Visit Australia and ride the famous Ghan railway . . .

by Dan Rosandich
(Chassell, Michigan USA)

At The Alice Springs train station, prior to departure back to Sydney!

Back in 2001 I visited Australia for several weeks during the months of June/July. Unbeknownst to me I didn't take into consideration the time differences and seasons that much, prior to visiting the country. Being self-employed allows me much freedom & flexibility around any travel schedule I decide upon. Simply because of the fact we live in a technological age and I can keep up with email from anywhere on the planet and send my work out electronically or even fax it if I have to. I had an old classmate from back in the states who left school, joined the military and never returned to America . . . he met a sheila and got married and had kids and that was it. I decided I would look him up as part of my visit and I did, we had a lot of laughs & a great time....took me up into the Blue Mountains north of Sydney and I got to see wombats and roos in their natural environs. Even got to visit a famous watering hole along the way called Doc Jurd's where they brewed some wine called "Jungle Juice" that was sold commercially to any customers who came through. Macadamia nut farming and horses are a big aspect of life in that region . . . not to mention chicken farming or "chooks" as the locals call it. I hope I have that part correct!

I'm also a train aficianado and try to use it in any of my travels when overseas. So another aspect of my travels to Oz was to ride the Ghan in the outback while I could. In Sydney, I was disapointed to find out I couldn't ride it to Alice Springs like I hoped, but the ticket agent gave me a hint and said their computers showed an open seat on a specific incoming train on a date further out. With that in mind, I planned a stay out in Alice Springs and was able to manage a train back into Sydney after 10 days or so out in Alice . . . because I wanted to visit Ayers Rock and Uluru while there.

For those unfamiliar with The Ghan, it has an extensive history and an almost symbolic relation to Australia. It's name originally derived from the Afghan Cameleers who used the train system to transport trainloads of camels across the continent, back before automobiles were introduced to the country back in the 1920's. The camels were then abandoned over the more popular automobile as the modus operandi for travel and the camels soon took over the outback when no longer needed by humans.

The Ghan has many travel routes, north, south and the west and east across Oz. As can be imagined, it crosses through a lot of desolation and anyone who has the opportunity to spend a day and a half on this train will soon realize how vast Australia really is (compared to America) and how much potential for development there still is for this growing country.

During my time spent on the Ghan, the train offers you sleeper cars if you wish for comfort or you have a family of kids who need a more homey comfort which is understandable. I rode coach and simply "roughed" it - and noticed many others do the same . . .mostly younger or single adventurous types, people taking a break from university or those who simply want to experience another country.

The pricing involved for my one-way ticket from "Alice" to Sydney was extremely reasonable...I think less than $200 USD. And at the time, the Oz dollar compared to the USD was very low - so any charges I put on my credit card were very reasonable. As mentioned, Alice is situated almost dead center of the continent . . . and the main access point for all things relating to Uluru or those seeking knowledge about the true "outback". During the summer months while I was there, it was considered winter but many days hovered around 60 to 65 degrees and only 3 or 4 days of rain occurred during my 10 days or so while in Alice.

While on the Ghan, you will see this magnificent train stop at many of the smaller towns and cities as it winds it's way south of Alice and then eastward towards Sydney. Riders can get out and stretch, go visit parts of the towns or stay in the train stations along the way and eat or stretch your legs, use the bathroom facilities or check emails at internet cafes etc. It's a very easy-going mode of travel, and if you are a train person like me, I highly recommend it as a way of seeing Oz. It was during my visit that the then president (John Howard) inaugurated a newly developed rail line for the Ghan that connects Darwin and Alice which ought to be a huge financial asset to the economy in that part of the continent when the influx of commerce from Asia flows in.

I highly recommend for those visiting Australia to look into The Ghan as part of their visit, and as an option to driving across the country when you visit. It's a truly unique way to see the country and you will meet other travellers from all over the globe who already know about this fantastic train system which is operated by The Great Southern Railway. More info on The Ghan can be found here.