#adelaide to alice springs train

[jollykryptonitecollection]

The Ultimate Adelaide to Alice Springs Train Packages for 2024

Australia is known for its breathtaking landscapes, and there's no better way to experience them than aboard The Ghan. As one of the world's most famous luxury train journeys, the route from Adelaide to Alice Springs offers travelers a unique opportunity to witness the beauty of the Australian Outback in comfort and style.

The Ghan Packages 2024: What to Expect For 2024, The Ghan has unveiled a range of exciting packages that cater to every type of traveler. Whether you're looking for a short getaway or a comprehensive tour of the Outback, these packages include everything from gourmet meals to guided excursions, ensuring that your journey is as fulfilling as it is luxurious.

Adelaide to Alice Springs Train Package Prices: One of the key factors in planning your journey is understanding the Adelaide to Alice Springs Train Package prices. These packages vary depending on the level of service and the inclusions, with options ranging from Gold Service cabins to the ultra-luxurious Platinum Service. No matter which package you choose, you'll enjoy top-tier amenities and unforgettable experiences.

Highlights of the Journey:

Stunning Scenery: From the fertile valleys of South Australia to the stark beauty of the Northern Territory, the changing landscapes provide a visual feast throughout the journey.

Gourmet Dining: Savor regionally inspired cuisine prepared by expert chefs as you relax in elegant dining cars.

Exclusive Excursions: Explore off-train experiences such as guided tours of ancient rock art sites, camel rides in the desert, and visits to remote communities.

Booking The Ghan Train for 2024: With demand for luxury rail journeys at an all-time high, booking The Ghan early is crucial. 2024 packages are already available, and securing your spot now ensures you won't miss out on this extraordinary adventure.

[a-suspicious-lack-of-bagel]

Fun fact! For postage purposes, Canberra is considered "metropolitan NSW", Hobart counts as "metropolitan" rather than "capital city", and the entire NT counts as remote.

If you happen to live near a state border, your post office (and thus postcode) might be on the other side. Check out postcode 0872, an enormous swath of desert across SA, WA, and the NT; with the towns of Warburton and Alice Springs as postally independent enclaves.

Because the NT isn't a state, it doesn't get the perks of the near state/far state system for business postage pricing. Unfortunately for the Territorians, this means that shipping from anywhere else to Darwin is the same as it would be to Antarctica. But hey, if the trains haven't broken down or been flooded I presume delivery times would be a LOT quicker.

Oh on that subject - if you're posting something by standard mail from another state to WA, there's a decent chance it'll go by train. Unfortunately, the line from Adelaide got flooded a while ago; meaning that anything stuck on a train when the line closed is delayed by 3 weeks and anything else is delayed by a day or 2.

Finishing on a more jocular note, for Santanic purposes the North Pole is postally a suburb of Melbourne; and has the postcode 9999.

[justforbooks]

Lowitja O’Donoghue was told as a child she would never make anything of her life, but the Yankunytjatjara leader went on to change the course of history through her advocacy for Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Taken from her mother and her culture at two years old as one of the stolen generations, she said the harsh discipline she experienced growing up in a loveless mission home ignited her appetite for social justice and equality for First Nations communities.

The life of O’Donoghue, who has died on Kaurna Country in South Australia aged 91, was shaped by the prejudice she experienced as a woman born between two cultures – Aboriginal and white – and by her refusal to be defined by it. Her formidable capacity for activism was triggered by her battle to become the first Aboriginal nurse at the Royal Adelaide hospital, despite the matron repeatedly telling her to “go nurse your own people in Alice Springs”.

At the time, O’Donoghue had no idea where she came from, but she knew it was not Alice Springs/Mparntwe.

From a working life that began as a 16-year-old servant, O’Donoghue went on to become the first Aboriginal person named a Companion of the Order of Australia, the first to address the UN general assembly and the first chair of the now defunct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission, overseeing its most successful years.

She was a lead negotiator alongside then prime minister Paul Keating in the drafting of the Native Title Act that arose from the high court’s 1992 Mabo decision. It was Keating who shortlisted O’Donoghue for a vice-regal position, one that ultimately went to Sir William Deane.

In his 2018 oration named in her honour, Noel Pearson called O’Donoghue “our greatest leader of the modern era”.

“Resolute, scolding, warm and generous – courageous, steely, gracious and fair. She held the hardest leadership brief in the nation and performed it bravely and with distinction,” he said of her guidance during native title negotiations.

O’Donoghue was the fifth child of Lily, a Yankunytjatjara woman, and Tom O’Donoghue, an Irish stockman. She was born on Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands at Granite Downs station in South Australia in 1932. While never certain of her birthdate, O’Donoghue celebrated it on 1 August, the date given to her by white missionaries.

“All I know about my birth is that I was actually born in the bush, like all Aboriginal children at those times. It was a traditional birth attended by the grandmothers as, of course, is the traditional way. And the only other thing I know, of course, is that I never had a birth certificate. And, of course, I still don’t have a birth certificate,” she told the Australian Biography project in 1994.

She never knew her father, and when she was two, she and two of her sisters were taken from their mother by missionaries acting on behalf of the Aborigines Protection Board. The girls were sent to live at what was known as the Colebrook Home for Half-Caste Children, where they were forbidden to speak their language or ask about the whereabouts of their parents. O’Donoghue did not see or hear from her mother again for more than 30 years. In a 2011 interview , she recalled the grief of her childhood, saying she did not remember ever “being kissed or touched or loved or anything like that”.

In a 2006 interview, she said: “I didn’t like it of course, particularly when we were told our culture was of the devil. And because I heard that too many times I became quite rebellious because I was always asking the questions: Who am I? Where did I come from?”

O’Donoghue attended Unley general technical high school, but at 16 was sent to Victor Harbour as a servant for a large family. Two years later, she began basic nursing training before attempting to transfer to the Royal Adelaide hospital to continue her education. When the matron refused her because she was Aboriginal, O’Donoghue took her battle to the state premier and anyone else in government who would listen to her case.

“I’d resolved that one of the fights was to actually open the door for Aboriginal women to take up the nursing profession, and also for those young men to get into apprenticeships,” she said in 1994.

O’Donoghue was eventually accepted and spent 10 years at the hospital, including as a charge nurse. She travelled to India to nurse, an experience that honed her determination to secure the rights of Indigenous peoples in her later senior leadership positions within various agencies of Aboriginal affairs and the public service.

While nursing at Coober Pedy in the late 1960s, O’Donoghue was recognised by a group of Aboriginal people. From them, she learned that her birth name was Lowitja, and that her mother was a heartbroken woman living in appalling conditions in Oodnadatta. When mother and daughter eventually reunited, there was tension and a language barrier. Her biographer, Stuart Rintoul, writes that she would later talk of their reunion as a lesson in the “limitlessness of hope and the strength of patience”.

O’Donoghue told the Australian Biography project that reconnecting with her Aboriginal family brought “new meaning and a whole new dimension” to her life, moving her to devote herself entirely to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

In 1979, O’Donoghue married Gordon Smart, a hospital orderly she had met in the late 1960s. He died in 1991. The couple did not have children together, as O’Donoghue chose to dedicate her life to her work.

O’Donoghue was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1977, invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1983 and made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1999. In 1984, she was named Australian of the Year and in 2005 a Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great, a papal award. She holds multiple honorary doctorates and fellowships and was patron of the Lowitja Institute.

🔔 Lowitja O’Donoghue, advocate for Aboriginal Australians: born 1932; died on 4 February 2024 aged 91.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[gretavdr]

A mooch around Alice Springs

Alice Springs is often seen as simply a jumping-off point for tourists heading for Uluru and Kata Tjuta but there’s actually rather more to it than that. It was the site of the Telegraph station that connected Australia to the rest of the world via Darwin. The Ghan railway line has run from Adelaide to Alice Springs for many years. Since we made the trip on that train in about 1998 the line has…

[banner123]

Road Train warning sign

The "Road Train" warning sign is designed to alert drivers to the presence of a road train. This sign is crucial for informing other road users about the unique characteristics and potential challenges posed by these extended and heavy vehicle combinations.

Select product from our Online Shop.

Banner House is a leading supplier of high quality Vehicle Warning Sign across Australia.We delivers its products to all major cities such as Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hobart, Darwin, Gold Coast, Alice Springs, and Canberra.

[to-travel-smart]

[ad_1] luxury train rides : Travelling by train can be one of the most luxurious ways to uncover a country’s beauty.  Whilst some luxury train journeys promise stunning scenery or gourmet cuisine, each offers their own unique charm – the world at a leisurely pace. This inspired the experts at Japan Rail Pass to analyse the most popular and talked-about luxury train rides across the globeto uncover the best. They did this by looking into a range of factors including Tripadvisor reviews, Instagram hashtags and global search volumes – their total was then weighted to create an index score. Top 10 best luxury train rides across the globe Train Location Tripadvisor Average Review Score Instagram Hashtags Global Average Monthly Search Vols Index Score (/10) 1 Rocky Mountaineer Vancouver, Canada 4.5 54,029 368,000 8.92 2 GoldenPass Express Montreux, Switzerland 4.4 15,786 18,100 8.39 3 The Ghan Adelaide, Australia 4.4 12,571 22,200 8.35 4 Rovos Rail Pretoria, South Africa 4.4 12,146 33,100 8.31 4 Seven Stars in Kyushu Kyushu, Japan 4.4 49,219 3,600 8.31 6 The Blue Train Pretoria, South Africa 4.2 41,654 6,600 8.29 7 Venice Simplon Orient Express London, England 4.4 8,731 33,100 8.13 8 British Pullman London, England 4.4 5,222 5,400 7.77 8 The Royal Scotsman Edinburgh, Scotland 4.3 3,910 8,100 7.77 10 Maharajas’ Express New Delhi, India 4.3 2,282 90,500 7.72 1. Rocky Mountaineer: Vancouver, Canada Rocky Mountaineer situated in Vancouver, Canada ranks as the world’s best luxury train journey, scoring 8.92 out of 10. This luxury scenic train runs on four rail routes in British Columbia, Alberta, Colorado, and Utah. The luxury train has an average Tripadvisor score of 4.5 out of five, 54k in Instagram hashtags and is being searched for online368,000 a month on average – interestingly, these search volumes are 1,933% higher than second place and 1,558% higher than third place. 2. GoldenPass Express: Montreux, Switzerland In second is the GoldenPass Express, scoring 8.39 out of ten. Located in Switzerland, the GoldenPass Express takes passengers from the resort town of Montreux to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. It’s a three-hour ride with four departures a day (in both directions). This experience has an average Tripadvisor review of 4.4 out of five, 15.6k tagged hashtags on Instagram and 18,100 online searches per month on average. 3. The Ghan: Adelaide, Australia Scoring 8.35 out of ten and placing third is Australia’s The Ghan – a service that operates between the northern and southern coasts, through the cities of Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin on the Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor. This luxury ride has scored an average of 4.4 in Tripadvisor reviews, 12.5k tags on Instagram and over 22,200 average monthly searches. 4. Rovos Rail: Pretoria, South Africa & Seven Stars: Kyushu, Japan Injoint fourth Rovos Rail in South Africa and Seven Stars in Japan – both scoring 8.31/10 in the study. The Rovos Rail is a railway journey that explores the south of Africa, and is said to be one of the most luxurious train journeys in the world. Known as Japan’s answer to the Orient Express, the Seven Stars Kyushu runs east from Fukuoka to Oita Prefecture over the course of three nights and four days. Both luxury trains scored an average of 4.4 on Tripadvisor and 12k in Insta hashtags. 2 !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '459419996904776'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); window.onload = function() !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments);

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[joshuawithers]

Vale Stan Hillard

A quick search on the internet for Stan Hillard doesn’t reveal much. You’ll find my name-dropping about a decade ago on Radio Today as I trample on the great legacy of community radio in Australia, you’ll also find that Stan was most recently the President of 2WAY FM and was even presenting radio shows last week. He loved the theatre, and even acting if we’re allowed to call whatever is in that YouTube video as acting.

I met Stan on my first day at 4CRM, Mackay’s Community Radio station early 2004. I’d always wanted to be on the radio, firstly because I’d admired everything I’d heard come out of Triple J, Hot FM, and 4MK’s transmitters since I was a little boy, and secondly because it was the closest I could ever come to being heard - something that didn’t happen much for this kid from a broken home. I walked past and saw a sign on the door about learning radio.

This post to the usenet group aus.radio.broadcast recalls the moment in terific hi skool dropout englissh

I went up the radio station stairs expecting to find out about some big course and the next day, after talking to station manager Allan Berry, I was in the studio with Stan.

Dig deeper on Google for Stan and you’ll find a story from the Alice Spring News reported on February 11, 1998, a story containing an anecdote about colour TV coming to the region:

When Alice Springs finally got TV in 1970, it could have gone straight to colour. However, the ABC, the sole transmitter at the time, had put a colour bar on its equipment. “Nobody realised this,” recalls Murray, “but we had a technician here called Stan Hillard in charge of the transmitter. He went to Adelaide and while he was having a look at their equipment, he noticed the colour bar, pulled it out and all of a sudden Alice Springs had colour. “He got into hot water for doing this, the ABC were going to reinstate black and white but the Northern Territory Government intervened, someone in the ABC got their knuckles rapped and Stan was a hero for the town!” Murray has heard that Stan now lives in Rockhampton.

Born on March 11, 1947, Stan passed away this last week, and although the internet leaves much to be imagined about Stan, his leadership, training, and guidance in the early days of my career were foundational and I wanted to honour his legacy by repeating what he taught me on my first day in front of a microphone, before which he’d taught me how to panel a radio show. I quoted Stan on this blog last year, but I share again to honour the mark Stan left on my life and career, and so the people at the back can hear it:

Imagine the audience are the stupidest people alive then treat them with the upmost respect.

It’s my golden rule for broadcasting, publishing, posting, tweeting, threading, tooting, facebooking, gramming, or microblogging. Imagine for just one minute that the people reading this thing, or hearing it, and they have no idea what you’re talking about - explain it to them in a quick and simple way so they may understand and perhaps even engage.

Whenever I’ve failed in life it’s almost likely because I’ve ignored or failed to employ that golden rule.

[desolate-horizons]

Pwerte Marnte Marnte

Red Center, Simpson Desert

Northern Territory

20th to the 22nd July 2022

Site is 25 to 30 million years old (undated currently ± a few million years), possibly an old river flood deposit above a slow deep water billabong or flood plain environment. Some remnants of green clay in other areas at the bone bed level. Bone is crushed beyond recognition but some crocodile Baru teeth are visible. More birds and crocodiles are visible and very few mammals which is more backwards for a site like this. The above formation is comprised of heavily mineralized sandstone and hematite as well as quartz veins, its capping the mesa near camp.

The campsite is in a completely restricted area near the main train line that runs from Darwin to Alice Springs to Adelaide, sometimes the Ghan runs down this line on the way to Darwin along with other freight trains.

The Ghan passed our site while we were working at 12:15, the second train we have seen on the tracks but two have passed overnight so far, I’m guessing that was a freight train as the Ghan comes every two days and is a luxury passenger train. (July 21st 2022). Three trains passed by us overnight and in the early hours of the morning while two passed in daylight (22nd July 2022).

Two of the others took a bite out of a random melon on the way to the camp on the side of the road, and no it’s not recommended, we all know that wouldn’t have been good.

We visited Rainbow Valley, I wasn’t expecting to be able to stop for it, we didn’t have time to go right up to it but we got to a few of the lookouts. There is a large clay pan in front of it and two medium sized camp grounds (definitely a future camping spot).

[nikolai-novak]

Nikolai’s Travel Timeline

Nikolai graduated from high school in 2018, shortly before his 18th birthday in August. Given his family circumstances at the time, he really needed to get away so he took advantage of the fact that he had a full drivers licence and more than enough money to fund his travels.

June 2018 - December 2018

Nikolai was inspired by a photographer that he really liked -- Brian DeFrees -- when it came to mapping out his road trip around the state. In 2011, Brian travelled through 30-odd states in 53 days to see all the major landmarks. Nikolai followed a similar pathway by catching a flight to Virginia, bought a Kombi van, and started the road trip. Nikolai, however, took a full six months to complete the trip. Nikolai visited the following states and explored significantly in each:

Virginia

South Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida 

Louisiana 

Texas

New Mexico 

Arizona

Nevada (in which he caught up with old friends from high school)

California (in which he briefly stopped in and visited his parents to ease their nagging)

Oregon 

Washington (in which he met August Bright for the first time and his intended short stay in Washington was extended considerably. This is a major contributing reason as to why a trip that could have been completed in two months ended up blowing out to six months in duration. (@augustbright)

Idaho 

Montana 

Wyoming

Utah

Colorado 

Nebraska 

South Dakota 

North Dakota 

Minnesota 

Wisconsin 

Iowa

Illinois 

Ohio 

New York 

Nikolai then sold his Kombi van in New York and booked the cheapest round the world ticket that he could find. The ticket included flights from New York --> London --> Bangkok --> Singapore --> Sydney. 

December 2018 - September 2019 

After booking his flight to London, Nikolai spent the next nine and a half months backpacking around Europe. Now this was genuine backpacking, with Nikolai relying on various forms of transport -- including trains, buses, and even hitchhiking at times. His adventures were as follows: 

Great Britain leg -  England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland 

Central Europe, primarily via train - Netherlands, Germany, Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, France

Balkans leg - Croatia, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo 

Iberian leg - Spain and Portugal 

Transylvanian leg - Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania 

Baltics leg - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Russia 

Scandinavia leg - Denmark, Sweden, Norway 

South Caucasus leg - Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan 

Greek Islands leg 

Note: It was in London that he first met Hannah Callaghan. The two met in a bar, hit it off, and fell into bed together. Nikolai didn’t stay in London for long, however he and Hannah have remained in sporadic contact ever since and will always hook-up again when they’re in the same place at the same time. @hannahcallaghanmu

October 2019 - November 2019

After finishing in Europe, Nikolai booked the next flight on his round the world trip and headed to Bangkok. He spent the next two months backpacking around Thailand, both north and south: 

Thailand - Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanaburi, Hua Hin, Ko Tao, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Samui, Khao Sok National Park, Krabi, Rai Leh, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Lanta

December 2019

After finishing his travels in Thailand, Nikolai used the next part of his round the world the world ticket to head to Singapore. 

Singapore - exhausted from all the backpacking, Nikolai just spent a week in a resort in Singapore. Whilst he did explore the city, he was mainly focused on relaxing and recuperating in a 5-star hotel after primarily sleeping in vans, backpacker hostels, and even tents in some places since first beginning his travels.

December 2019 - July 2020

After Singapore, Nikolai booked the last leg of his round the world ticket and headed to Australia. After landing in Sydney, Nikolai scoured local car dealerships and bought himself another second hand Kombi van and commenced a backpacking trip around Australia. Starting from Sydney, Nikolai’s journey was as follows:

New South Wales - The Blue Mountains, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Yamba, Byron Bay

Queensland - Gold Coast, Brisbane, Noosa, Fraser Island, Hervey Bay, Agnes Water, Lady Musgrave Island, Lady Elliot Island, Airlie Beach, Hamilton Island, Townsville, Magnetic Island, Mission Beach, Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef

He sold the Kombi van after finishing in Cairns so that he could fly over to Western Australia. After spending about a week on Rottnest Island, he managed to buy a second hand van that the owners had renovated for their own past long distance road trips. From there, the adventure continued: 

Western Australia - Margaret River, Denmark, Albany, Esperance, Perth, Kalbarri, Monkey Mia, Coral Bay, Exmouth, Ningaloo Reef, Karijini National Park, Broome, the Kimberley

Northern Territory - Darwin, Litchfield, Kakadu, Katherine, Alice Springs, Uluru, The Red Centre

South Australia - Adelaide, Grampians National Park, then the Great Ocean Road into Victoria 

Victoria - Melbourne, Carlton, St Kilda, Brighton, Collingwood, Fitzroy

Nikolai then sold the van, took a flight over to Tasmania, and rented a vehicle as he knew that he would only be there for a few weeks: 

Tasmania - Hobart, Wild West Coast, Cradle Mountain, Launceston, Bay of Fires, Wineglass Bay, Port Arthur

Nikolai then took a flight to Australian Capital Territory, where he spent a few last days in Australia before having to fly back to start at MU:

Australian Capital Territory - Canberra, Jervis Bay

July 2020

After finishing his mammoth Australian adventure, Nikolai received the ultimatum from his parents: either come back to California and get a university degree or they would be cutting off his access to his trust fund. Nikolai requested a couple of weeks to think about it and immediately booked a flight to Bali, Indonesia. Nikolai spent the two weeks in Bali thinking about the offer, before reluctantly booking a flight back to California. 

August 2020 - December 2020 

It was during this period that Nikolai was a student at Monarch University, having enrolled to study Exercise Science and Physiology. Nikolai really didn’t want to be at university and certainly wasn’t passionate about his chosen major. Struggling to adjust to life at MU, Nikolai crunched the numbers and he realised he could continue funding his travel expenses through his travel and photography blog. With that realisation, he called his parents bluff and left campus. His parents didn’t fully cut off his access to the trust fund but did restrict it (meaning that he was able to withdraw less money than usual each month) but between that and his blog, he was able to make it work. 

January 2021 - April 2021

After leaving MU, Nikolai impulsively booked a flight to Florida. He intended to just stay for a couple of weeks to party and blow off steam but ended up meeting Este Castillo (@estecastillo) in Miami. The couple of weeks turned into a few months whilst the two of them casually dated -- which is the most commitment that Nikolai has given to anyone since the whole mess with Lily. Whilst in Florida, his blog really started to take off. Despite the fact that he wasn’t travelling as extensively as he had in the past, people really loved his photos of Florida; and he had plenty of unseen pictures and stories from his previous adventures that he finally had the time to fully share. Este and Nikolai eventually had an amicable breakup as Nikolai was itching to hop on a flight. 

May 2021 - June 2021

Hopping on a flight led Nikolai to another backpacking adventure, this time in Brazil. Nikolai really hit a sweet spot with his photography and travel blog -- when he had first started the account after finishing high school, he had posted a photo a day; which really was only the briefest snapshot of his adventures as he would take countless photos each and every day. Each photo was accompanied with a brief caption to explain where said photo was taken. Having had some time to fully fleshed things out in Florida, Nikolai started posting more and more of the photos that he had taken over the last few years and accompanied them with detailed stories. The combination of his photography and genuine passion for travel was a recipe for success and this only continued as he backpacked through Brazil for two months.

July 2021 - current

Nikolai is back at MU and studying Business and Photography because he wants to figure out a way to make his blog into a sustainable career. Nikolai still has thousands of photos in his back catalogue that he can share, along with countless stories. Still, he’s making sure to supplement the blog by fully exploring everything that California has to offer; and whenever he can, he will take short weekend trips away or make the most of semester breaks to ensure that people get a good combination of both old and new content. 

[scotianostra]

One for any of our antipodean followersers, the explorer John McDouall Stuart was born in Dysart, Fife on September 7th 1815.

The youngest of nine children of a retired army captain serving as a customs officer, his parents died when he was a teenager, and he was brought up by relatives. He trained to be a civil engineer in Edinburgh before emigrating to Australia in 1838, at the age of 23. 

Stuart's claim to fame came with a series of six expeditions he mounted between May 1858 and July 1862. He was revolutionary in his approach to Australian exploration. While many of his contemporaries mounted major expeditions carrying all the supplies they would need (often with disastrous consequences), Stuart travelled as lightly as possible and learned to work with the grain of the country, using experience gained from aborigines to live off the land. In 1860 on the fourth of his expeditions, Stuart became the first man to reach the geographical centre of Australia, now known as Central Mount Stuart. Stuart's sixth expedition left Adelaide in October 1861 and, headed north, using all the experience of the country he had gained up to then to find sufficient water to allow further progress to be made by June he reached land that had been mapped from the north, and in July 1862 he reached the north coast of Australia, east of today's Darwin.

His trips were not, "a walk in the park" his team were to suffer during his journeys, scurvy was a main cause of distress for them, McDouall himself lost the sight in one eye during one trip, and in another ended with him being stretchered, heis body, or anyones to be fair, wasn't really built for this type of punishment, he  was a slight, delicately built man, standing about 5' 6" tall  and weighing less than 9 stone.

John McDouall Stuart returned to Britain in 1864 and died in 1866 in London. Places named after him include the Stuart Highway, a main north-south road across the interior of Australia; Stuart Park, a Darwin suburb, and the town of Stuart, whose name was changed to Alice Springs in 1933. There are statues commemorating Stuart in Adelaide and in Darwin. 

Now most of us ordinary Scots might not know of John McDouall Stuart, but the people of his home town, Dysart have not forgotten him, there is a museum celebrating his achievements in the house in which the explorer was born, in Rectory Lane, now owned by the National Trust of Scotland, as seen in the second pic, part of the building is a holiday let, fans of Outlander might want to check it out, Dysart was used during season 2 of the show, and the area is a great base for exploring Scotland, Pan Ha, and the historic harbour are all within a few minutes walking from the house, Ravenscraig Castle, and beach, as seen in my last post are not too far away either. 

Details can be found here https://fifehistoricbuildings.org.uk/fife_holiday_lets/john-mcdouall-stuart-view/

As you'd expect there is loads more information about one f the great Australian adventurers, and you can find it here http://johnmcdouallstuart.org.au/

[myaustralia5-blog]

35 Things You Want to Know Prior to Traveling to Australia

My Australia

1. Due to its enormous size, Australia provides a broad selection of climatic zones - in the temperate climes of Southern Australia into the tropical humidity of north Queensland and the arid desert heat of the inside. The summer months (December to February) are usually the very popular for seeing coastal regions like Sydney and Melbourne, while winter (June to August) is a fantastic time to explore the Red Centre.

My Australia

2. Winters are usually mild across the southern countries, but temperatures could be surprisingly nippy in Tasmania.

3. Back in Australia, the very long summer, particularly the 2 weeks around Christmas Day, is the busiest period of the season and also you need to book flights and accommodation well in advance if you'd like to be in Australia during this period.

4. Also Keep in Mind that resort lodging  Is at a premium throughout major sporting events like the Melbourne Cup (first Tuesday in November), the Australian Open (also in Melbourne, each January), Adelaide's engine occasion in March and the Australian Grand Prix held in Melbourne during March.

5. Unless You're an Australian or New Zealand citizen, you'll require a visa to enter Australia.  It is possible to apply for a selection of visas, such as tourist visas and working holiday visas, but you have to do this prior to leaving home.

6. Back in Australia, tipping is becoming a lot more common, particularly in pubs and pubs. Giving 10 percent of the Entire invoice Is Usually considered proper

7. Back in Australia, driving is on the left, therefore many UK guests will feel at home.

8. Australia is a casual society - do not be surprised to be known as"partner" by strangers.

9. Dress codes are both relaxed: when exercising, except in smart restaurants, most guys wear shorts and T-shirts.

10. Australians have a strong sense of humor.

11. If you are aged between 18 and 30 you might be qualified to apply for a Working Holiday Visa, letting you live, travel and work anywhere in Australia for a year.

12. You can apply for vacation working license if you meet the following requirements

• Be aged between 18 and 30 (inclusive) in the beginning of employing

If You're awarded a Working Holiday Visa, you are able to:

• Input Australia anytime in 12 months of the visa grant

• Stay for up to 12 weeks in Australia

• Leave and re-enter Australia any number of occasions in the 12 months from the date of original entry

• Undertake temporary employment in Australia for up to six weeks with any company

13. Having another Working Holiday Visa you can extend your stay in Australia or return again for one more year until you turn 31. To acquire the next visa, you want to have done a minimum of 3 weeks'specified work', such as fruit harvesting, in a qualified regional place.

14. Australia is a remarkably varied island, continent, and country- both culturally and geographically speaking.

15. Virtually all of Australia's population lives within 50 kilometers of the shoreline.

16. As a former penal colony, the nation is currently a combination of contemporary cosmopolitan civilization and historical Aboriginal customs.

17. A trip to Australia guarantees excellent nightlife, sightseeing, and daring adventures to remember forever.

18. The very best time for Australia travel is involving mid-April to late August, when airfares are the cheapest, although the peak travel season in many areas of Australia is through their winter, the very pleasant time to go to Australia is from April through September.

19. Daytime Temperatures are hot, and it seldom rains. September and October are perfect, once the heat is enough to protect you on the shore in the southern countries and the wildflowers of Western Australia have been in blossom.

Hostels Begin at 20 AUD per night for a dorm room, although they get as large as 40 from the large coastal cities.  Personal rooms with a double bed and a shared bath in hostels array between 80-100 AUD each night.

20. For budget resorts, you're seeking to spend around 75-95 AUD to get a double room, private toilet, TV, and breakfast. Larger, string hotels cost nearer to 200 AUD. Camping prices between 15-30 AUD each night (cheaper if you bring your own tent, more costly if you are parking an RV).

21. Food is not cheap in Australia! Most decent restaurant Eateries price at least 20 AUD.  The ideal value food would be the Indian and Asian restaurants where you could find a really satisfying meal for under $10 AUD!

22. Local city buses and trains price 3-4 AUD. The hottest and most affordable way to travel would be to push yourself.

23. Flying can be quite expensive as a result of limited competition, particularly if going from shore to shore. I normally avoid flying in Australia unless I'm pressed for time or there's a sale.

24. Multi-day Tours and activities are expensive, usually costing 400-540 AUD. Day excursions will cost approximately 135-230 AUD. As an instance, a one-way visit to the fantastic Barrier Reef can price 230 AUD as a two-night sailing trip round the Whitsunday Islands can cost up of 540 AUD. A three-day Visit to Uluru out of Alice Springs is about 480 AUD. Walking tours are approximately 50 AUD and afternoon excursions to wine regions are between 150-200 AUD.

25. Suggested daily funding - $60-80 AUD / / 43-57 USD (Notice: This is a proposed budget assuming you are staying at a hostel, eating a bit, cooking all your foods, and utilizing local transport. This also depends heavily on the amount of excursions you're doing! Employing the budget suggestions below, you always have the option to reduce this amount. But should you keep in fancier lodging or eat more frequently, anticipate this to be greater!)

26. The amount of crime is not any greater than in the united kingdom. Be cautious with personal possessions and travel records in towns and popular tourist destinations.

27. Avoid carrying everything in 1 bag. Do not  Leave bags unattended in vehicles, public areas or nightclubs.  Theft from safety deposit boxes is normal in the more affordable hotels and hostels.  Be particularly attentive at night at the busy tourist regions of Sydney such as Kings Crossdown city George Street, Hyde Park and Centennial Park.

28. There have been a few significant sexual assaults against British nationals in Australia.  Be careful at the city center of Alice Springs in the nighttime. There have been quite a few incidents of harassment, robberies and attacks (including sexual assault) on overseas tourists.

29. Alcohol and drugs may result in you being alert, less accountable and not as conscious of your surroundings. If you're going to drink, know your limit.  Drinks served in pubs abroad tend to be more powerful than people in the united kingdom.

30. Beware of scams where potential tenants Are requested to move a deposit into an overseas bank accounts in exchange for keys into a rental home in Australia. British travellers have fallen prey to such scams.

31. You can reduce the danger of  Losing your passport by acquiring a proof of credit. This can be a recognized form of ID for several services such as opening bank account or entering licensed premises. By acquiring a card shortly after you arrive you may limit the requirement to take your passport with you.

32. In case your passport is stolen or lost you could have the ability to acquire an Emergency Travel Document in the nearest British Consulate. .

33. Australia is a massive country. If you are researching national parks it may take some time to get help in the case of an emergency.

34. The terrain and extreme heat could have a serious influence on your capabilities. Take loads of water and also a way of rigging up shield from sunlight.

35. Australia is home to some of dangerous Animal species, out of crocodiles, jellyfish and sharks to venomous  Insects, snakes and spiders are present in many areas of the nation.

[alicesprings1]

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[rufusdawes]

Xylophone, rood, and damn

When I lived in Tennant Creek the best part of a decade ago, I started attempting the Times cryptic crosswords. These are the gold standard of cryptics and have been appearing in print since 1930. There are several blogs dedicated to their solving and explanation, there are world championships, and there are imitations. I was doing my best on a weekday sitting at an outdoor table at Top of Town cafe over lunch for my first attempt.

Tennant Creek is over 500kms north of Alice Springs. Food came to the store twice a week on a train from Adelaide, 2000kms south. The papers arrived daily on a plane from Mt Isa, via Darwin but a day late. The Australian newspaper publishes the Times Cryptic in its daily editions, and twice in the Weekend version. However, I can only get the Weekend once it arrives on the Monday. Because of transport costs, I also have to pay $5.60 for the privilege, about 200% of the price. Double the cost for a paper that is outdated the moment it arrives and all to then spend an hour staring at clues I am unable to solve.

To start, not every way brings instant enjoyment for a beginner (6)

I became a fixture at Top of Town during my two years in Tennant, paper on my lap, pen hanging loosely from my top lip as I stare off into middle distance trying to make sense of a seemingly ordinary sentence. Each attempt marginally better than the one before but never completed. Instead, I would turn to one of the on-line blogs for explanations and descriptions of how simple one such puzzle was, having been solved by the blogger in under quarter of an hour. I meanwhile, would have spent the hour over lunch, some more time over dinner, perhaps a pass towards bedtime before reading the explanation the following morning, and all for half a dozen right answers. Reading the blogs was great for the 'oh I see' moments but not too hot for the ego.

Difficult following analysis of oxidation (11)

Once I moved to Alice Springs, the papers were replaced with the book anthologies. The Times publish a selection an annual in what was once 80 puzzles but is now 100. Alice briefly had a store where I could buy them though I ended up purchasing each subsequent edition on one of my travels to a State capital. No more newspaper smudges running up my arm but also no more contemporary blogs helping explain away the difficulties. The collections were always from a year a few before that of book publication so I was usually without any detailed on-line dissections. Instead, the completed grids could be found at the back of the book so I could at least find the answer if required and try and parse the clue knowing the solution. Of course, I was also a little more experienced and was able to complete many of the offerings before seeking assistance.

Unscripted chaps in film are better (11)

A few years further along my solving journey and I have subscribed to the online version of the Australian. As such, the app on my phone gets me access to the Times cryptic as well as some other mind games. I'm yet to read a single news article but am certainly getting my money's worth from the puzzle page and don't have to dish out an unseemly amount of cash a day late. At 12.01am, a new cryptic awaits me and I have most definitely reached a level where I don't need a blogger to explain it all to me. I still don't complete all the puzzles but I do at least understand why the solution is as it is.

Fulfilment obtained when the truth is found in timeless establishment (12)

I'm now at a point where a couple of friends at work are entering their cryptic journeys and I can be their equivalent of the on-line blogger. We've had lunches together working through various cluing techniques and styles. I can offer a little bit of help when needed and it's reminded me that I've come a long way since the Top of Town lunches. I might not be knocking them over in under fifteen minutes but I've occasionally broken the 30 minute barrier. And I've certainly learned enough that I can write the clues in this piece. They might not yet be of the standard of the Times but they're

Good enough to get through effectively (8)

THE END - Answers to clues below picture.

And the solutions are;

To start, not every way brings instant enjoyment for a beginner (6) - NEWBIE (a beginner) - Start of Not Every Way Brings Instant Enjoyment

Difficult following analysis of oxidation (11) - FRUSTRATING (Difficult) - F (following), RUST RATING (analysis of oxidation)

Unscripted chaps in film are better (11) - IMPROVEMENT (Better) - IMPROV (Unscripted), MEN (chaps) in ET (film)

Fulfilment obtained when the truth is found in timeless establishment (12) - SATISFACTION (Fulfilment) - IS FACT (the truth) is found in StATION (no T/timeless in station/establishment)

Good enough to get through effectively (8) - PASSABLE (Good enough) - PASS (to get through), ABLE (effectively)

Lastly, xylophone, rood, and damn (from the blog title) are all 'cross’ words

[alightinthelantern]

He was already buried when I came up from Adelaide on the next train. His grave was by a stand of eucalyptus trees, a small mound on which flowers had been laid. These were the flowers from the beds that my mother had tended so carefully. She could not have imagined that the flowers she nursed would be on the grave of her child. They stayed at Hope Springs in spite of the tragedy. My father became depressed, I was told later, and had to be sent off to hospital in Adelaide for four months. He was grieving for his son, of course. While he was away in hospital, my mother ran the siding, She continued to cultivate her flowers, she continued to bake the scones that she sold to passengers on their way to Alice [Springs], she still kept the house spotless. She did everything, as such [frontier] women did. They never complained. They did everything.

— Trains and Lovers, Alexander McCall Smith

[rosefrancaise6]

The track from Alice Springs to Darwin is younger and smoother than the track from Adelaide to Alice Springs so we slept much better on this section. After a delicious breakfast, we all filed onto our respective buses for pre-arranged off-train excursions; either a boat tour of the Nitmiluk (formerly Katherine) Gorge, a walking tour of Rock Art or a helicopter ride. We were on the boat tour. In the wet season when the water level rises and all the stretches of water are joined it becomes one gorge that is 16 kms long, but when we saw it at the beginning of the dry season the rock barriers between each was exposed so it had become a series of different gorges. That necessitated a short and very enjoyable walk from the first to the second.

The traditional custodians, the Jawoyn, own and operate the Nitmiluk National Park. They also own the narrative, if our tour guide’s commentary was anything to go by. Once again we heard that the traditional custodian’s fight to regain ownership was spurred on by Vincent Lingiari’s victorious walk off at Wave Hill in 1966 – and that their goal is to provide a safe and informative experience for everyone while protecting what is culturally significant to them. It gives us hope. We wondered if our fellow travellers felt the same way.

Sadly, that is the end of the train trip for us. No more beautiful 3-course meals 3 times a day for us. No more admiring the passing landscape from the Lounge window with a wine or cocktail in hand. As soon as they announced that the bar was closing, we naturally slipped back in to order one last drink and we were not alone. Ten minutes later the place looked eerily deserted. Everyone had returned to their cabins to undertake the physical challenge of re-packing their suitcase in such a confined space and to see the Adelaide River as we crossed Elizabeth Bridge.

We received news this morning that our sunset dinner cruise from Stokes Hill Wharf had been cancelled. The one and only skipper of the boat had Covid (and quiet possibly many of his crew). We had been happy enough to to see the sunset from the boat but now we could be more flexible. No clock watching required. We started the day on a Hop On Hop Off Bus, because why wouldn’t you want to see Darwin from the luxury of an air conditioned coach on a day when the humidity was sitting at 90 per cent? We hopped off at Mindil Beach, spent about 5 minutes on the hot sand admiring the view and then very fortunately found a track through the Botanic Gardens to the Museum and Art Gallery. That shortened the walk to 10 minutes but by the time deliverance came in the form of the Gallery café, my internal thermostat had soared to new heights (reminiscent of my wonderful Vietnam trip with Jane). It hadn’t been long since breakfast but why would you leave such a cool inviting place when you stumbled up on it? So we stayed for lunch before heading in.

Back on the bus an hour or so later and then the grand tour (stops 5 to 11) accompanied by an enthusiastic commentary, peppered throughout with rhetorical questions very much like mine. So many beautiful coastal walks in Darwin, why would anyone be unfit? So many wonderful restaurants and bars, who would want for more? My dad, king of the rhetorical question, would have enjoyed it. It was professionally done, a glitch-free recording with sunny inflections in all the right places. Who wouldn’t want to listen to that all day? But Stop 11 came into view and that is where we parted company with the bus. On my sister’s recommendation we located a bar called Stone House, which was excellent. We turned up as soon as it opened at 4pm and had to string things out until 6 so that we could call it dinner. We started with olives and nuts, graduated to a pork and veal terrine with prosciutto, pickled cucumbers and caper-berries half and hour later and then finished it off with a seafood platter – with wines to match. A very enjoyable day in Darwin and now we are getting ready to leave for Kakadu tomorrow, where we will be reunited with our train travel buddies.

[airmanisr]

Ghan and Indian Pacific Gold Access Suite by Luxury Train Club Via Flickr: The Indian Pacific has a Gold Access Cabin available for wheelchair bound/physically impaired guests travelling in Gold Service. I attach photos. Gold Access Cabins are exclusively reserved for the mobility impaired. The cabin is designed specifically for guests who use wheelchairs, and as such we must discuss your mobility requirements with you to determine whether the Gold Access cabin is the correct cabin for your needs. All-inclusive dining, beverages and a wide range of amazing Off Train Excursions and Outback Experiences are also included. When you travel with Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions, you will be introduced to a Hospitality Attendant who will be available throughout your journey to ensure you have a comfortable and memorable experience on board. Please note your Hospitality Attendant will be unable to assist you or your carer with the following: Lifting of another person Assisting in the use of bathroom facilities which includes bathing, showering and toilet use Administering routine medication Any routine tasks usually carried out with the assistance of a carer Pushing of the on board push chair On-board Push Chair Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions offers an on board Push Chair for guests who have restricted mobility and find they are unable to walk long distance. The on board Push Chair has been specifically designed to fit within the confines of train corridors, aisles and doorways as these are of unique dimensions and smaller than standard corridors and doorways due to the space constraints within a railway carriage. The design of the on board Push Chair does not allow for the guest in the chair to operate it themselves and therefore requires a second person to assist in pushing the chair. The on board Push Chair is only for use on board the train and when boarding through an external train doorway. If you require this service, please advise our Travel Consultant at the time of booking to ensure this has been requested for you. At all major terminals (Darwin, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Sydney and Perth), Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions is able to offer a people mover to assist guests with restricted mobility to board and disembark from the Indian Pacific.