The Kimberley in north west Western Australia - another bucket list adventure part 5.

Day 5 and our last day on this amazing Kimberly Wild Tour. I woke early under my boab tree and wished that this adventure was not coming to an end.

Our major stop today was Geikie Gorge National Park. Here the limestone barrier reef has created a spectacular gorge with the aid of the Fitzroy River. The boat cruise was  most pleasant - I always like a water element in my day.
Our guide explained the various geological features and also pointed out birds and animals of the area. The wrens were busy building nests, the crocs were sunning themselves.

  

After the cruise we visited the Old Fitzroy Crossing Inn where brolgas strolled and there was an indigenous children's art exhibition.

Then it was on the road again until lunch under another really old boab tree.

We drove on through the afternoon. The aim was to get back to Broome in time to see the Staircase to the Moon, a phenonemon which happens when the full moon and low tide occur at the same time over Roebuck Bay. Our driver & guide Andy did a great job, delivering us all to our accommodations in time to see the moon rise over the bay.

This five day trip with Kimberley Wild from Broome was perfect, we even think we could do more travels of this type! The Kimberley is not to be missed, a very special area of Australia and it should be on your bucket list too.

The Indian Pacific - a Great Rail Journey Part 1

Our travels over the past seven months have all been to places with poor or no internet connection so blog posts were not 'live'. With the corona virus pandemic and the Stay Home rule I have found time to catch up.

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.

 We had time to visit the historic winery and surrounding gardens and to purchase food and wine packs.

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.

The Indian Pacific - a Great Rail Journey Part 2

We woke refreshed after being rocked to sleep, although rocking probably wasn't needed. For some-one who eats a minimalist breakfast I really enjoyed the three course offerings in the dining car, not that I ate three courses after the first day!

Then we settled into enjoying the scenery, although many gathered in the lounge for music or activities.

  
If you are thinking this trip was all about food then you are probably correct. Lunch time and I chose camel curry and a gelato. Just as we were enjoying our curry the waiter drew our attention to the herd of camels out the window. Only a glimpse but all we saw of the supposed 400,000 camels in Australia.

Early afternoon  we arrived at the ghost town of Cook. Cook is in the middle of the 478 km straight stretch of railway line across the Nullarbor Plain. Cook was an active town but now has a population of four and the train stops here to re-stock and re-fuel. We had ninety minutes to wander about enjoying the location, the outdoors and the uniquely Australian atmosphere.

The Wedge Tailed Eagle is the emblem of the Indian Pacific as it symbolizes the scope, range and significance of each epic journey.

Now we were in Western Australia.

At around sunset we pulled into Rawlinna Station where we 'de-trained' for drinks and canapes with more country music.  In the warmer weather they have dinner at Rawlinna where they have permanent tables set up.

Rawlinna Station, not the train station but the sheep station, is the largest sheep and wool growing property in Australia. It covers 10, 117 square kilometres or 2.5 million acres.

 

 The singer acquired a male backing group and some female dancers, so as the saying goes 'A good time was had by all.'

By now we had met several different couples at the meal table and on our last night we were again seated with a couple with whom we had lots in common. Dinner lingered and our last night was most enjoyable.

We passed through Kalgoorlie during the night and by morning we had left the desert scenery and were travelling through wheat belt towns. Somehow I spent the time looking out the window but didn't take any photos. I think there was too much vegetation in the foreground to successfully capture the scenery.

We arrived in Perth at 3 pm, to the minute, after 65 hours of travel. Well done!

Yes, the Indian Pacific rail journey IS one of the great rail journeys of the world, never dull and yet never over planned. All food, drinks and off- train tours are included in the fare which makes this a trip worth doing and one that should be on your bucket list, if it isn't already.

P.S You can do the trip in reverse, stopping at different locations.