I find that I think about my trip to Australia quite often. It’s a fascinating country, the people are genuinely friendly and there are trains—two very special ones. The Indian Pacific runs across the continent east to west, from Sydney to Perth; and the Ghan runs north to south, from Darwin to Adelaide. Would I…
I really enjoy looking at photos I’ve taken on some very memorable rail journeys (especially when I’ve spent months under “house arrest”).
Crossing the Australian continent from Sydney to Perth on the Indian Pacific meets all of my requirements for maximum enjoyment of a long-distance train ride. It must also include at least two nights aboard. That gives me enough time to feel at home in my roomette or bedroom (with en suite bathroom), to explore the train…
The next morning, back in the desert and not quite halfway through its journey, the Ghan reaches Alice Springs. It stops for several hours here, allowing passengers to tour the area. The statue in the railway station depicts an Afghan camel herder, from whom the train got its name. “Ghan” is, in fact, Aussie shorthand…