Australia

In Australia commuting between the east and west coast is highly imaginative or so it seemed to many going to the vastness of the island continent. Any how most of the modern modes of transport are in use in Australia to reduce the vastness and make rather feel the passengers comfortable. There is a train service from Perth to Sydney which lasts three full days. As Sydney lies in the lap of the Pacific Ocean and Perth saddles itself in the lap of Indian Ocean this journey or voyage is known as the Indian Pacific. Like wise the Ghan, which replaced the romantic narrow guage Old Ghan in the early 1980’s makes a two day run from Sydney to Alice Springs in Central Australia. Both the Journeys provide the modern first and the economy class and accommodation in these trains is highly comfortable but the fares are more expensive than flying. The pub car, with its own piano and well stocked bar, is a popular spot on these trains to socialize and watch the endless country side roll by.

 

Other lines connect the major cities of South Eastern Australia and from those services run in to the country centers. For the more adventurous, Queensland Railways runs a narrow gauge service from Brisbane all the way up to Cairns, including a Six Day “Daylight Rail Tour” that stops at first class hotels and resorts along the way. All State run railways offer special passes of various duration as well as package tours.

 

Bus travel is another alternative especially for travelers with more time than money modern buses some equipped with their own video systems, travel around virtually the whole country. Because of immense competition fares are much cheaper than rail travel special passes ranging up to a month offer considerable savings allow you to make as many stops as you wish be warned however that some of those long runs through the flat and desolate Out backs can be really a strain. In early in 1980’s in far western Queensland, one desperate German tourist on a bus stripped off his clothing, ordered the bus driver to stop then ran off in to the bush never to be seen again.

 

More upmarket, a number of companies such as Australian Pacific provide guided bus and Four Wheel drive safari tours through the Australian outback by day, the tours take in various sites stopping frequently for hikes or a swim. In the late afternoon the vehicles pull into a campsite where travelers pitch their own tents before sitting down to a hearty meal an evening around the camp fire quite joyfully.

 

                                                                                                                              -------------- To be continued