only 6 newbies at this time
11 of the 32 have attended the last 6 Oz Fests (OOL KKE ASP PER CBR DRW)
12 of the 32 have attended the last 5 Oz Fests (OOL KKE ASP PER CBR)
10 of the 32 have attended 10 or more Oz Fests
25 of the 32 have attended 3 or more Oz Fests
2 of the 32 attended Oz Fest 01 SYD 2004 (21 attended) (4%)
6 of the 32 attended Oz Fest 02 SYD 2005 (58 attended) (13%)
22 of the 32 attended Oz Fest 12 KKE 2015 (41 attended) (50%)
20 of the 32 attended Oz Fest 13 OOL 2016 (44 attended) (45%)
Post 1 Introduction
Post 2 Attendees
Post 3 Activities. Who is doing what
Post 4 About Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Post 5 Hotels
Post 6 Flights
Post 7 History of Oz Fest
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And today is Australia Day (26 Jan) [in this part of the world]. The day is not universally celebrated nor is it the day the country/federation of Australia was officially formed by all the colonies (that was 1 Jan 1901)
By Australia Day the numbers stabilise. Some confirmed attendees will drop out and others will sign up. Normally we only get 2 to 4 more confirmed attendees in total after this day. A few regular attendees are yet to sign up.
32 have signed up as Platinum Definite
15 have signed up as Gold Maybe - possible
4 have signed up as Silver Interested
0 have indicated Bronze can't make it
Of the 32 who are Platinum 19 are from Australia, 9 from USA, 1 from Canada & 3 from NZ
26 of the 32 are repeat offenders .
Only 6 newbies at this time
11 of the 32 have attended the last 6 Oz Fests (OOL KKE ASP PER CBR DRW)
12 of the 32 have attended the last 5 Oz Fests (OOL KKE ASP PER CBR)
10 of the 32 have attended 10 or more Oz Fests
25 of the 32 have attended 3 or more Oz Fests
2 of the 32 attended Oz Fest 01 SYD 2004 (21 attended) (4%)
6 of the 32 attended Oz Fest 02 SYD 2005 (58 attended) (13%)
22 of the 32 attended Oz Fest 12 KKE 2015 (41 attended) (50%)
20 of the 32 attended Oz Fest 13 OOL 2016 (44 attended) (45%)
Post 1 Introduction
Post 2 Attendees
Post 3 Activities. Who is doing what
Post 4 About Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Post 5 Hotels
Post 6 Flights
Post 7 History of Oz Fest
___________________
Subscribe to this thread using thread tools (top of the page).
Or just click here: Subscribe to Oz Fest 14 Newcastle, NSW, Australia
Feb 1, 2017, 10:43 pm
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
Programs: ►QFWP/LTG►VA WP►HyattExpl.►HiltonGold►ALL Silver
Posts: 21,995
For the next six+ hours (until 11pm East coast Oz time), Virgin Australia has some cheap "Happy Hour" sale fares BNE (AUD75) and MEL (AUD85) to/from NTL.
These are valid for the OzFest dates.
These are valid for the OzFest dates.
Feb 4, 2017, 3:43 pm
#87
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,792
So as a PSA - AA currently has flights from IAH-SYD for only $765 r/t the weekend of ozfest. Well many other dates too, but that didn't seem relevant to the thread.
I am running low on PTO (already) this year but could make it to and from Australia for my 2nd ozfest with only 2 days of PTO. Decisions decisions...
Edit: apparently its a nationwide sale to SYD on AA.
http://www.theflightdeal.com/2017/02...ing-all-taxes/
I am running low on PTO (already) this year but could make it to and from Australia for my 2nd ozfest with only 2 days of PTO. Decisions decisions...
Edit: apparently its a nationwide sale to SYD on AA.
http://www.theflightdeal.com/2017/02...ing-all-taxes/
Last edited by krazykanuck; Feb 4, 2017 at 7:02 pm
Feb 4, 2017, 3:58 pm
#88
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
Discussion in this thread in the Delta forum.
Feb 5, 2017, 8:58 am
#89
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ORD, LAS
Programs: AA-EXP, BAEC Silver, Hyatt-Globalist, Hilton-gold, SPG-gold
Posts: 855
Grabbed one of those cheap AA fares. Happy to FINALLY be getting to my first Oz Fest after wanting to go for the last few years, but always having conflict.
