The Indian Pacific train trip from Sydney to Perth is truly one of the great rail journeys of the world. In August we flew to Sydney and boarded the train, thus marking off one of the items on our bucket list. 2019 was to be our bucket list within Australia year.
The Indian Pacific, so named because it goes from one ocean to the other, travels 4352 kilometres across three Australian states. It is 774 metres long, has two locomotives and 30 carriages, takes 65 hours and travels at an average speed of 85 kph.
We checked into Sydney Central Railway Station and were directed to the platform where drinks and canapes were being served, accompanied by live music. What a good start!
Once aboard we settled into our en-suite cabin, selected our off-train excursions and explored the lounge, bar and dining area. The cabin was quite spacious by day and at night the steward prepared the beds whilst we were at dinner ... even got a chocolate on the pillow!
As the sun set we were travelling through the Blue Mountains and feeling very content. Some people drank coffee or wine, some played games, some just enjoyed the ambience. Before dinner there was live country music and a trivia competition. This got people mingling and meeting others. Dinner was superb in the Queen Adelaide Room.
Early, very early, next morning were were awakened for the first off-train experience, a visit to the mining town of Broken Hill. We had been to Broken Hill before and chose to return to the Pro Hart Gallery. 'Pro' certainly was a talented man with several distinct styles to his repertoire. Despite it being only 6 am the ladies at the gallery were bright and cheery and keen to talk about the art and to offer us drinks, cake and fruit. Later our driver took us on a brief tour of the town pointing out the historic and major points. We went to the look-out and briefly visited the Miner's Memorial.
Back on the train in time for breakfast! The dining car is elegant and the food and service equally so.
Time for a little rest and a chance to watch the ever changing scenery
The menu has an emphasis on Australian bush food, my lunch was a mixed platter called a grape pickers lunch. But did the grape pickers get the stunning chocolate tart?
Mid afternoon our train stopped in the middle of no-where in South Australia and a coach took us on a Barossa Valley winery tour. First stop was the famous Seppeltsfield Estate where the highlight was an amazing tasting experience.
Generous servings of four wines were matched with local food, and for each we were told something about the wine then the chef spoke about the food he had prepared to match.
Back onto the coach and off the Yalumba Winery at Angaston where a very generous spread of local cheeses, olives, pate, bread and other delights were available to try as we tasted their many wines.
The weather was becoming increasingly gloomy and just as the lady was about to talk on their cooperage works (wine barrel making) the power went out. She continued with out visuals.
Feeling well sated from the tasting room we were led by torch to the dining area, concrete vats opened up and polished to create moody eating spaces. We took our seats in the dark as candles were sourced. What followed can only be described as a 'one-off experience'. We didn't know who we were sitting next too, couldn't see the menu or the food but the service was generous and happy and the food amazing. We were all sorry to leave this special experience.
Our coach driver took a happy group into Adelaide where we re-boarded our train and headed to bed once the train departed. In Adelaide some passengers boarded and some left, vehicles can also be transferred in Adelaide.
Our great train journey was half over but there was more excitement awaiting in the next day and a half. Read on in the next blog post.
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