#the ghan adelaide to alice springs

[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.

[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…

[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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[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).

[rosefrancaise6]

Okay, dear readers, here is the long awaited and much anticipated list of lessons learnt from this trip.

No matter what Journey Beyond Rail tells you, you will never need to purchase and lug around a surge protector for your devices, the size of a 4 socket power board.

Nor will you need to bring your Sunday best lined linen jacket to achieve smart casual status in the Queen Adelaide dining carriage. Nobody dresses up.

While on the subject of clothing surplus to requirements, pack half as many items as you think you will need and then remove half of them before you lock that suitcase. This was the lightest we had ever travelled for a two-week holiday (using only cabin luggage) and in the words of Qantas Chief, Alan Joyce, we were probably not ‘match fit’ - but if I could have deposited my woollen jumper (nights in Alice Springs were said to be very cold), raincoat (what was I thinking?) exercise gear (when have I ever used the gym facilities at a hotel?) and heavy linen pants in a Vinnies bin, I probably would have.

When the tour guide tells you that purchasing a fly net at a roadhouse will be the best $10 investment you will ever make, don’t believe them. We saw a couple of flies and the occasional hefty mosquito but never enough to warrant unpacking those nets to protect our faces. One of our Canyon walking group suggested using them to secure our hats to our heads when some strong winds whipped up, only we didn’t have them with us then. Will we ever have cause to use them in our lifetime? Probably not!

When the tourism operators tell you that you need to be moderate to highly fit in order to walk the Kings Canyon Rim they are just covering their own arses. Although the emergency telephone stations and helicopter landing pads might tell a different story, our little group of 7 (half of whom had mobility issues) managed to finish this once in a lifetime walk in only 3 and a half hours. Stiff legs, doubtful knees and dodgy hips immediately afterwards but nothing that a cold beer couldn’t fix.

Some of the best fun you can have is when you unexpectedly find yourself without a tour guide and a bus load of intrepid explorers behind them. We took the risks. We set the pace. It was thrilling.

Always label your luggage even if it is travelling with you at all times. Take your eye off your suitcase for a moment and it can end up in Kings Canyon!

Given the experience that some people have had on this tour, best to ring ahead to the hotels listed on the itinerary to check that they have been booked. I’ve always just imagined that what is in the itinerary is incontrovertible truth, but I now know that to be wrong - particularly in this post Covid world where tourism operators are struggling to maintain normal staffing levels while they cancel, rearrange and rebook large groups of people day in and day out.

There comes a moment in every tour guide’s presentation when they say something so wrong that you start to doubt everything else they have told you before and anything they say afterwards. Like when they call Vincent Lingiari Albert or give a politician a status upgrade. Admittedly they may have made those mistakes while momentarily distracted by the shocking realisation that they had 50 lives in their care as they hurtled ever onwards, but it still gives you pause.

That’s it folks. We fly home from Darwin in a matter of hours and that is our Ghan and Northern Territory holiday over and done. Here are some random pics to finish off this blog. Thanks for reading.

[theveryword]

July 15

Two days until NT border opens

2,800km from Katherine

The farmland around Burra/Laura is incredibly rich. Nothing expresses that more than the famous Midnight Oil album cover (Diesel and Dust). The simple landscape featuring a striking stone farmhouse, clearly from pioneering roots but long since abandoned. Surrounding the house is rich red soil. Today, that house is ringed with a healthy young crop- and prolific signs telling Instagrammers that the paddock is private property.

I really gelled with the countryside. The wide, smooth hills were frequently dotted with soaring windmills. And soon into view was the Mount Remarkable range, just after the little town of Melrose. We entered the national park and climbed up the windy road into the belly of the park - a stunning gorge, (Alligator Gorge).

And after Wilmington, we climbed the range again - the last mountains between Adelaide and Alice Springs. Threading the needle of Horrocks Pass was an incredible drive. But all too soon the bucolic scene was over, and we were dropping down to the edge of the Spencer Gulf.

At Port Augusta, the seaside of the range, suddenly the faces were black and the local stores a little more shabby. We picked a Vietnamese French bakery and tucked into pies, pasties and Vanilla Slices. But the road beckoned.

After Portagutta the road rises steadily from the sea, and the features disappear. Just distant, flat-topped ranges to the west, and the shiny steel of the Ghan railway. We saw glimpses of the great empty salt lakes, but sailed on by.

Finally, just before sunset, we enter Andamooka and are met by a haphazard collection of mullock heaps (waste rock) from the opal mines and a jumbled collection of colourfully-named streets (Dickus being my favourite ). We meet our hosts, who've renovated an old stone and fibro shack built in the 1930s. They take us out the back of the property, and on the horizon, just below the purple sky: Lake Torrens. Nice.

[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.

[jargonbyjulia]

Gone on the Ghan

Last month I was lucky enough to fly to the Northern Territory on a work trip, where I was to experience the famous Ghan train journey. An icon of Australian rail travel and one of the world’s great train journeys, The Ghan travels through the heart of Australia, from Adelaide to Darwin and vice versa and has done this outback crossing for 90 years. Of course, much has changed in that time. No longer just a transit from A to B, this expedition offers exquisite dining, impeccable service, comfortable suites and a range of bonus off-train experiences to enhance your trip. It's been described as a once-in-a-lifetime kind of holiday and I have to agree, it is.

We boarded the train in Alice Springs on a stifling 36 degree Celsius afternoon. I say “we” because I was accompanied by my 22 month old dictator, I mean daughter, Claudia. 

We were shown to our cabin, a beautiful little room complete with two fold out beds, an en-suite with shower and large window overlooking the hot, red and rugged Australian outback. After a quick freshen up, we made our way to the lounge so I could treat myself to (skol) a couple of glasses of bubbles and then through to the dining carriage for dinner. 

The train itself is a bit like the Titanic, but like, more narrow and well, not on water. So not really like the Titanic at all, but its old-fashioned, decorative decor was like stepping back in time. The ornate dining tables oozed Old World charm and I was instantly sad I hadn’t packed more linen attire, pearls and resplendent head-wear.

Most likely for other passengers’ well-being, we were given our own table for each meal and I was thankful for it. It was nice having that time together, looking out the window at the passing landscape, spotting fleeing kangaroos as we ate them off our plates... I was pleased no one but me had their 5 star food splashed across their face or clothing by a toddler who insisted on using her own knife and fork to “eat”. The food really was a highlight; it was superb. Fresh, seasonal produce arrived quickly and was plated to perfection. The chef always ensured Claudia had something easy and child-friendly, so I was careful not to expose her penchant for caviar and escargot.

There were people from all over the world on-board The Ghan and it was nice to be able to interact with them over drinks in the lounge. Train travel is nice like that; time seems to stand still, despite the fast-moving scenery. 

That night we slept better than we had in a long time. The gentle motion of the train and its constant hum was strangely comforting, not unlike being rocked to sleep in a big, warm hug. 

After indulging in a delicious big breakfast the next morning, we made our way by bus to Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge for a boat cruise and Aboriginal rock wall art tour. It was a very hot, dry day (around 44 degrees Celsius) and not at all suitable for a toddler or some of the cotton tops who accompanied us, but we all made it through and most slept the whole journey back to the train. It was then a free afternoon to enjoy the train until we arrived in Darwin that evening. 

There was a sense of both relief and sadness disembarking The Ghan. It was a memorable, albeit brief adventure that I feel so lucky to have experienced. I am so thankful I got to show Claudia some of Australia’s fiery red centre and I am thrilled we both made it through (mostly) smiling. With five meltdowns in total and only two of them Claudia’s, I think it was a roaring success! 

I can strongly recommend The Ghan to anyone interested in seeing Oz at its dramatic best. A platform for stories, making new friends, discovering our beautiful country and using wildly predictable train puns, you’re certainly on track for a brilliant time. 

[straymood]

MUOVERSI! Scoprire paesi lontani, via terra, mare e fiume

Quando si organizza un viaggio in Australia, la prima cosa che serve è il TEMPO

E’ una terra lontana e una volta che ci si viaggia, vale la pena godersi il maggior numero di esperienze possibili.

Non dimentichiamo però che l’Australia, anche se la pensiamo come un paese, è di fatto un continente, quindi piuttosto grande.  Le tappe sarebbero davvero troppe, ma come sempre, il modo migliore per viaggiare veloci riuscendo comunque a godersi il paesaggio, è sempre uno,  il treno.

Nel caso dell’Australia, uno in particolare che la unisce ad nord a sud, attraversando il deserto: The Ghan

Con i suoi itinerari da Darwin a Adelaide, passando per Alice Springs, e viceversa, potrete correre sulle rotaie che tagliano il continente a metà, non dovendo fare altro che ammirare la bellezza del panorama che cambia sotto ai vostri occhi, della luce del giorno che, a seconda dell’orario, modifica i colori della terra, delle rocce e del cielo, e dimenticandovi finalmente dell’orologio.

Se la vostra idea è quella di atterrare a Darwin e arrivare fino ad Alice Springs facendovi cullare dal dondolio del The Ghan, scriveteci a booking@straymood.com.

[shannrussell-blog1]

Part three of this series on the Oodnadatta Track covers William Creek to the final destination. You can read part one, and part two of the series first if you need to catch up.

William Creek – Oodnadatta (202km) and Beyond

What will you see

This section continues our shadowing of the route taken by John McDouall Stuart, the Overland Telegraph Line and the Old Ghan railway, at least until Oodnadatta. The track continues to be well maintained, with occasional corrugated sections and bulldust holes.

I’d recommend keeping those headlights on, reduce tyre pressures and take it easy on the speed. The Cooper Tires website has a very useful guide to appropriate tyre pressures in a range of terrains

The Towns

Oodnadatta

The namesake of this track is a reasonably well-sized town with a significant aboriginal community, government workers and business people making up the population. Among Oodnadatta’s claims to fame is as one of the hottest places in Australia – not somewhere suitable for tourists in the height of summer, but generally a delight in the cooler months. An excellent museum is housed in the old railway station and the famous Pink Roadhouse beckons for re-fuelling and an Oodnaburger and chips.

Accommodation

Algebuckina, 53km south of Oodnadatta, is the site of the most significant bridge on the Old Ghan Railway. There is good camping around the bridge area and to the east of the track along the Neales River.

Side Trips

km north of William Creek is the 6km track to the east leading to the old Peake Telegraph Station on the original Overland Telegraph Line. There are significant remains well worth a look.

Along The Way

Old Ghan Rail Sidings

There are many sidings along this section but the ones particularly worth a stop are (distances are from William Creek):

Edwards Creek (82km)

Look out for these ruins to the east of the track. Edwards Creek was once a major staging area on the old Ghan railway, it housed a large number of rail and maintenance staff.

Algebuckina (42km)

The old buildings are a little off to the west of the track, not long before crossing the Neales River and the Algebuckina bridge.

Old Peake Telegraph Station

km north of William Creek is the turnoff west to the significant settlement that was the Peake Telegraph Station. This is a Public Access Route, meaning it passes through a pastoral property, so respect the track and surroundings and keep a good lookout for stock. It is important not to go near any stock watering points. The track can be rough, so a 4WD is recommended.

Algebuckina Bridge

Still the longest bridge in South Australia, this large structure took the Ghan rail line over the Neales River. At the southern end, you will see an old car wreck, said to be the result of a fool-hardy attempt to drive across the bridge when the river was in flood, only to be confronted by an oncoming train that duly bull-dozed it off the end of the bridge. On the northern end are several graves.

Ways Home From Here

A number of options are available for the traveller, depending on the time available, direction heading and type of vehicle.

If heading NORTH

The Oodnadatta Track continues on for 2km from Oodnadatta, meeting the Stuart Highway at Marla. From there the road is sealed all the way to Darwin This is also a good way to go if seeing Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon are on your wish list.

It is possible to continue your love affair with the Old Ghan, fairly closely following the original rail alignment through to Alice Springs. In fact, in sections, you actually drive on top of it. This option requires a well-equipped 4WD taking you through quite isolated areas.

There is over 500km of dirt track of variable condition, taking you through Hamilton Station, Finke and Maryvale, with fuel available at Finke and Maryvale. For the really adventurous experience, take the 45km track west from Maryvale to the historic Chambers Pillar. There is a good campground at the pillar.

Again for the adventurous, take the track north through Hamilton Station and turn off west to Mount Dare 9km north of the Eringa ruins. From Mount Dare, head north on the Old Andado Track, passing the historic Old Andado Homestead and the Aboriginal community of Santa Teresa, eventually arriving in Alice Springs.

If heading WEST

Oodnadatta also a major starting point for a trip across the Simpson Desert. Attempting this requires excellent preparation, a highly equipped 4WD and the ability to be completely self-sufficient (see the 3-part blog “Crossing The Simpson Desert“).

If heading SOUTH

Southwest of Oodnadatta is the 97km track to Coober Pedy on the Stuart Highway. This is a well-made dirt road and a good way to go if travelling back to Adelaide.

Distances and Services

From William Creek to Oodnadatta is only 202km, with no towns or services on this section of the track. There are numerous camping opportunities near old rail ruins and at creek crossings.

The Last Bit – What Else You Might Need To Know

Permits

No permits are required to travel or camp along any sections of the Oodnadatta Track.

Key Contacts

Outback Road Conditions – phone 300 36 033 or log on to www.dtei.sa.gov.au and follow the links.

Marree Police Station – phone (08) 8675 8346

Oodnadatta Police Station – (08) 8670 7805

Coward Springs Campground – 08 8675 8336

William Creek Hotel – 08 8670 7880

Pink Roadhouse Oodnadatta – (08) 86 707 822

Check out our blog for tons of outback touring information, or go to our website and set yourself up to tackle the Oodnadatta Track.

The post Oodnadatta Track Part 3 – William Creek to Oodnadatta appeared first on Snowys Blog.

[charlesandmartine]

Sunday 22nd January 2017 – A journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs on the Ghan Railway

We had to be at the station to catch the train for 12:15, but it’s a bit like getting on a plane, you have to be there early. So, we booked a taxi for 11:00 in the hope of being on time. Now to catch the Ghan, don’t be fooled; we nearly were. Don’t go to Adelaide main rail terminus. Oh no. You won’t find where the Ghan goes from on the Ghan web-site either. It’s all down to diligent searching. We tracked it down to Adelaide Parklands Terminal, Keswick. So we summoned a taxi and asked him if he knew how to get to the Ghan. Sure he said, I can get you there. So next thing we knew we were driving slowly up and down an industrial estate vainly looking for something that looked vaguely like a railway that would take us 1559km to Alice Springs. He stopped the clock because he was a tiny bit embarrassed about getting lost. We arrived however in good time and checked in at the airport style desk. Bulky luggage gets put in the hold and hand luggage goes with you to your compartment. I wanted to take photos before we set off but was told I had limited time before lock-down. Sounds like prison doesn’t it, but once you are checked in, they want to know where you are before the train sets off. Running down the track after the train is definitely something they wish to avoid. You would think that it is no big deal to nip off the train to take a picture of the locomotive that will haul this great long 1400 ton train. Not so. Our train is shorter than some but it is still 30 coaches long and 710metres in length! Some get up to 1km in length and 44 coaches.

The origin of the Ghan is the route taken by the first Afghan cameleers back in 1839. That was the main transport system until 1877 when work began on construction of the first Central Australian Railway from Port Augusta to Alice Springs passing through some of Australia’s most desolate and flood prone regions. The track terminated at Alice for most of its history to date, but the final huge leap was completed, extending the route all the way to Darwin making the journey from Adelaide a total of 2979km in length, with the inaugural journey made in 2004 after a century of deliberation.    

We were swiftly checked in and given a dinner pail and timings for the journey. The compartment is comfortable and well equipped almost as ingeniously as a George Clarke Amazing Small Spaces construction. It has a couple of bunk beds formed by clever re-folding of the seats, and a small bathroom which includes quite a powerful shower. Not much room to maneuver but acceptable for a moderate sized person. Oversized people should not try it. We were allocated our dining car and joined an American lady from St Paul, Minnesota and an Australian lady who live near Alice Springs. First off was lunch with a satisfying fillet steak and as much wet stuff to wash it down with as required. Exotic ice-cream was to follow. The train lumbers on through endless bowling green flat countryside with few signs of habitation. At the moment it is still quite green, but it will turn to red desert before we reach Alice. Looking out either side there is absolutely no-one to be seen, just the occasional sheep. Who on earth looks after them? Who collects the lamb shanks?

We are sitting in the lounge taking in this amazing scenery. The girl from the bar has just come along enquiring if would I like a canapé?? Don’t be silly! Is the Pope a Catholic? Of course I would like a canapé! In fact just to make the point, I availed myself of two.

The evening meal was excellent. The lamb cutlets were most acceptable and a new set of people to converse with; this time an interesting American couple now retired and living in Canada. Bed time was challenging. Sleep whilst the train sways does not come easy but after a while the rhythm sooths and slumber creeps upon you. It is lost suddenly when the train stops, however. The lack of rhythm is an inhibitor rather than a help. We were desperate for sleep because we had an early start ahead.

[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.

[goldeagleprice]

All Aboard for 90th Anniversary of the Ghan Coin and Competition

The new coin commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Ghan. (Image courtesy of the Royal Australian Mint)

In a recent press release from the Royal Australian Mint, we have learned that there is a new commemorative coin being released.

This coin celebrates the 90th anniversary of Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions’ The Ghan. It will be a new colored 50-cent coin depicting the Australian train.

In 1929, the Afghan Express steam train commenced its first route to Stuart (now Alice Springs). In its early days it was known to be unpredictable and famously ended up stranded in the desert for two weeks. It is now known as the Ghan and its route has expanded from Adelaide in South Australia through Alice Springs all the way to Darwin.

Not only is there a new coin, but also they are announcing a competition along with it!

Customers who purchase a 2019 50c Colored Uncirculated coin (90th Anniversary of the Ghan) can enter this competition by sharing a photo of their new coin depicting “where their journey will begin”.

Winners will be announced on Sept. 6, 2019. Complete instructions for the competition can be found on their website at ramint.gov. The coin itself has a limited mintage of 30,000 and retails for $15.00.

  The post All Aboard for 90th Anniversary of the Ghan Coin and Competition appeared first on Numismatic News.

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Watch The 1986 Finke Desert Race - Australia's Toughest Off-Road Challenge

Watch The 1986 Finke Desert Race - Australia's Toughest Off-Road Challenge #finke #desertrace #racing #moto #motorcycle #motorbike

The Finke Desert Race is the toughest race in Australia and one of the toughest in the world. It’s an event that’s been held annually since 1976 – when a group of dirt bike riding friends held an impromptu “there and back” challenge from Alice Springs to the Finke River and back.

They raced on the service road that ran alongside the Ghan railway that runs from Adelaide to Darwin, up through the…

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Australia’s tropical top end is undoubtedly one of the last, great secrets of adventure travel, although the popularity of the region is now growing rapidly as word spreads about its magnificent, unspoilt natural beauty.

The term Top End refers to the northern region of Australia’s Northern Territory, which includes the state capital city of Darwin and the town of Katherine. Darwin is serviced by many international airlines and also by the Ghan railway which connects southern Australian cities such as Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs in Central Australia.

The Top End is a tropical region closer to Asian cities such as Jakarta and Singapore than it is to major southern Australian cities. Temperatures in the Top End hover around a comfortable 30 degrees C (85 degrees F) all year. Like most tropical areas, the Top End year is not defined by ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ weather but by what Top-Enders call ‘the wet’ and ‘the dry’.

These terms refer to the wet and dry seasons respectively, which should be taken into consideration when planning an itinerary exploring the Top End as road conditions and access vary greatly according to season. Wet season flooding can occur from November to April, and may cause temporary closure of routes to some of the more spectacular but remote Top End destinations.

Among the many magnificent natural assets that the Top End is endowed with are Kakadu National Park, Litchfield National Park and Katherine Gorge.

via Top Trekking in the word

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Oodnadatta ist ein kleiner Ort in South Australia mit etwa 270 Einwohnern in der Simpson Desert.

Der Ort befindet sich 1011 Kilometer von Adelaide entfernt und ist nur auf unbefestigten Straßen erreichbar, entweder von Coober Pedy, von Marree auf dem Oodnadatta Track oder von Marla. Diese Pisten können nach Regenfällen nur mit Allradfahrzeugen befahren werden.

Das Gebiet, auf dem sich der Ort befindet, gehört dem Aborigine-Stamm der Arrernte utmadata. Der erste Europäer, der in diese Gegend kam, war 1859 John McDouall Stuart.

Lake-Eyre-Nationalpark

Für eine Fahrt in den Park benötigt man allradangetriebene Fahrzeuge und einen South Australian Desert Park Pass, mit einem normalen PKW kann nur bis Oodnadatta gefahren werden. Außerhalb des Parks kann bei Muloorina Station kampiert werden. Im Park ist nur die Nutzung von Gaskochern erlaubt und kein offenes Feuer. Die beste Reisezeit ist April bis Oktober.

Der Ort war zunächst ein Lagerplatz für Kameltransporte auf dem Weg nach Alice Springs und damals unter dem Namen Angle Pole bekannt. Dies leitete sich von einer scharfen Biegung der Trasse ab, der die Karawanen folgten, die von Süden kommend bis hierhin eher in westliche Richtung verlief und nun einen fast rechtwinkligen Knick (Angel) nach Norden machte. Diese Stelle war mit einer Stange (Pole) markiert. Als die Great Northern Railway im Jahre 1890 den Ort erreichte, erhielt er seinen heutigen Namen.

Die Bahnstrecke, eine Schmalspurstrecke, die The Ghan befuhr, wurde 1929 bis Alice Springs verlängert. Sie wurde 1981 stillgelegt, als die normalspurige Zentralaustralische Eisenbahn weiter westlich eröffnet wurde. Der Bahnhof von Oodnadatta war auch als Goat Halt bekannt, da im Ort viele Ziegen frei herumliefen.

Der Ort ist heute ein Treffpunkt der Aborigines und der Touristen. Wichtigste Anlaufstelle ist das so genannte Pink Roadhouse, das Oodnadatta Roadhouse, in dem Kraftstoffe, Lebensmittel und andere Güter zu kaufen sind und Kanus geordert werden können sowie Post empfangen werden kann.

In Oodnadatta wurde am 2. Januar 1960 die höchste je in Australien gemessene Temperatur mit 50,7 °C gemessen.

Ferner gibt es ein Museum im Empfangsgebäude des ehemaligen Bahnhofs.