Outback Spirit

This Side Trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock) was our first with Journey Beyonds Outback Spirit Group

And I must admit when I looked at the route and how many Kms were were to travel I was a little apprehensive.  

I needn't have been.

We were looked after from the first time we climbed aboard the 24 Seat Mercedes 4WD Bus to when we said Goodbye 6 Days later.

If we were Hungry or Thirsty - It was our own fault.

Morning Tea and Lunches magically appeared from 'Beneath the Bus'.

I am sure they had more Drink options than our Hotel!

(Marshmallows for your Hot Chocolate anyone?)

There was Water and Walking-poles

Tables and Chairs 

There was Fresh Fruit and Lollies

Hand sanitizer and Sunscreen

Even Books to borrow - if you were bored.....

And first time travellers were sent a complimentary 'Explorer Pack'  with everything else you would need and some!

We were expecting maybe some pamphlets... not anything like this!

(Subsequent tours, you get Past Passenger Discounts and no pack.)

Some Facts & Figures for Fun:

1,380 km 

16 hours on the Bus

35 Stops, Photo Ops, etc

The longest time on the road was just 2 hours,

The shortest: 6 minutes

To say We Went "There and Back Again to See How Far it Is "

Is certainly an understatement.

Would we travel with them again - It's already booked!

More Fun Facts:

The Ghan:

Adelaide to Manguri 891.5 km 

Manguri to Alice Springs 666 km 

Alice Springs to Katherine 1,114 km 

Katherine to Darwin 308 km 

By Road via Stuart Hwy 3,030 km

Day 10 - Katherine

There are but a few places on this Planet where I have left part of my Soul behind

One of which, is the Beautiful Nitmiluk Gorge 

last time we were here I said I would return.

And This time I was torn between cruising the Ancient  waters of the Katherine River or going Deeper into the History of this Area.

And Deeper we did go!

From an Entire Train Full of People just DH, Myself  2 Others (and the Journey Beyond Staff Member) chose the New Katherine Excursion to the Cutta Cutta Caves.

As we have traveled the opportunity to check out a "New" Cave has become a To Do Item.

Compared to some, the section of Cutta Cutta that is open to Tours is relatively small.

Limestone caves are Uncommon in Northern Australia and Cutta Cutta is the only one open to the public. 

It is relatively easy to get to and with the exception of One 'pinch point' and a few steps, quite accessible.

Unfortunately we didn't see any of the Rare Ghost or Orange Horseshoe Bats.

We did see signs that local Snakes (Harmless Brown Tree Snake) had visited recently

I was just happy to enjoy the 'Private' Tour as it gave me the opportunity to see just how well my iPhone performed in the low light.

(Taking good Photos in Caves is notoriously difficult.)

Discovered c.1900 and named 'Smiths Cave' then '16 Mile Cave' during WW2 and finally in 1979 to Cutta Cutta the Jawoyn Name for "Many Stars".  

The Aboriginal People didn't enter the Cave as they believed it was where the Stars rested during the day.

THIS is because in places, the Cave Sparkles!

After collecting the rest of the Travellers we headed on to the Nitmiluk Visitors Centre. 

We were treated to a Shared Meal which included Kangaroo, Barramundi and Crocodile all delicately flavoured with Indigenous Salmon Gum, Citrus Myrtle, Saltbush and River Mint.

From here it was back to Katherine Station where many a traveller waited to get that Iconic Photo of the Ghan engine... only to be disappointed that the Train was being hauled, as it sometimes is,  by  Pacific National.

(This does not detract from The Ghan experience)

Our Time with Journey Beyond and Outback Spirit is drawing to an end.

Just one last beautiful Evening Meal on Board as we watch the Sun Set through dusty windows, as we roll into Darwin.

 

Ghan Photo:By Bahnfrend - Own work, 

CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41744599

Day 2 - Marla

970 km North West of Adelaide and 402 km South of Alice Springs.

Where the Oodnadatta Track meets the Stuart Highway

This is Marla.

There is no Platform or Fancy Rail Station - We get off in the predawn chill, trudge towards blazing Fires - Hot Coffee and warm food, all provided by someone who was up a long time before we were.

We are stopping 2 km Out of Town 

to Watch the Sun Rise.

Some chose to Walk the Length of the Train to take that all important Photo of The Ghan Engine.

It was a VERY Long Train

So Others just chose to stay warm and Photobomb every shot they could!

Back on Board as we threaded our way back to our Cabin we got a Peek as to what Dining in Platinum was Like.

(I think I prefer the ambience of the The Queen Adelaide Car.) 

10:00 am We are advised that "We are about to cross into the Northern Territory. If you look out of the Right side of the Train you will see the Border marker."

You would think they could have put it a little closer to the Trainline...

The next Point of Interest was The Iron Man Sculpture- 

Built by Railway workers to mark the laying of the Millionth Concrete Sleeper on the Tarcoola - Alice Springs Rail Line.

By 1:15 we were rolling ito Alice Springs

1,500 km from either Adelaide or Darwin It is the Heart, The Soul, The Centre of Australia.

Why a Camel?

*Originally dubbed the Afghan Express, The Ghan train was named for the pioneering cameleers who blazed a permanent trail into the Red Centre of Australia more than 150 years ago; the original Ghan line following the route of explorer John MacDouall Stuart.

It is here we disembark and head off to our "Off Train Experience" ... 

We chose the Desert Park - 

Our Guides for the Day kept us amused with Stories of the Park. Informing us of its History and the Animals that call it home.

We wandered through the Paths and were educated about the Indigenous Flora - What was good to Eat or to Relieve a Stuffy Nose.

But the REAL reason I wanted to come was to see The Bird Show.

We watched the Australian Black-Breasted Buzzard break "Emu Eggs" with a Stone.  

And Learned that this innate behaviour and not a learned trick.

We Saw Owls and Kites and even some cheeky Locals that were not part of the Show.

And then The Beautiful Wedge Tail Eagle -

Giving me the Photographs that justified packing my 35mm Canon and Telephoto Lens.

With our Tour over it was then back to the Station and Collect our Luggage and say not Goodbye to The Ghan but "See you in a Week!"

*Source: Australia's legendary rail journey - The Ghan

ALL ABOARD . . .

We are off on another Adventure.

And even Stowaway Frog is excited.  

I am not sure what a Frog needs a Backpack for but he is thrilled to have one! 

It didn't take him long to settle in and start making Friends with the Fellow Travellers who were equally excited to be on The Ghan.

Our Journey takes us from Adelaide to Darwin - With a few side tracks along the way.

This Leg of the Trip gave us time to settle in and just relax.

Watching the ever changing landscape roll past while trying to take the best photos you can through the double glazed Train Windows.

Before long the Sun has set and you are seated in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant Car 

for a 3 Course Dinner featuring Local Ingredients.

DH chose the Grilled Kangaroo Loin for his Entree.

After Dinner Coffee, Nightcaps and Long Conversations were enjoyed in the Explorer Lounge.

And while we slept - The Train continued on into the Night.

 

A Christmas Eve to Remember

The Plan was:

7:30 Overland Train from Adelaide arriving Melbourne 6:50 pm after a relaxing day watching the Scenery pass by. 

 

After which we would take the Local Tram and walk home from the Terminus.

You can probably Guess by now that it's not how the day unfolded.

"Sorry Folks, we have been delayed leaving the Terminal - But Good News is we will be making up time over the Day."

Everything was fine.  

The Train travelled on through the South Australian Countryside and across the Murray River

Once we were in Victoria we started noticing that they had had "A bit of Rain".  

What we didn't know was - 

We were travelling behind a Massive Storm 

Our First unscheduled Stop was ... 

"We have been advised there is a Problem with the Signals ahead we have to wait for a Technician to arrive to fix them before proceeding - He will be an Hour....."

Which turned into TWO hours.

Finally on our way again when, an hour later ....

"Sorry Folks - We have been advised that a Lightening Strike has taken out the Signals ahead - 

It's going to be another 2 Hours..."

Fortunately, We had tickets in Premium Economy and we were comfortable.  

And everyone was well looked after. 

Some of us got a bit bored and went for a walk - 

Finding people to Chat to, 

and a Santa to have a Selfie with.

We finally pulled in to Southern Cross station at 11:01 pm  

It was Christmas Eve.

Everyone was in Good Spirits

We had missed the Storm 

and were kept Safe

Arriving Home (By Taxi) 

just before Midnight.

Merry Christmas to all

(Especially the Staff at 

Journey Beyond)

And To All

A Good Night.

And on to Adelaide

The early start was spent watching the Wheatfields of the Wimmera roll by

And saying a fond Fare-well to our wonderful Cabin Crew who were more than accommodating in letting Stowaway Frog help with the final announcements.

Then on to Adelaide where I enjoyed some 'Me Time' Christmas Shopping while DH called in to the Adelaide Blood Bank for his regular donation...

 (Because he could!).

The day wrapped up with Dinner at The Playford Hotel.  

With yes, one of the Best Creme Brulee I have had this side of Paris.

Tomorrow is another adventure with another early start!

And then it Rained

The gentle rain on the roof of the carriage was the first indication that today was not going to go as planned.

Our First delay was because a Storm flooded one of the Tunnels. So while we slept, *someone was sent find out if it was safe for us to continue.

By 9:45am we were at Wangaratta waiting again - this time for Paramedics to attend a Medical Emergency.  

Needless to say we were not going to be in Melbourne by 10:45 am.  

We finally pulled in to Broadmeadows Station at 12:20.  

Our Excursion to the MCG had been cancelled and we were taken directly to Lunch.  

Passing familiar streets to a non-existant commentary as neither the Driver or Guide had ever had to 'Do a Tour' before.

(Maybe they could be forgiven because they were both from Adelaide!)

The Eureka Tower was the World's tallest residential building when finished in October 2006.

It is named after the 1854 Eureka Stockade Rebellion with references being incorporated into it's design. 

It hosts the Annual Eureka Climb where participants climb the 1642 Steps to the Observation Deck

(Current record is 7 minutes to climb 88 Floors).

I can tick this one off the list - 

ONE Floor counts doesn't it?

The Observation Deck on the 88th Floor is currently the Highest Public Vantage Point in the Southern Hemisphere.

And WOW what a View!

If you want to see Melbourne  - Then this is the place to be.

It was hard to choose which photo to post.

We enjoyed ALL the activities Skydeck had to offer including going out on "The Edge"!

And then on to the 89th Floor - The Highest Restaurant and Bar in the Southern Hemisphere

Featuring a Modern Australian Menu the Meal was simply elegant.

From here it was back on the Coach to rejoin Our Train and continue our Journey.

*Total respect to people who do this so we can be safe.