Indian Pacific
15-07-2014 to 21-07-2014
First Day
15th July
We flew into Sydney today on our way to visit Colleen's brother and sister inlaw, Wayne and Virginia, in Perth. In 2015 we are going on a Mediterranean cruise with them.
View from our hotel room.
Sydney
16th July
To go to Perth we are taking the Indian Pacific Train. Our train does not leave till the afternoon.
This morning we took a HoHo bus round Sydney.
When the bus stopped at Circular Quay we hopped off.
Sydney harbour bridge.
Sydney Opera House.
Colleen waiting for me to take photos.
The weather cleared up as we walked back to Circular Quay from the Opera House to catch the HoHo bus.
Heading to Kings Cross.
View from our cabin window waiting for departure.
In our cabin with a wine before going to dinner.
Broken Hill / Adelaide
17th July
We arrived before dawn in Broken Hill and joined a tour to the Line of Lode Miner's Memorial.
This photo of the sunrise over Broken Hill was taken from the memorial.
The Line of Lode Memorial for the more than 800 miners who lost their lives at Broken Hill over the years.
Inside the memorial are glass panels etched with the names of the miners that died.
People on the viewing platform overlooking Broken Hill.
Our train at the station in Broken Hill.
A pithead in the morning sun as we head back to the train and breakfast.
Arriving back at the station.
Neil by our carriage.
View down the platform.
The memorial and retaurant on top of the hill or mullock.
A 30m high pile of mining waste.
Emus.
Horses.
Kangaroo.
Homestead.
Sheep.
Adelaide.
We arrived in the afternoon and joined a tour to a market as our excursion.
The train left in the evening before dinner.
Cook / Kalgoorlie
18th July
Our first stop today is Cook which is on the longest straight stretch of railway in the world.
Cook was established as a railway town in 1917 on the Nullarbor plains. There are only a few residents now. It is mainly a refulling stop for freight trains.
We stopped to replenish fuel and water.
The engine.
Photos of Cook.
Passing the water tower as we leave Cook.
The airport at Forrest.
Forrest is another former railway town on the longest stretch of railway. Few people live there. The airport is a refulling stop for east/west aircraft with short range flight capacity.
We stopped briefly at Forrest to drop off and pick up mail for these people.
Our stop in Kalgoorlie was at night. This is a lookout spot overlooking a mine. This is one of the buckets used in the mine.
Last day on the train
19th July
Sunrise on the last day as we head for our mid morning arrival in Perth.
Early morning mist as we run into Perth.
Perth
21st July
Wayne and Virginia took us to Yanchep National Park for lunch at the Yanchep Inn.
Wallabies.
Wayne and Virginia on the walk to the Koalas.
Colleen watching the Koalas.
Asleep up in a gum tree.
While another heads down for some tucker.
A Galah. Also known as pink and grey cockatoo.
In the restaurant waiting for lunch. The restaurant is decorated for Mid-Winter Christmas.