BACK10 Captivating Train Journeys August 2016
There’s something relaxing but exciting about train travel. Seeing the countryside roll by as we travel away from highways and traffic, enjoying a meal, gazing from the observation carriage and sleeping in comfort in specially designed cabins. It’s a fun way to travel! Take a look at the top train journeys down under. All are scenic while some offer an alternative to flying from point A to B.
1. Kuranda Scenic Railway – Kuranda/Cairns, Australia
This breathtaking journey takes you through the natural beauty of a World Heritage-listed rainforest. Travel the 1,076-foot (328m) elevation between coastal Cairns and Kuranda in the Atherton Tableland. Enjoy an informative English commentary along the two hour route.
2. The Ghan – Adelaide /Alice Springs/Darwin, Australia
Experience the vastness of Australia’s outback and break your journey in Alice Springs to explore the Red Centre. Enjoy all-inclusive dining and Australian wines. Depart from Adelaide or Darwin, overnight to Alice Springs; two nights for the full journey.
3. The Indian Pacific – Sydney/ Adelaide/Perth, Australia
Travel through the Blue Mountains, and the Nullarbor Desert with stops at Broken Hill, Kalgoorlie and Rawlinna. Disembark in Adelaide or go the entire route across the continent. Year round from Sydney and Perth, overnight to Adelaide; two nights for the full journey.
4. The Prospector - Perth/Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
This is a convenient way to visit the Goldfields frontier! This high speed train gets you there in under seven hours. On demand entertainment with music and movies, power points for laptops, dining service and a standard gauge track make this a comfortable ride.
5. The Overland – Melbourne/Adelaide, Australia
Twice weekly, daylight service runs in both directions for a scenic run through diverse landscapes. A relaxing way to travel between these two great cities with single and twin seating. Join the Ghan or Indian Pacific in Adelaide for extended rail journeys.
6. Intercity – Sydney/Brisbane, Sydney/Melbourne, Australia
Consider a railway journey as an alternative to flying between Sydney and the capital cities of Victoria and Queensland. A convenient and comfortable way to travel and see the scenery and countryside. Same-day or overnight service available on both routes.
7. TranzAlpine – Round-trip Christchurch or to Greymouth, New Zealand
One of the world’s most scenic rail journeys, enjoy a full day crossing the Canterbury Plains into the Southern Alps. Spend an hour in Greymouth before returning to Christchurch, or stay over to explore the region with its magnificent glaciers.
8. Coastal Pacific – Christchurch/Picton, New Zealand
From September to May, view the rugged coastline from the Marlborough Sounds via Kaikoura to Christchurch or reverse. At Picton the train conveniently connects with the inter-island ferry to/from the capital city of Wellington.
9. Taieri Gorge Railway – Dunedin, New Zealand
From Dunedin’s historic railway station, enjoy scenic rail journeys of the Otago coast and Hinterland. The Taieri Gorge Railway with its dramatic scenery is the most famous. It is offered as an excursion from cruise ships and on four or six hour journeys from the station.
10. Northern Explorer – Auckland/Wellington, New Zealand
Travel down the entire North Island of New Zealand from Auckland to the capital, Wellington, through a wide range of scenery including the three volcanic mountains of Tongarairo National Park. Aprox. 11 hrs. Auckland-Wellington Mon. Thurs. Sat. returning north Tues. Fri. Sun.
