ACP Rail Blog » Australia

Andrew’s Australian Rail Holiday – Travel Diary Part 3

Ruben — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:36:17 +0000

Travel Diary Part 3: The XPT and The Sunlander

Day 7: Fly to Sydney

On day 7, I took a plane from Adelaide to Sydney and then continued onto Brisbane traveling on CountryLink’s XPT night train. The Sydney station is quite lovely. It’s also a very big and busy station with its own Rail Heritage Centre.

I will add that CountryLink surprised me with its level of organization. The check-in service was really easy. Knowing it was a holiday and that the station would be busy, I arrived an hour before my departure. It turns out it was an unnecessary precaution. Checking-in only took a few minutes. Since CountryLink’s XPT night train departs late in the afternoon, the view and the atmosphere in the train adds something extra to this trip. The train takes you along the coast so you get to see the sun as it beautifully sets below the horizon.

Day 8: Along the Brisbane River
The next morning, I woke up in Brisbane. I would suggest that people take advantage of the Catamarans, also called CityCat. The Catamarans are boat transportation that takes you to different parts of the city along the Brisbane River. There are boats leaving every half hour or so and you can hop on and off at the different stops. It really is a great way to get around the city.

Day 9: Destination Cairns
I stayed one night in Brisbane and boarded The Sunlander on the next day. The Sunlander travels from Brisbane up to Cairns. As you leave Brisbane, you get to see the Glass House Mountains – a group of mountains located on Australia’s Sunshine Coast. It was explained that the mountains were originally formed after molten lava cooled from volcano eruptions which explains why the shape of some of these mountains are so unique. We also passed by the sugar cane plantations from which the local sugar we used on the train was being harvested.

Overall, this was a fun trip with a wonderful level of service. The table settings and the meals we had on The Sunlander were absolutely phenomenal. They also included commentary on the train explaining the history of the regions we were passing by. The whole trip felt really special!

Day 10: The Kuranda scenic railway
Cairns has the same tropical weather and rainforest type of vegetation I enjoyed back in Darwin. It’s also a lovely place to spend time. One of the main activities in Cairns is to go snorkeling along the Great Barrier Reef which is the world’s largest coral reef. It’s like being in a tropical aquarium, swimming alongside fish and turtles.

I took the Kuranda scenic railway, which takes you from Cairns to the Kuranda village. It’s a stunning 2 hour train ride through the rainforest. On the way back to Cairns, instead of taking the train, I took the SkyRail. It gives a different perspective as, this time, you are traveling above the rainforest.

After about 10 days of great activities and memorable train rides, I spent the last two days of my trip enjoying Cairns and traveling back to Sydney before my final flight out of Australia. With The Ghan, the XPT and The Sunlander transporting you through vastly untouched and visually stunning natural landscapes, it’s clear why these Australian trains definitely earn their spot among the best train rides in the world.

Andrew’s Australian Rail Holiday – Travel Diary Part 2

Ruben — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 16:15:58 +0000

Travel Diary Part 2: A journey on The Ghan

Day 3: First stop in Katherine

On my third day, I got up early and got picked up at my hotel by a bus en route to the station where I would board The Ghan. The bus driver, I remember, had this typical Australian sense of humor. He made everyone feel comfortable as he was cracking jokes about different things. He also displayed his knowledge telling us about the history of The Ghan and the area.

The Ghan was named in honour of the Afghan cameleers who arrived in Australia in the late 19th century. They largely contributed to the discovery of Australia’s outback. When the rail line was completed they released the camels, which explains why there is now a small population of wild camels living in Australia.

Later that day, The Ghan arrived in a small town named Katherine. One nice thing about Great Southern Rail (the Australian rail provider that operates the Ghan) is that they’ve organized a number of tours called Whistle Stop tours. You can get off the train for a couple of hours and take part in these short excursions to explore further beyond the rails. You can do bus tours, shopping, visit museums, etc. All in all, there are probably a dozen different things you can do. I saw there was a helicopter tour and since I had never been on a helicopter before, I welcomed the chance to do this tour. I flew over the area around Katherine including the beautiful Katherine Gorge. From this perspective high up in the helicopter, I could really get a sense of how vast the land is.

Day 4: Secrets of Alice Springs
The next day, the train arrived in Alice Springs. One of the reasons people stop in Alice Springs is to get to Uluru, a majestic rocky landmark that holds a special spiritual meaning to local residents. I opted against the four and half hour bus ride to Uluru and chose instead to visit the Old Ghan Museum which is in the same location as the Kenworth Truck Museum. That makes for a lot of vehicles and a lot of railway history in one place!

Travel aboard The Ghan resumed later on in the day. At various points along the route, they were announcing things that you may want to take a picture of. In one particular case, the train was making a wide angle turn. The thing is the Ghan is so long that despite sitting at the back of the train, I was able to take a picture of the train’s front cars.

Day 5: Arrival in Adelaide
After two nights on The Ghan, I arrived in Adelaide, my final destination. Adelaide itself is a lovely town. It reminds me of my hometown, Montreal; there are churches everywhere, it’s very easy to get around, there’s a beautiful market area and all sorts of lovely things to see and experience. Adelaide is a young and relatively safe city, as well as being a university town.

You can use the public transport system for free so I could use the tram to travel for free to the other end of town.

When I first arrived in Adelaide, I had the chance to tour around and to look at what was available in terms of activities. I found a photography course that seemed to be well ranked. I learned about ‘perspective’, ‘shadow’ and such. It wasn’t overly complicated and it gave me a chance to walk around, learn about Adelaide and take some photos at the same time.

Later, I took a bus trip to the Barossa valley, where the wineries are. It’s a stunning area. The entire road is lined with rose bushes that welcome you into the area. Everything is so well manicured and taken care of. I visited three different wineries: Jacob’s creek, Chateau Yaldara and Chateau Dorrien. This gave me the opportunity to sample a lot of wine and get a little tipsy in the process. It was a memorable excursion.

Andrew’s Australian Rail Holiday – Travel Diary Part 1

Ruben — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 16:57:37 +0000

Travel Diary Part 1: Australia: Here I am

Day 1: Welcome to Sydney

As soon as I came out of the terminal, the first thing I saw was a “Welcome to Sydney” sign. It’s a little bit offsetting to go that far and think you’re in another world yet still find people who speak English and have a somewhat similar culture to what you are used to. It’s remarkable to go that far and still feel at home in some respects.

What’s really interesting in the Airport is that they have these things called Travel Concierge and you can go to their kiosk to learn about the different tours and different transport systems that are around Sydney. It’s a great service to orient yourself and plan some activities.

I took the airport link, a train that connects you from the airport to downtown. It goes straight into Circular Quay, which is where most people will want to spend their time. It’s just a beautiful place to walk around. You can also take a ferry boat to tour the harbour.

Day 2: Going to Darwin
The next day, when I woke up, I took a low cost airline to Darwin so I could meet with representatives from Great Southern Rail in time to arrange for my journey on The Ghan. Low cost airlines make it affordable to travel across the country when you have time constraints.

In Darwin, as you get off the airplane, the steam hits you and you’re almost not prepared for how muggy it is. You feel like you’re completely in another world because it’s absolutely tropical. Also, they use the colors and the painting from the aboriginal arts… To put it simply, it doesn’t have the big city feel of Sydney. It just feels much more rugged Australia.

I arrived there in the evening and got to my hotel as the sun was setting. It’s just quite neat to get a picture of the sunset in another part of the world. It puts things in perspective when you stop to think that as the sun is setting in front of you, it is rising back home in America.

Andrew’s Australian Rail Holiday

Ruben — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 16:31:24 +0000

12 days, 3 trains and one unforgettable trip to Australia.

Early this year, ACP Rail’s Andrew Hannan had the chance to fly halfway across the globe and try the much loved Australian trains, an experience, he says, that exceeded his wildest expectations.

“I’ve been working in the rail holiday industry for years now and have heard of a number of world renown train excursions not to be missed.” As luck would have it, The Australian Ghan and Sunlander trains are both part of that list, giving him two more incentives to travel to Australia.

Andrew will tell you that traveling by train in Australia is not a trip, it’s an experience.

Train journeys can typically last several hours if not days. From comfortable seats that magically turn into beds, to mouth-watering meals served in generous portions and shared lounge areas with performers, it’s safe to say that every step is taken to ensure your time spent on the train is as memorable as it can be. Added to the experience are the convenient excursions along the way, known as “whistle stops”, and the scenic views of landscapes you can only reach by train.

Train journeys are not just for tourists. A lot of local residents make a point of taking Australia’s transcontinental trains, almost as if it’s a ritual. “So many Australians are on these trains, which is wonderful. It’s almost like the trip of a lifetime. A lot of Australians do these trips simply because they enjoy it or they’ve heard about it; it’s part of their heritage and they want to do it.”

Andrew’s first train was The Ghan, running from Darwin to Adelaide. “What’s really neat about The Ghan is that you start in tropical Darwin and you work your way further south and you end up going through the desert. So, you’ve got this unbelievable change. Within a couple of hours, you’re going from lush and green, to much more arid and dry.”

Andrew later traveled on the XPT, an overnight train from Sydney to Brisbane. “It’s a lovely trip. You’re on this comfortable train that takes you along the coast. You’re going through marinas and you see beautiful boats on either side. You also get to relax and enjoy a nice meal as the sun sets.”

Lastly, Andrew took The Sunlander from Brisbane to Cairns. “What was nice on The Sunlander is that they had commentary. As we traveled they would explain different things about the different cities as we were going along. As a tourist, you want to know about these things. You want to know what the main industries are, you want to know what the animals are and all sorts of neat things like that.”

He further comments on his experience: “It’s just quite amazing to travel that far, and get off a plane. You think you should be on another planet but for the most part, getting around is simple. It’s a nice experience; it’s not something that makes you uncomfortable. Going to Australia is considered exotic to most, thanks to the sheer distance away from home, and its varied climates, wildlife etc… but the nice thing is I didn’t feel out of my element. People speak English and have a somewhat similar culture to what I’m used to. I guess you could say I enjoyed the best of both worlds: the adventure of a far-away place, without the culture shock.”

Andrew spent 12 days traveling around Australia and journeyed on The Ghan, The Sunlander and XPT trains, with stops in Sydney, Darwin, Katherine, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Brisbane and Cairns.

He wanted to try these world-famous trains and bring us a sense of what it’s like to travel Australia with an Ausrail Pass. Come back soon to see more pictures from his trip and to find out more about his adventure as we update his travel diary.

Ausrail Pass Coupon Code

Angela — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 15:50:33 +0000

Use coupon code: AUSRAIL25

Here is some great news for the explorers among you! Save $25* when you purchase an Ausrail pass using the coupon code AUSRAIL25, valid until October 31, 2012 inclusively.

Australia is known for its unique rail system and train routes which span vast open spaces of wildlife and inspiring landscapes. The Ausrail Pass is a great way to enjoy all this and much more, allowing you to make unlimited trips on participating Australian trains for a period of 3 or 6 months. This is more than enough time to fall in love with the wild scenery! For example hop aboard the famous Ghan train and travel from Darwin to Adelaide via Alice Springs, or ride The Indian Pacific along the route from Sydney to Perth with popular stops in Broken Hill, Adelaide and Kalgoorlie. It’s also easy to add Melbourne, Brisbane, Cairns and Canberra to your list, plus any stop in between when traveling with this one rail pass that represents great value.

All in all, when traveling with an Ausrail Pass you can enjoy travel aboard these trains: Great Southern Rail, Country Link and Queensland Rail Travel, which includes these trains: The Ghan, Indian Pacific, The Overland, Gulflander, Inlander, Spirit of the Outback, Sunlander, Tilt Train, Westlander, Xplorer and XPT. Simply use coupon code AUSRAIL25 at checkout and let your Australian adventure begin!

*The applicable discount is 25$ CAD/USD/AUD or approximate currency equivalents.

The trip was by far the BEST vacation I have ever been on. What an experience.

Angela — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:45:45 +0000

Australia Rail Holiday Sweepstakes winner shares her story

Some of you may remember when we ran our first big sweepstakes back in the summer of 2010. Well the lucky winner, Ms. Jenine has since enjoyed her prize, which included 2 Ausrail Passes, airfare and spending money, and is back to tell us how it went:

“What a fantastic country Australia is. Everything about this country makes your visit spectacular. My friend and I had the chance to travel for 3 weeks to the Australian East Coast this summer via the Ausrail Pass. The Australian rail systems seems to be underrated in this country as both my friend and I loved travelling this way. During our travels we managed to see so much of the Australian back country and to interact with many different people along our way because of the way we travelled. Traveling by air does not allow you to see the country side in the way we did. The convenience of having the Ausrail pass was really quite perfect. We were able to pre-book all of our travel dates and times so there was no guessing as to when we would leave or arrive. Australia is such a large country so we were only able to see a small portion of the country in the time that we had but I would highly recommend travelling via the Australian rail system. It really does give you a better and more holistic experience of Australia and what this amazing country has to offer. It was a spectacular trip . A trip of a lifetime.”

Their Itinerary:

“We started in Sydney (stayed there for 3 nights), then took the over night train to Brisbane … that was a fun experience. We stayed in Brisbane for 6 days, then made our way up to Fraser Island for two days. After that we took the train to the Whitsunday Islands for 4 days and then to Cairns via the train for 6 nights. We did see the Great Barrier reef … what an experience. We also went to the Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation (we actually did the Jungle Surfing up there which is new). That was probably the most scariest thing in my life … I have no idea why I agreed to it as I am absolutely terrified of heights. Fraser Island was my highlight though. Unbelievable!! I cannot believe a whole island is made out of sand. I will definitely be travelling back downunder again in my lifetime.”

Jenine – thank you for taking the time to write this review. We hope it will inspire fellow travelers heading to Australia to experience their very own rail adventure!

Wish you could extend summer?

Angela — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:55:59 +0000

Australia does just that

As most of us prepare for some cooler months to come, Australia is a great place to escape! With their summer months around the corner, mainly from December to February, people flock to their many beautiful attractions to soak up the sun and enjoy the great outdoors.

Some top attractions to tick off your list include the Gold Coast for a beach vacation (stop by Brisbane), the rainforest and Great Barrier Reef (stop by Cairns), the red sands of The Outback (stop by Alice Springs), the draw of big cities (stop by Sydney) and so much more. And the best part…there’s an Australian rail pass to take you there. For example the Ausrail Pass includes travel to all the stops mentioned above, plus travel along all the routes depicted on the map below:

With 8 rail passes to choose from, train travel throughout Australia is made easy and affordable for any itinerary.

The Ghan

Angela — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 18:45:49 +0000

Journey through Australia’s Outback

Imagine stepping aboard one of the world’s great train journeys: The Ghan. Traveling from Darwin to Adelaide (or vice versa), via Alice Springs you have the opportunity to see Australia’s tropical Top End and Red Centre, all with spectacular views of the passing landscapes from the comfort of your seat.

The overall journey takes two nights in either direction, where The Ghan’s timetable makes the most of the daylight hours so as not to miss the best parts. And naturally, breaking up the trip with whistle stop tours is the best way to experience Australia`s many diverse landscapes and attractions.

Beginning your journey from the Top End, Darwin, means that you get to experience the Outback from the train as the sun rises the following morning. Also, when traveling Southbound we recommend these popular whistle stops:

Katherine Gorge: located not far from the train stop, Katherine Gorge is a beautiful national park not to be missed. Whether you’re looking for a little adventure canoeing, or a guided tour by coach, cruise boat or helicopter, there’s an option to suit everyone.
Alice Springs: break your journey in The Red Center, where Alice Springs is central for tours to Uluru and Kings Canyon. These tours, which last from a few hours to a few days, include an extraordinary range of opportunities for discovering the region’s most fascinating sites.
Coober Pedy: known as the opal capital of the world, you can stop by for a little opal jewellery shopping or even stay in an underground hotel (a unique Coober Pedy experience thanks to renovated mines and its hot climate!).

Enjoy your journey aboard The Ghan, with one of these Australia Rail Passes: Ausrail Pass, Rail Explorer Pass, Aus Reef and Outback Pass or a Trans Aus Pass. All valid for 3 or 6 months of rail travel, enjoy!

While on board The Ghan, you can also look forward to a newly refurbished Red Service class, complete with reclining seats with plenty of leg room and new café’s providing a healthy range of eating options at reasonable prices.

Choose From 8 Australia Rail Passes

Angela — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 18:40:52 +0000

Now Offered by ACP Rail International

When one thinks about destinations that are renowned for being best traveled by rail, Europe, Britain and Japan likely come to mind…and now ACP Rail wants you to add Australia to that list, with the launch of 8 great Australia Rail Passes. Some passes include travel aboard the infamous Ghan through the Outback, and other passes include travel aboard The Sunlander along Queensland’s Coast; no matter what the route, travel is made easy with an Australia Rail Pass. There is surely a pass that best suits your itinerary so here’s a quick overview of the pass selection:

Ausrail Pass: covers travel aboard all participating rail companies in Australia.
Queensland Explorer Pass: includes travel along Queensland’s coast from Brisbane to Cairns.
Rail Explorer Pass: travel aboard the Indian Pacific between Sydney and Perth, The Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide, and The Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin.
Aus Reef and Outback Pass: travel along the coast from Brisbane to Cairns, as well as, travel aboard The Ghan, the Indian Pacific and The Overland.
Aus Reef and Beach Pass: travel from Cairns to Melbourne and many stops in between.
Trans Aus Pass: travel aboard The Ghan, the Indian Pacific and The Overland, as well as along the coast from Melbourne to Brisbane.
Backtracker Rail Pass: travel from Melbourne, to Canberra, to Sydney to Brisbane and many stops in between, including connecting coach services.
East Coast Discovery Pass: Select a route between two of these cities – Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Cairns.

With so much to see in Australia, international visitors will find great value in a rail pass that can deliver them to all the points of interest, all while enjoying the stunning scenic views en route. Plus pass holders will enjoy unlimited train travel over a 3 or 6 month period, with the exception of the East Coast Discovery Pass which offers travel in one direction over a 6 month period.

How should one begin selecting their Australia Rail Pass? Visit www.acprail.com/rail-passes/australia to see a map which depicts all the routes included with each pass. Compare this to your itinerary or list of desired destinations and find the rail pass that covers it all. Not sure where to begin? First time visitors to Australia won’t want to miss: Sydney for its beautiful harbour cityscape, Cairns for its access to the Great Barrier Reef, Alice Springs for the Outback experience, Brisbane for its surfers’ paradise and the list goes on!

Get your Australia Rail Pass by calling ACP Rail’s Call Center today at 1 866 938-RAIL (North America) or by visiting www.acprail.com/rail-passes/australia.

We Ship Worldwide!

Angela — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:58:41 +0000

Receive orders faster from one of our 4 global distribution centers

It’s nice to know the shipping deal before you place an order online so here it is. ACP Rail has distribution centers in North America, Europe, China and Australia, ready to ship anywhere in the world. Shipping time and fees depend on where you live but here are some general guidelines on how much time you should give yourself to receive an order*.

Residents of The USA and Canada can select priority shipping (1-2 business days) or regular shipping (up to 5 business days).
Residents of Europe can select priority shipping (up to 2 business days) or regular post (up to 5 business days).
Residents of Australia can select priority shipping (up to 5 business days) or regular post (up to 7 business days).
Residents of New Zealand can select priority shipping (up to 3 business days) or regular post (up to 7 business days).
Residents of Great Britain can select priority shipping (next business day) or regular post (up to 5 business days).
Residents of India, China and all other countries can select international priority (up to 7 business days).

*Shipping times are approximate and do not take into account delays, such as holidays.

Also to consider – get free shipping to The USA, Canada and Europe, when you buy the Rail Safeguard Plan Plus. This package protects travelers if they lose or get their rail pass stolen.

The Rail Safeguard Plan Plus includes:

The Rail Pass Safeguard Plan for lost or stolen passes **
Free regular shipping (for clients of the US, Canada and Europe)
Maps, timetables and travelers guide (if applicable to the product purchased)
Complimentary ACP Rail/BritRail phone card worth $5 and 5 free minutes of International long distance

**ACP Rail will reimburse the holder(s) named on the rail pass or ticket, in case of theft or accidental loss of the rail pass or ticket. Each claim is reimbursed for the unused value at the time of theft or loss subject to exclusions, conditions and limitations. Please consult FAQ’s for further details on the Rail Pass Safeguard Plan.