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WOW!! that's the best way to sum up this trip. I was just amazed at what I saw out the window of the train & it just kept getting better.
The trip is 41 hours give or take a bit & I wasn't sure how it would go because the longest train trip I had taken before was 21 hours in Canada. Honestly this trip just seemed to fly by, it did not feel like a couple of days. One big advantage is that on trains you can get up & walk around, unlike a bus.
The Indian Pacific runs twice a week from Adelaide to Perth. I tried to book the Sunday service & it was full so I looked at some flights & there were some good deals but I really wanted to go across the Nullabor not over it. I checked the Thursday bookings & got a great internet only deal on the website which was the same as a cheap flight so I booked it.
The train leaves from the interstate train station on the edge of Adelaide not the main train station in the CBD so don't get caught out like I almost did - it helps when you are staying with friends who know the city.
Not much out at the station - a nice cafe & a drink vending machine - so get all your supplies in town before you leave.
I was so happy when I got onboard to see heaps of leg room & the seats recline a long way back, not perfect for a good nights sleep but pretty good & very comfy. Also discovered they have showers in the carriage with fresh towels, not bad for the cheapest seats on the train. Heading out of Adelaide was awesome, we had a great sunset on the left of the train & almost a full moon on the right. The pictures look good but the real thing is way better.
Next morning the view from the window was fantastic. I have lived in the Nevada desert & spent time in New Mexico & Arizona & while these places are special this was something different again.
At the start of the Nullabor there is red sand & small trees but as we headed out into it the sand gets less red & the tress get smaller until it is just flat & barren.
Around lunchtime we stopped in a place called Cook which is about as isolated as you can get. It used to be a busy spot with a school & medical facility but these days it is a water stop & driver rest for the train. We were there for an hour which was long enough for some great pics & a quick trip to the shop. Be sure to make a donation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service
You should also get some local postcards but will have to wait for Perth to post them. Another great part about being out in the middle of no where is the mobile phone becomes nothing but a clock - there are NO reception bars on it at all.
On the train there is a dinning car with a combination of prepacked food that can be heated in the microwave ( I enjoyed the bacon cheese burger ) Mrs Macs Pies & they also put on a great dinner including a roast meal.
You can buy drinks including beer/spirits during the day also.
Our second stop was Friday evening in Kalgoorlie. Its a short work from the train station to the main street with some great pubs serving meals & beer. The train stops for 3 hours so plenty of time for a look around. The pic below of me with the local drinking fountain was taken by a camera woman from norway not me taking a drunken self portait.
Then it was off to Perth, another night sleeping on the train whipped by. I woke early to the most awesome sunrise coming into the carriage over the plains. A quick snack & freshen up & we were into Perth for the start of the day.
Overall an awesome trip!!
