Day 3 - Up early to see the sunrise at Manguri Siding, a railway siding in Mount Clarence cattle station then it was breakfast time again. By now many of us were back to the more conventional fruit, cereal or toast.
Views from the Queen Adelaide restaurant car during breakfast.
Once we were stopped at Manguri it was time to go explore the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, about half an hours drive away over very corrugated roads. We had quite a walk from our carriage to the awaiting coaches. The sky was spectacular today.
We had selected the Explore Coober Pedy option today and we were very pleased with it. Our driver had done tour guiding all around the country and just chatted away as we drove along - occasionally having to stop talking because of the rough road surface.
Arriving near Coober Pedy he took us first through the opal mining fields and explained all about how the opals are mined; the old way and the modern method. It is forbidden to walk in the mining areas.
We then went to Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park, 14,300 hectares of majestic arid scenery. The Breakaways feature spectacular coloured hills, flat topped mesas and gibber plains in a semi-arid desert climate. The views were absolutely amazing, another 'how many photos are too many' location.
At the main viewing area ... morning tea with wine as well as tea and coffee.
Many people in Coober Pedy live under ground because of the extreme heat in summer. We were taken to an old style home and also a modern one. Once dug out by pick and shovel, they are now excavated with a boring machine.
Lunch was served underground and was a lovey Greek meal
The Serbian Orthodox Church is also built underground, or into a hill. Coober Pedy once had large numbers of different nationalities hence this church. It is between 6 and 17 metres below ground. The complex includes the church, a community hall, the priest's home and a religious school. It was built in 1993 and dedicated to St. Elijah the Prophet. It features many icons and bas reliefs of saints carved from sand stone by a local man at that time.
Another body massaging ride back to the train where it was photo time. The Ghan is about 770 metres long so you can never really see the end!
Our driver and ever helpful crew did group photos in front of the best view of the train.
Back to where we alighted we found more bubbles, beer or whatever drinks you wishes, accompanied by kangaroo sausage rolls... all while we waited for the expected spectacular sunset.
Wow! Was that a spectacular sunset? First the desert lit up and then the sky. The clouds did their magic too.
All too soon it was time to re-board The Ghan and depart the Manguri siding. Dinner called and our last evening of fine dining. My salmon entree and pork fillet main course. Yes, I had dessert but no photo.
Amazing breakfasts, two course lunches and three course dinners (in Gold Class) plus fabulous meals off the train are a feature of travelling on The Ghan.
Next morning, day 4, we awoke to find we had left the beautiful desert landscape and entered a green and fertile one. After brunch we sat in our cabin, having spent very little time in it, and watching the city grow closer. We were a little sad that our trip was almost over.
