From Top to Bottom of Australia

Alice Springs, Pixabay photo

By Val

@valmnz (17097)

New Zealand

July 11, 2017 11:36pm CST

Some of you are aware of my plans to travel the Australian Ghan railway journey next year. Well, I can finally advise this is now a definite event. The trip may be ten months away, but it is now booked and paid for. I'm going in May, when the northern wet season has settled a little and will be travelling north to south, through Australia's interior from Darwin to Adelaide. The trip takes three nights and four days, with three stops for off-train excursions along the way. The trip cost includes all accommodation, meals, beverages and day excursions, so even though it seems quite an expensive train trip, I feel as if I'll be getting my money's worth. I'm really looking forward to seeing something of outback Australia. Image of Alice Springs courtesy of Pixabay

16 people like this

18 responses

Lenore Plassman

@sallypup (61729)

• Centralia, Washington

12 Jul 17

It sounds like an on land cruise. Interesting.

4 people like this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

It is in a way. It's listed as one of the great train journey's of the world.

1 person likes this

@allen0187 (58582)

• Philippines

12 Jul 17

Enjoy the trip! it sounds like it will be an exciting adventure for the ages.

3 people like this

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@allen0187 (58582)

• Philippines

16 Jul 17

Good for you!

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

It will certainly be an adventure for me.

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@Shavkat (140129)

• Philippines

12 Jul 17

Is it a road trip? I think it is fun to explore the place.

2 people like this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

It is a rail trip

1 person likes this

@Shavkat (140129)

• Philippines

13 Jul 17

@valmnz I haven't tried rail trip. Have fun, my friend.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

14 Jul 17

@Shavkat rail is a great way to travel

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@jstory07 (140051)

• Roseburg, Oregon

12 Jul 17

That sounds like a great trip to be taking.

3 people like this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

I've been saving and planning for a few years now, so I'm really excited.

1 person likes this

@LadyDuck (472124)

• Switzerland

12 Jul 17

What a beautiful trip Val, I would love to do the same, but Australia is so far. I am sure you will enjoy every minute of your trip.

2 people like this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

It takes longer to fly within Australia from Brisbane to Darwin than it does from NZ to Aus

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@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

@LadyDuck just imagine how much longer it would take to get here to New Zealand.

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@LadyDuck (472124)

• Switzerland

12 Jul 17

@valmnz Australia is a big country, it's a 19 hours flight from Switzerland to Australia.

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@JudyEv (342271)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jul 17

That's great that your trip is now a 'definite'. I'm sure you'll enjoy it and there should be very few additional expenses. I'm sure it will be worth every penny.

2 people like this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

To get to Darwin I have to fly from here to Auckland, to Brisbane for an overnight stop, then still another five hours to Darwin next day! You live in a huge country compared to NZ

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

To get to Darwin I have to fly from here to Auckland, to Brisbane for an overnight stop, then still another five hours to Darwin next day! You live in a huge country compared to NZ

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (342271)

• Rockingham, Australia

12 Jul 17

@valmnz Yes, it is big but here it can take us all day to travel just a few hundred miles. The roads, traffic, towns are just so different, I imagine travel in NZ would be much slower on average too.

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@KrauseHome (36447)

• United States

14 Jul 17

Australia would be a Great country to go and visit. I would Love seeing Kangaroos and Koalas if I had a chance to ever go.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

14 Jul 17

I live in New Zealand and Australia is our closest neighbour

@celticeagle (168542)

• Boise, Idaho

12 Jul 17

Sounds like a marvelous trip and well worth the $$.

2 people like this

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@celticeagle (168542)

• Boise, Idaho

13 Jul 17

@valmnz ......That help huh? LOL

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

And now the rail part is paid for I can start saving for the flights to get there.

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@allknowing (137994)

• India

13 Jul 17

The package seems fulfilling. No hassle there when everything is taken care of. I like such packages. Happy for you. Is this journey through the middle of Australia?

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

13 Jul 17

Yes, from Darwin down to Adelaide. Three day stops along the way.

1 person likes this

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

13 Jul 17

Oh how wonderful - at last you have it booked and you are ready to go . . . in a few months - its going to be fantastic

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

13 Jul 17

I wish ten months felt like just a few months! But yes, the train part is sorted, next there's the mish mash of flights to get to Darwin and back from Adelaide. Not as straight forward as I'd hoped.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

15 Jul 17

@Inlemay I know, and I have plenty to do in the meantime! I just wish one didn't have to book so far ahead.

1 person likes this

@Inlemay (17713)

• South Africa

14 Jul 17

@valmnz Before you know it - ten months will have passed. Dont wish your time away

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@blitzfrick (2890)

• United States

17 Jul 17

I love train travel! This trip sounds awesome.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

17 Jul 17

I think so too. I'm really looking forward to it. My husband didn't want to go.

1 person likes this

@blitzfrick (2890)

• United States

18 Jul 17

@valmnz I'll keep an eye out for your posts from this trip. Er, you will keep us posted, won't you please?

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317316)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

13 Jul 17

That sounds like a trip of a lifetime. Very exciting.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

13 Jul 17

It's definitely a big one for me. I've been saving for a few years

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317316)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

13 Jul 17

@valmnz I'm so glad you're able to go.

1 person likes this

@paigea (36315)

• Canada

13 Jul 17

That sounds like an amazing journey! What a great trip to be looking forward to.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

13 Jul 17

I'm hoping the time between now and then goes quickly!

1 person likes this

@sunrisefan (28524)

• Philippines

12 Jul 17

It's still months away, as you said Ms. Val, but I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip. That's a great photo of Alice Springs you got there!

2 people like this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

I'm looking forward to seeing the different landscape

1 person likes this

@sunrisefan (28524)

• Philippines

12 Jul 17

@valmnz I'm sure you'd be able to do that, Ms. Val :)

1 person likes this

@JohnRoberts (109846)

• Los Angeles, California

12 Jul 17

I am envious. You will have an awesome time down under.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

Australia is so different from New Zealand where I live

1 person likes this

@BettyB (4117)

• Summerville, South Carolina

12 Jul 17

I wish I could join you. The trip sounds incredible.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

Yes, I'm hoping it will be. And I imagine no internet connection while out in the middle of mowhere

@Hannihar (130213)

• Israel

1 Nov 17

Enjoy the trip and take lots of pictures and post them here so we can see them and tell us about them.

@Kandae11 (55172)

•

12 Jul 17

That sounds exciting. Enjoy it when the time comes.

1 person likes this

@valmnz (17097)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 17

Lots of living to do between now and then though.