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....

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.

The Indian Pacific - Perth to Kalgoorlie

 16th May 2021

Today we Celebrated our 40th Wedding Anniversary.

 
Today we hit the Rails on a much anticipated Journey from The Indian Ocean to The Pacific Ocean by Train.

No - Not This Train....

THIS Train!

The Indian Pacific. 

Our Journey will take us from the

WA Capitol of Perth, 

East to Sydney NSW.

Once on board there was not much to do except sit back - relax and watch the scenery go past.

Check your location, or make final calls before you lose Internet and Phone coverage.

 

(One of the things I like about these inland trips is the only thing you use your phone for - is taking photos!)

Some on board nodded off and woke to The change in Scenery

Lunch was served - 

Full White Tablecloth Service for every meal. 

No "Airline Food" here!

We watched the Sun Set over the outback

Then dressed for a 'Romantic' Dinner in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant Car.

(We had our own booth tonight.)

Was Chef having some fun? 

 

Or was it pure coincidence that

DH's entrée matched his Shirt?

They knew it was our Anniversary.

And Maggie Beer's (Non-alcoholic) 

RUBY Cabernet was also on the Menu

We couldn't have asked for a more Beautiful Meal.  

Amuse-bouche to start, Followed by 3 Courses with Wine and Coffee.

And when we had thought we couldn't fit anymore in....

Chef presented us with "A little Anniversary Surprise" - 

Oh Goodness, Can we have it tomorrow?

What can we possibly do for After Dinner entertainment? 

Go on an Off-train excursion to Kalgoorlie.

Add to our list of Big Things, and go see some Very Big Toys.

And a Very Big Hole in the Ground.

Australia's largest Open cut Gold (and other things) mine.

It can be seen from space!

The mine works 24 hours a day and would be a sight to see in daylight!

Back to the Train

and head for Bed, 

new Adventures Await Tomorrow.

Back in Perth

 15th May 2021

With a Free Day, we had all of Perth to explore at our own pace. So what better way to start than with a leisurely Breakfast, while watching the Saturday Morning activities on the River below.

Our wanderings brought us to The Perth Mint - Open to the Public for sales of all things shiny and sparkly.
(Unfortunately No Photos allowed).  

And for Tours, where photos were enthusiastically encouraged!

We were first Introduced to the Largest Legal Tender Coin in the World.  Minted in Perth in 2012.

 

At 80cm x13cm, the 1 Tonne Coin is made from 99.99% Pure Gold it has a Face Value of AUD $1 million. 

It is estimated Actual value is AUD 50 Million.  It is not for Sale!

Next we were left to wander around the extensive collection of  Gold Nuggets. 

The Newmont-Normandy Nugget, found just out of Kalgoorlie weighing 25.5 kg is the 2nd Largest nugget still in existence. Estimated to be 40 Million Years Old and 80/90% High Purity Gold it was purchased by Normandy Mining in 2000 to ensure it is kept in Australia as an important part of our mining heritage.

Our tour continued into an Area where we could enjoy a Talk on the History of the Room. 

We then watched a Demonstration of the process of melting Gold in a Crucible at high temperatures before pouring it into a Mould to make Gold Bars.

And just so we could say we actually got our hands on one of these....

Here was one (appropriately secured) that we could pat and pick up, if only for a moment.

So when they say "You're Worth your Weight in Gold"... 

I finally found that being a little heavier than I would like to be has it's benefits - DH discovered that He indeed "Could not afford to Replace Me"!

On that note - Our Tour concluded (Via the Souvenir room of course) and it was time to move on.

Catching the Bus we headed up to Kings Park - 

Not having the Time or the Energy to walk it's many paths we settled to Just to admire the View!

Heading back DH wanted to show me where he used to go when sent to the "Perth Office" but I certainly wasn't prepared for what came next.  He led me through a Gate to . . .

France?

Tudor England Actually

A working Retail Arcade, London Court was was Built in 1937 and is the only walk outside Britain to capture the Setting and  Atmosphere of Tudor England.

After that I needed an Ice Cream. 

 

And there was no better place than at the Elizabeth Quay.

Ice Cream and Carousels, with Horses that looked like they were carved from Chocolate - 

What better way to finish the day?