Life> Travel

Across Australia by rail

By Belinda Sunshine (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-04-12 11:28

The Indian Pacific at Manna Hill Station, South Australia [Photo/China Daily]

For some of Down Under's most spectacular scenery, Belinda Sunshine takes an iconic train from Sydney to Perth.

Traveling on the Indian Pacific is an exhilarating adventure and a great eye-opener as it rolls across the diversity of the Australian landscape. The 4,352-kilometer transcontinental journey from Sydney to Perth takes three nights and three days, or approximately 65 hours, and transports the visitor from the stunning Blue Mountains, the Great Dividing Range, the salt lakes and sand dunes of South Australia to the longest straight stretch of rail track across the Nullarbor Plain.

Touted as one of the world's greatest train journeys, the Indian Pacific can be traced back to the early 1900s, but it was not until 1970 that the train finally completed its journey unbroken from Sydney to Perth.

The mighty Indian Pacific has just celebrated its 40th anniversary, and to quote the chief executive of Great Southern Rail, Tony Braxton-Smith: "The Indian Pacific is so much more than a mode of transport. It is a journey of a lifetime as guests experience one of the country's most breathtaking scenery, make new friends and enjoy fine dining in the comfort of an iconic train."

In fact, the train has earned its place as one of Australia's most precious tourism entities.

It goes at a stately pace of 85 km per hour but can rev up to 115 km on certain stretches. It carries about 70,000 people each year on average and employs 25 full time staff on the journey, with two chefs in each restaurant car.

The peak season for this luxury travel is from August to December.

The "platinum service" offers spacious private cabins completely en suite, and elegant dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant Car. The cabin turns from private lounge during the day to a comfortable cabin with double or twin beds at night.

"Gold service" sleepers come in both single sleeper and twin berths. Twin-berth sleeper cabins have private en suite facilities with a hideaway compact toilet, washbasin and shower. Single-berth cabins are fitted with washbasins but passengers share shower and toilet facilities at either end of the carriage.

Perhaps one of the highlights of train travel is the novelty of dining in the restaurant car with its own chefs and friendly waiters.

Selections of premium Australian wines and beverages are available to complement the dishes. Your fare includes full or continental breakfasts, all on board lunches and a la carte dinners.

There is also access to the lounge car during the journey, where passengers can swap stories and travel tips.

Guests are allowed a baggage allowance of 40 kg on the train, but checked-in luggage cannot be accessed during the journey and passengers are advised to take all they need in an overnight bag.

Traveling aboard the Indian Pacific is a relaxing and comfortable way to see Australia. During the journey, it offers optional Whistle Stop Tours in Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook and Kalgoorlie.

Take the time to browse through the tours. One of my favorite stops was exploring the historic sights of Cook, a once-thriving railway settlement, in the Nullarbor Plain. Today, it is little more than a ghost town. The train stops here for a short while to change drivers and take on water.

There is no better time to travel on the Indian Pacific than from September to December, which

is the wildflower season in Western Australia. The Indian Pacific departs from both Sydney and Perth twice a week during the high season. During the low season, the journey is limited to one return service per week.