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Published: January 14th 2007
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Even before I left Blighty, I quite fancied the idea of getting the train from Alice Springs to Sydney and after some investigations whilst here I found it was going to be the cheapest way to get there too!
The first leg was from Alice Springs to Adelaide on the 'The Ghan'. Luckily my train didn't leave until midday because we had a bit of a crazy night the previous night and i hadn't even thought about packing so I got up, washed down a couple of paracetamol with a pint of water and packed my trusty backpack (I'm actually becoming quite attached to it so you may see me wandering the streets of croxley wearing it when i get back!!).
On arriving at the station I waved goodbye to backpack and went to find my seat in 'Red Kangaroo' class - it's basically like cattle class on a plane!! Since it was going to take 22hours to get to Adelaide my bed for that night was going to be the same reclining chair my bum was parked in during the day. Unluckily for me, I was sat next to this guy who spent 80% of the journey asleep.That
in itself wasn't a problem, him taking up his seat and half mine was though. After much loud sighing,poking and elbowing I just gave up and found myself hanging over into the aisle and getting bashed by all passers by! Not the best nights sleep i've ever had but you know me - it takes a lot to stop me getting some shut eye!!
We pulled into Adelaide train station and everyone trudged bleary eyed down the platform to collect our luggage. Then got picked up by the hostel bus and realised that was going to the same hostel as a guy i'd met in alice springs and had been sat opposite on the train. Then it turned out that we were also in the same dorm...spooky.
Spent day one in Adelaide exploring the city and trying to keep out of the rain as much as possible. Did all the touristy things like visiting the gallery, museum, state library and botanical gardens and then hit the shops for a spot of window shopping. To be honest, I didn't find Adelaide that inspiring but think that had a lot to do with the weather and my tiredness.
Things were
looking up for day two though, i'd booked to go on a wine tour of the barossa valley 😊 We set off at 7.45am and set off for a day merrily sampling LOTS of wine. On the way to the Barossa Valley we stopped to see 'the big rocking horse' (the aussies seem to love building giant versions of weird inanimate objects or animals!!) and also lined our stomachs in preparation for the pounding they were about to receive. Then it was off to 'the whispering wall' - a huge viaduct which if you stand at one end and whisper something the person at the other end can hear it.
With the the weird local sites of interest out of the way it was then on to Jacob's Creek 😊 It was 11.00am and we were guzzling wine and pretending we could smell the peachy undertones and taste the oakiness!!Eight wines later and it was time to get back on the bus.
The second vineyard followed a similar pattern and as we left it we were all beginning to feel a bit light headed. On arriving at the third we were all thrilled to see breadsticks on the counter and
View from the 4th vineyard.
Can't actually remember what the vineyard was called but after trying zillions of wines would you expect anything else?!? everyone quickly munched through a few before the next round of tasting began. By the end of the third tasting everyone was plastered and looking forward to a good feed to try and sober us up a bit - we were meant to be having a bbq but the weather wasn't v.good so it was off to a local pub for lots of food and diet cokes all round!
When we got to the fourth winery, the lady behind the counter handed us a menu of all their wines andtold us we could all try whatever we wanted so i worked my way through the whites and roses whilst others plumped for the full bodied reds (and a few brave souls tried pretty much everything!)
Then it was time to head back to Adelaide and most of us spent the bus ride having a snooze.
The next day it was onward again and i boarded my second train, 'The Indian Pacific', which was bound for Sydney.
Was much luckier with my neighbour this time and was sat next to this sweet old greek guy who kept trying to feed me sandwiches and biscuits that his wife had made for
him 😊
This train wasn't as busy either so in the evening i moved carriages and actually got a double seat to myself. This was v.conducive to a better nights sleep and probably got at least 4 hours of good quality shut eye as well as plenty of dozing.
When i woke up the next morning the skies were very grey and as we were passing throught the Blue Mountains, it started to drizzle. This continued all the way to Sydney's Central Station and for the rest of the day but at least I had finally made it there.
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Only me!
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Horah Sydney.
G'day Miss O'Keeffe, I can not wait to hear more/see pics! I know that feeling - everyone thinks 'horah wine tour' but the novelty soon wears off when you're at the 2nd stop before 11am and you're beginning to feel a tad squiffy. Now that is some hardcore drinking - none of this 'go up London' rubbish! Not long left Jen! Stay safe- happy travels.S.x (great shame you've had cloud- though im not sad about this one bit. Sorry!!! Its dead nippy out here- very windy and occassionally we see sun/day light.)