A taxi ride to the Parklands Rail terminal in Adelaide to begin our Ghan experience. This begins as soon as the taxi door opens and there are two Ghan people there to help you with your baggage.

The Ghan, all 39 carriages long is our transport to Alice Springs and luxury transport it certainly is. Powered by two locomotives the train is an awesome sight. Our cabin consists of a sofa that converts to bunk beds and en suite. Each section of train has its own lounge and dining car.

The true spirit of the Ghan though is the people on board. With an all inclusive ticket for food and drink, people relax and start chatting quite quickly. Australian Veterans get a subsidy on the Ghan, a concession that ends in June, so  understandably people are taking up the offer whilst they still can. 

We end up talking to a couple of Vietnam Vets who explain the woes of their country at present. During the course of the journey we meet many people from many countries and walks of life. Very interesting indeed. 

The overwhelming message that comes through from the Australians is that, you need to get out into the great outdoors for as long as you possibly can. That is definitely the ethos here. Grey Nomads make up a high proportion of passengers on this train. Apparently in OZ the sale of second hand caravans almost matches that of second hand cars.

Food and wine on the Ghan is first class as is the service. So it’s bar, lunch, rest, bar (Pete spots his first pair of Kangaroos out of the window!), dinner, bar ….. bedtime. Not a rocking motion on the train to send you to sleep more a push, pull motion that does send us into the land on nod-off eventually.

Up at 5.30am to watch drawn break, the train comes to a halt in the middle of the bush at Marla. Guided by lanterns we step off the train onto the red dust of the desert. A warm morning and the star filled sky is amazing. Coffee & bacon & egg rolls are served as we watch the sun rise.

Back on the train and we continue across the bush into the Northern Territory  to Alice Springs where, our magnificent journey on the Ghan comes to an end. Unforgettable!

Alice marks the start of the second month of our trip, it’s off to Uluru (Ayers Rock) tomorrow.
 

Pete & Jules

  
Dawn on The Ghan