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Agent reports fromt the Great Aussie Rail Adventure
Thursday, August 07, 2008 Roving Readers
Jeff Kilby Amity World Travel, Fareham The itinerary We started in Brisbane with a day at Australia Zoo, followed by a curry with hosts Queensland Rail. Next morning, we headed north to Cairns with Virgin Blue. Day three was in the Kuranda Rain Forest and Tjapukai Aboriginal Park. Then it was a relaxing 24-hour journey on the Sunlander rail service, and two nights on the fabulous Fraser Island. Finally we took the Tilt Train back to Brisbane before catching a flight to Melbourne for the grand finale. The trains The Sunlander is a four-star service, but the Queenslander Class has its own lounge, dining cars and two-berth cabins. The cabins are rather snug, but the lounge car was very comfortable, if a little tired. The high point was dinner, an amazing seafood platter. In the evenings there was an informal gathering in the lounge with musical entertainment. The Tilt Train is Australia’s state-of-the-art rail service. This modern commuter train offers a service on a par with the Eurostar. There’s ample leg-room, a good meal and in-seat entertainment. The city Brisbane is a modern, vibrant city. Clients should be encouraged to stay longer than a couple of nights as there is plenty to see. The Citycat ferry which zigzags up and down the Brisbane river is a great way to get around. Families will love Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo and the wild dolphins of Morton Island, plus Surfers Paradise and Movie World are just along the Gold Coast. Fam highlights Kuranda Rainforest, with the magnificent views of the canopy as you descend on the Skyrail, the dining experience on the Queenslander, and swimming in the crystal-clear water of Lake Mackenzie on Fraser Island were particularly special. Following on I know the Australian rail network so much better. Experiencing it gives you confidence to sell the service to your clients. I have since sold three twin berths on the Queenslander and one gold class on the Indian Pacific, doubling my rail sales in 13 years as an Australia expert.
John Spy Travel Counsellors The itinerary We had a day exploring Sydney, and then an early rise to catch the Dubbo XPT, heading for Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. After a night here, we joined Xplorer for a 12-hour journey to Broken Hill for three nights in the outback. We then joined the iconic Indian Pacific for our journey into Adelaide for the night before taking the Overland Train for the 11-hour journey to Melbourne. The trains The Xplorer out to Broken Hill was a great way to see the countryside with seats that all faced forward. The buffet car was cheap and the train fresh and clean, with large panoramic windows. It’s a great way to travel into the outback as you can really see the scenery changing, and we saw a fabulous sunset. The Overland train to Melbourne is a great way to travel. The light and airy carriages have lots of room, with a seat pitch of 49 inches in the Red Service and 69 inches in Red Premium Service. There is a licensed lounge car as well as a buffet car, which serves food throughout the day. This really is the way to travel between these two cities, and you may be lucky and spot a wild koala! The city Melbourne is the sports capital of Australia. It is also a shopper’s paradise and there are some great beaches close by. It is at the start of one of the best drives in the world: The Great Ocean Road. I would also recommend visiting the Dandenong Ranges national park, with great walks and picnic spots. I would advise spending at least three, if not five, days here. It has great restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Fam highlight The time spent at Mutawitji Cultural Centre in the outback was incredible. With an Aboriginal guide, we learnt about the local peoples and their customs, and even spotted a kangaroo. Following on Since returning home, I have been able to advise clients on the benefits of travelling by rail within Australia. I will use journals about my experience on my new website. I am also now putting together a tour for a single client that will include some of my experiences, and I hope to return soon and learn more about this fascinating country.
Adam Hird Holidays Please The itinerary We started with a few days seeing the sights of Melbourne, then headed down to Adelaide on the Overland train. We then had a tour of the local sights of Adelaide before making our way over to the Ghan in time for departure. The train took us right through the middle of Australia, Alice Springs and finally up to Darwin. We then spent a night in Darwin before catching our Virgin Blue flight back to Melbourne. The trains The Overland was really a very comfortable and pleasant journey; facilities were clean and modern and staff were friendly. We were in the Premium service onboard the Overland, which gave us more room than I have experienced on board any train in the past. The Ghan is a real step back in time. The old-fashioned decor makes you really get into the whole experience. The food onboard was fantastic – definitely in line with some of the highly rated restaurants we visited while in Australia. The Ghan is a very laid back journey, and would be more suited to the older traveller. I was expecting the same generous space as I’d had on the Overland and, except for a tiny bathroom, I was not disappointed. The city Darwin is a fantastic city, and has a wealth of history considering Australia is a relatively young country. It offers many great attractions that are easily accessible on your jump-on jump-off tour bus! I would think two to three days would be plenty of time to make your way around all the hotspots. Fam highlight The highlight of the tour was on the last day in Melbourne. The tours of the wine regions of the Yarra Valley was fantastic – wine-tasting your way from vineyard to vineyard.
After the trip I think everyone involved gained a lot of knowledge from the two-week trip. I would have no reservations at all about selling this product now. After experiencing the train journeys for myself, it will be easy to convey the unique selling points that a trip like this has to offer. Great Southern Rail has introduced a Platinum Service on The Ghan. Five carriages have been converted, and the cabins are almost double the size of the existing Gold Service cabins. The en-suite bathrooms have a full-sized shower and there is 24-hour room service. The 24 cabins are available on Wednesday Adelaide departures and Sunday Darwin departures, starting with the September 10 Adelaide departure. Also new is the Southern Spirit rail-cruise concept with eight itineraries between November and February. The first departs on November 12, and both the Gold service and the new Platinum service will be available. The Southern Spirit can be booked through International Rail, Gold Medal (Pure Luxury) and Freedom Australia Contacts:
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The Great Aussie Rail Adventure 2, sponsored by Gold Medal, Rail Australia and Emirates, took 18 agents around Australia on three thrill-filled itineraries. Here, TTG’s Roving Readers give feedback on the fam
Queensland Coastal Tour
Sydney & Outback Tour
Ghan North and South
