Seeing Australia by train
November 29th 2007 00:16
Travelling to Sydney by train has always been a favourite of mine. The day stretching ahead with all those hours lying before you at your disposal - nothing more to do than sit back and watch as the scenery changes, framed by the large glass windows, perhaps have a chat to a fellow traveller or lose yourself between the pages of your latest read.
Countrylink are offering ridiculously cheap Christmas fares - Brisbane to Sydney for $77 and you can take your kids along for only $1! (I wonder if that price will include husbands or partners?)
Trains departing to Sydney leave from Brisbane`s Roma Street at 6:30am (if you take the day train). Onboard facilities include a buffet dining car with bar facilities, satellite phones and comfortable reclining chairs. Sleeper cars are available for part of the journey at an additional fee and include complementary breakfast and toiletries. If you travel on the overnight service in Economy security guards patrol the train throughout the night and overhead luggage compartments or the option of booking your luggage through are available.
Countrylink also offers some great travel passes for the International visitor.
Backtracker Rail Pass: there are various options available for this ticket, but for the bargain price of $420.00 you can have unlimited travel between Melbourne and Brisbane for 6 months, as long as you are in possession of a foreign passport and return airline ticket. This also includes a DayTripper card which allows unlimited travel around Sydney on buses, ferries and trains (exclusions apply, please check link for conditions) and two one way tickets to the Blue Mountains.
East Coast Discovery Pass: now you can travel along Australia`s East Coast with this great pass - even if you are an Australian Resident! Start in Cairns and slowly make your way down the coast to Melbourne with as many stopovers as you like along the way, as long as you complete your journey in 6 months. (You can also travel in the opposite directions from Melbourne to Cairns). This pass will also allow you a 50% discount on any train trip you take West of this line, plus a 50% discount on your return trip once you have reached your final destination. (Surely with all those 50% discounts added up you can travel for free?
) Prices vary according to what you want to do but an example fare is as follows: Melbourne - Cairns (direct or via Canberra/Sydney/Kyogle/or Casino) - $493.90. Some inclusions have now been made for backtracking via coach, however all train travel must be in one direction only
Austrail Flexi-Pass: this is the mother of all rail passes! You can travel around most of the country with this little baby. You can buy either a 15 day or 22 day pass which allows you travel on CountryLink, Queensland Rail and Great Southern Railways. It is valid for 6 months and you do not have to travel on consecutive days. Once again you must possess a foreign passport and return airline ticket in order to purchase this pass.
Please note that prices quoted on this post were correct at the time of posting. These are just to give a rough guide for train travel around Australia and it is best to click on the links and check the most current information from those websites, should you decide to use this alternative.
Life`s a journey - enjoy the ride!
Countrylink are offering ridiculously cheap Christmas fares - Brisbane to Sydney for $77 and you can take your kids along for only $1! (I wonder if that price will include husbands or partners?)
Trains departing to Sydney leave from Brisbane`s Roma Street at 6:30am (if you take the day train). Onboard facilities include a buffet dining car with bar facilities, satellite phones and comfortable reclining chairs. Sleeper cars are available for part of the journey at an additional fee and include complementary breakfast and toiletries. If you travel on the overnight service in Economy security guards patrol the train throughout the night and overhead luggage compartments or the option of booking your luggage through are available.
Countrylink also offers some great travel passes for the International visitor.
Blue Mountains, Sydney
East Coast Discovery Pass: now you can travel along Australia`s East Coast with this great pass - even if you are an Australian Resident! Start in Cairns and slowly make your way down the coast to Melbourne with as many stopovers as you like along the way, as long as you complete your journey in 6 months. (You can also travel in the opposite directions from Melbourne to Cairns). This pass will also allow you a 50% discount on any train trip you take West of this line, plus a 50% discount on your return trip once you have reached your final destination. (Surely with all those 50% discounts added up you can travel for free?
) Prices vary according to what you want to do but an example fare is as follows: Melbourne - Cairns (direct or via Canberra/Sydney/Kyogle/or Casino) - $493.90. Some inclusions have now been made for backtracking via coach, however all train travel must be in one direction onlyAustrail Flexi-Pass: this is the mother of all rail passes! You can travel around most of the country with this little baby. You can buy either a 15 day or 22 day pass which allows you travel on CountryLink, Queensland Rail and Great Southern Railways. It is valid for 6 months and you do not have to travel on consecutive days. Once again you must possess a foreign passport and return airline ticket in order to purchase this pass.
Please note that prices quoted on this post were correct at the time of posting. These are just to give a rough guide for train travel around Australia and it is best to click on the links and check the most current information from those websites, should you decide to use this alternative.
Life`s a journey - enjoy the ride!
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Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Love the banner pic, Ash.
Michaelie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
Gosh, those are some good deals, Ash. I might tell my parents as they were thinking of doing something like that.
I love train trips too, great post
Comment by katyzzz
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I just love the Blue Mountains, I've been there many times. May go again, soon.
Ash, you've taken up selling Travel, I see, glad to see you with your sunnies on now the weather has changed.
I hope the new venture pays well.
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
But, every time I think of train travel in Australia, I remember my own experiences...some of which were less than desirable!
It always amazed me that we have used trains extensively in our country, over a great many years, and yet they still resemble, well the last time I travelled, a nasty cheap lino and formica horror show, with terrible prints passing as art on the walls of the saloon /lounge and dining cars.
Why can't we have trains like they do in Europe? Or Canada? That famous Rocky Mountain train with the glass topped observation car...would love to have a ride in that one!
However, I know there is an exclusive five star train in Oz, that travels from Sydney up to QLD, ok if you have at least five grand to spare!
cheers
fog
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
Daily Inspirations
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Padsoc
The longest I have traveled in an inter-city train is for two hours, to the Blue Mountains. I usually fly or catch a bus when I want to travel long distances... all the clicking and clankering metal puts me off trains, unfortunately. But it would still probably be fun to go sometime.
How was your trip to Sydney?
I'm going to Coffs Harbour for Xmas/NYE (we're going to fly), should be a blast.
Comment by Eva W.
Life in Germany
Pity I'm in Germany right now...
Oh, wait, hang on... There are plenty of damn good train trips in Europe too -- in fact, far more than in Australia. I guess I should go on one soon.
Silly me.
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Michaelie
hehehe! what are you trying to say about me girl?
Tracy
good luck - i love being on the train, when I have space. It gives me time to just reflect.
Katyzzz
I`d like to sell travel - get some great discounts for myself! woo hoo!
Fog
I know the trains overseas are gorgeous aren`t they? That one in Canada with the massive windows looks stunning. Even in South Africa there is a plusher train than the ones here. i guess we could do worse though.
Epiphanie
i went by bus from brisbane to sydney once and will never do it again. Too squashed, I like being able to wonder on trains. Sounds like you are ready for some fuuuuuun!
Eva
I hope you have some good trips. i went on a train in Italy once and ended up getting totally lost. Oh yes also happened in France. Maybe I should find another mode of transport
Ash
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
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Padsoc
The longest bus ride I took was probably Nha Trang to Hoi An in Vietnam - 8am to 8pm!
I'm definitely getting ready for a good time... hope your holidays turn out lovely!
Comment by AmyHuang
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You know what, I love the train - my only problem is whenever I can travel I am always tight for time so flying is always a faster option - however I think I am going to start planning a longer trip so I can take the train and enjoy our beautiful country
Mountain Fog - I must admit I agree with you - I loved the trains in Europe, and Australian train services just can't compete with a lot of countries. Having just visited Taiwan, it just makes it worse! However, at least we HAVE public transport - I spent only a week in the US and it was hell trying to get around...
Amy
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I love train travel - and like both you and Fog have said, is best done in Europe. I reckon the train trip in Canada with those huge glass ceilings would be amazing.
Like you say at least there is public transport. One takes their own lives into their hands when they use public transport in Africa. it is not unusual to see chickens or goats (live) strapped to the roof and once we saw a taxi, crammed to the max that had a spanner attached where the steering wheel was missing!
Ash
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Check in drives me insane! And then, as you say, the hundreds of security checks that come into it too!
Train travel can be rather relaxing, just sitting back and enjoying the view
Ash
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
I love travelling by train ...well everywhere except the Sydney to Canberra run... *laughs* it;s the only one I know that actually stops and goes backwards, often.
..and chugging on after dealing with orble stalker... it's woo-woo chug-chug-chug.. as I try to catch up with your run-away pen (or is that fingers)...
Great post, loved the scenery. My Dad used to live in the blue mountains and I took the run up from Sydney often and loved the scenery, as it wound up through the mountains... especially when there are clouds,
Hugs
Lilla ...
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
I love train travel too - first time I went on one was when my grandmother took me on a massive old steam train, it was GREAT! Nothing like chuggingthrough the countryside and soaking in the surrounding landscape. Would be nice if the trains here were of the same standard as overseas.
The trip to the Blue Mountains is a beautiful one. I can`t say I like the actual place... what a day! WHEW! Never go on an excursion with 18 family members to a plce like the Blue mountains where there is no phone signal.
OH MY WORD! hehehe
Boomerang hugs
Ash
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Raucous laugher as I remember a couple 'brillient' little jaunts in a small car packed with 8 people, heading out across the Indian desert in Rajasthan... camels, flies and heat everywhere and as then smallest passenger, I had the luxury of sitting between the two front seats - in the gap- pirched over the gear stick for 400 kms... woo hoo... fun fun fun.
Trains?
Romania 1969, travelling with parents from the Hungarian border to a town called Timisora. Still communist and great big rusty holes in the side panels of the train, causing a draught that bought the siberian winds and the odd swirling snow flake right into the cabin... what luxury!??? *lol*
Aah m..e..m..o..r..i..e..s...in the corner of my mind... if only I could find time to keep writing them down (part of the new year's resolution) ....
Soggy hugglies
Lilla ...
Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
hahahaha! 400km wedged inbetween driver and passenger? that would make for an interesting ride! That`s the joy of living in a lawless country - things like that are sooooooo possible! Although highly dangerous you get to experience things you wouldn`t ordinarily - it`s great! i can just imagine you all hurtling down the road giggling.
Your train trip sounds interesting too?! I imagine at the time you didn`t enjoy it but in hindsight it`s one of those experiences that really stand out? ha! if only we realised at the time that we were making memories I reckon we would have so much more appreciation for the experiences scattered our way. It`s on my to-do list to go on the Vodka train - Moscow to Beijing, maybe catch the boat across to Japan after... how amazing would that trip be?!?!
I look forward to more of your memories being shared
Ash
Comment by postmoderncritic
Postmodern Critic
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Padsoc
When we finally got to Dalat the sadistic driver moved a suitcase from the hood that nearly trapped one of my legs and could have prevented me from getting out of the car. But it was all worth it as the scenery had been magnificent, and Dalat had me in a daze with its charming colonial facades. I freshened up over hot chocolate.
Comment by sandeye
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