Swiftie conquers cyclone, flood and outback NT chopper flight for Taylor Swift’s Sydney concert

Mum Maddie Staff braved a cyclone, flooding, and a 300km helicopter ride in order to make Taylor Swift’s Sydney concert. But the Swiftie says there’s one more hurdle she has to tackle before she gets there. SEE THE PICTURES.

S singer Taylor Swift performs on stage during a concert as part of her Eras World Tour in Sydney on February 23, 2024. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP).

Young mum Maddie Staff might just be Taylor Swift’s most dedicated fan in Australia.

The Swiftie braved a cyclone, a flood and even took a 300km long helicopter flight to Kununurra in order to catch the pop superstar in action.

But all of those moments, she said, have led her to the final hurdle that could make or break her childhood dream of seeing Taylor Swift: her Jetstar flight from Darwin to Sydney.

“I’m booked on Jetstar Saturday night which is nerve-racking,” Ms Staff told the NT News.

“I’ve never had a flight get cancelled on me from Darwin, but I’ve seen plenty of others get cancelled, so I’m on the edge of my seat.”

Last week, Cyclone Lincoln cut through Ms Staff’s cattle station which is located near Nicolson River – with massive flooding causing her and her family to be cut off from road access.

The Staff family were cut off after Cyclone Lincoln and flooding hit Nicolson River, Western Australia. Photo: Maddie Staff.

Because of the flooding, Ms Staff, 27, resorted to travelling 300km in a chopper with her two-year-old son, Wyatt.

“If Taylor Swift wants to pay for what the chopper bill is going to be too, that would be great – because I didn’t even question what the price was,” she joked.

“I just rang around and ended up getting onto a mate who had a chopper at one of the nearby stations that was able to do it, and I was like ‘Just tell me the price later’.”

Maddie Staff’s two year-old son Wyatt enjoying the post-cyclone conditions. Photo: Maddie Staff.

As for how she plans to get to Darwin from Kununurra, Ms Staff said it was likely they would be flying the last leg.

Ms Staff said if she was able to make Swift’s Sunday night concert, the stress of her adventure would “be worth it”.

“If Taylor Swift also wants to give my 10 year-old niece a hat as well, that would also be acceptable.”