9 June 2021

Sydney - The Final Chapter.

 21st May 2021

Today is the last day of our holiday and we had planned a Harbour Cruise and Lunch.  Until it was cancelled. 


So, what better way for a Quilter to "Drown her Sorrows" but to make a side trip to her favourite Quilt Shop!

They have come to me at many Melbourne Craft and Quilt shows - Now I can finally visit them.


DH was wonderful - reminding me I hadn't been to any shows for 18 months. 

It was a good thing that we had plenty of room in our luggage for the trip home!


The afternoon was spent heading back across the Harbour.

We passed many Luxury Craft and .. Is that A Pirate Ship?


Our destination - 
The Suburb of Manly.

There are many Interesting looking Shops and Hotels that we thought bore a closer look and maybe an excuse to return.


But our reason for being here is to complete our Quest.

From the
Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
And By Public Transport!

Mission Accomplished!


Here's to 40 Years Together.
Now to plot and Plan
the Next Adventure.







For more information on The Great Australian Train Journeys Visit


8 June 2021

Sydney - Hornby Lighthouse

 20th May 2021


The best way for a Tourist to get to the Pacific Ocean from Sydney CBD is to head down to Circular Quay and catch a Ferry.



We headed off  across Sydney Harbour towards South Head where I have read is Sydney's "Most Adorable" Lighthouse.


This is a Lighthouse that has stood faithfully guarding the Shores and and protecting Mariners since 1858.


They say 'Its Bright Colours and Visible lantern give it a Touch of Carnival Mischief'.

All I found was a Sad and Faded Beauty that is in dire need of Restoration.

(In the very least - a conversation with the Lighthouse Keepers at Rottnest Island.)


At Her feet Waves crash on Rocks where the Pacific Ocean rolls in to the Harbour. 

But this is as close as we could get to completing our Quest today.



We return back to Circular Quay past One of the most recognisable Australian Landmarks.  

The Sydney Opera House.


Walking around its huge plaza we were certainly adding to our Step count today.

As were the Local Police who were more than happy to assist some tourists with their photographs.


It is here the Sun sets on our Day behind Sydney's other most recognisable Landmark.

The Harbour Bridge.





7 June 2021

Indian Pacific - Broken Hill to Sydney

 19th May 2021


We travelled 843 Km through the night to wake to - 

A totally different landscape enrobed in Fog and Frost


Where are we and how cold is it exactly?

A check of my BOM weather app
 - showed we were in Bathurst NSW 

and it was indeed COLD!


I watched the Sun rise over the Misty paddocks - It should be a beautiful day - Just 210km of our journey remained.


There was one last Off-Train excursion - A Day tour of the Blue Mountains.  
Many of our companions left the Indian Pacific at Mt. Victoria to continue to Sydney on another train later in the day.

For us - it was all about the Train Journey on the Indian Pacific -
So we chose to stay on board and continue the remaining 125 km to Sydney.  
Watching the ever changing scenery of the Blue Mountains at times we could see where were had been!


Someone called for Last drinks and Farewells in the Lounge.  

This was not the time to stay in your Cabin.

We were packed and Ready to Go.

Our Cabin in Gold Class was Cosy... but enough to stow our Stuff, retreat to during the day if needed.
And the Seating turned down by the Staff each night into comfy-enough bunks.


As I said at the start of this journal - You get to stay in some interesting places!



For Us - it was the end of an Epic 4,352km Trans Continental Train Ride from Perth to Sydney.  

For others their journey was only about to begin.  The Train has a 3 hour turnaround at Sydney before heading back. 

Could we sneak back on again? - Maybe another day!

Our Quest was to go from 

The Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
We are not there yet.

That is still another day or two away!




6 June 2021

Indian Pacific - Adelaide to Broken Hill

 18th May 2021

Somewhere in the middle of the night we passed out of the Nullarbor Plain into more familiar territory of Port Augusta.    This is the point where The Ghan and the Indian Pacific meet to continue their journeys into Adelaide.

The black line is our 780km route from Cook to Port Augusta - The Blue is the road trip we did back in 2012 when the closest we got to the Nullarbor was Streaky Bay. The Inland patches of Blue are all Salt lakes. 


Our next stop is Adelaide - Rolling in to the Parklands Station at 7:30am and then spending the first hour of a 2 hour stopover waiting while the Police pulled every traveller from VICTORIA aside to check if we had been to a COVID hotspot.

Our travellers from Mildura were not impressed! - (For International readers - Mildura is in the top Northwest of the State and a 543 km drive from the closest COVID hotspot in Melbourne.)



We have spent some time over various trips in Adelaide so the choice of Off-Train excursions left us wondering "What haven't we seen?"

A Bus tour of the City culminating in Breakfast at the Adelaide Oval (Cricket) was DH's choice.

It wasn't nearly enough time to enjoy the Sights or the Breakfast before we were bustled back to the Train. 

Stopping briefly at the Station for souvenirs and some much needed *Antihistamines.


We were now behind schedule -

With the Engine having been moved to the other end of the Train, We return back up the track to Port Pirie, where we divert towards the NSW Border and Broken Hill.



Settling back into the routine of "Life on board a Long distance Train" we watched the scenery change from Urban to Outback over the course of the day.



The Sun set early and it was dusk by the time we arrived in Broken Hill at 6:00pm.

Broken Hill has one of the World's largest Lead-Zinc-Silver deposits and mines other Minerals as well.

The town has also embraced the popularity gained when it was used as a Location for the Movie "Pricilla Queen of the Desert".
At this point I'd like to share a close up of the previous photo.

The Lady with the walking frame joined us in Adelaide.
She is 86 and was such a Character! Proving you are never too old to Travel.

Always dressed to the Nines with jewellery, hair and makeup impeccably done and NEVER without her Six inch Heels!

Tonight she was off to see the Drag Show! 


We opted for the Tour of the City and a Visit to the Art Gallery. 

Housed in the historic (1885) Sully's Emporium Building, the building itself was a joy to visit


Opened in 1904 it is the Oldest Regional Art Gallery in NSW. 

It is well worth visiting or browsing through their Website to see the wealth of Artwork that is in their Collection.



Time to head back while listening to Silly Stories and Tales of Yester-year from our Very Informative Bus driver.

There was so much to Broken Hill that we didn't see - so much to consider coming back and spending more time here ... One Day!






* * * * *




* I spent a good time of the trip explaining to people that I have a Perfume Allergy and the scent of hand sanitiser on board affected it badly - I am sure that everyone thought I had Covid....



5 June 2021

Indian Pacific - Nullarbor Plain

 17th May 2021

Our next leg takes us from Kalgoorlie to Adelaide across the Nullarbor Plain. 
A journey of some 1,800km.



We woke to see the Sunrise and have Breakfast at Rawlinna. 

At 2 .5 million Acres, It is the largest Sheep Station in Australia.



No off train excursion today, just an opportunity to get some early morning fresh air and stretch our legs.



Our 'resident' Entertainer sang Bush Ballads while commenting that he was being upstaged by a Horse!



They say he wanders in and stands in the same spot to greet the train each time it stops - 

No one seemed to know why.


Back on board we watch as the Great Nothing of the Nullarbor Plain rolled by.  

There really IS nothing out there (unless I am told, you look for it ...)



Another stunning Lunch was served. 

This time a rather delicious Camel Curry


After which we finally enjoyed our Chef's Treat from last night.  

Thinking it was a heavy Chocolate Cake we were delighted to find inside was .. 

A Lamington!

(Stowaway Frog certainly enjoyed being invited to Lunch)

Next Stop is the "Ghost Town" of Cook.  

A necessary stop for the Train to take on Water and give us some time to once again stretch our legs.



This time we were able to get to the front of the Train to take the all important Photo of the Engine


And - Because we were actually in the Middle of Nowhere. 

The sign told us so...


We walked all the way to the end of the Train and took a photo of that as well. 

Because - nobody does!

It is a very long train.


It was a great opportunity to also photograph a section of the Rail Tracks.  

At 487km it is the longest stretch of Straight Railway Track in the World.




More views of the Great Nothing as the train continued on 



We enjoyed the Company of other travellers in the Lounge - listening to their stories is a great way to pass the time.



More wonderful meals and a Nightcap before bed.  

Next Stop will be Breakfast in Adelaide.