Australian touring, rail holidays, North Queensland and Tasmania

Well, so far we have survived; I am thankful we live in the country, especially in Gippsland! Moira & I have had small road trips to the Gippsland Lakes, Rutherglen and Great Ocean Road instead of what we had planned which was cruising the Black Sea and river cruise of the lower Danube visiting castles. As usual, we enjoyed every moment even though it wasn’t our initial plans.

You would be amazed in the traveller options in Australia and New Zealand – self-drive, coach tours, rail travel and air travel are opening up. The usual Australian Summer of cruises with multiple choices of departure points: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Fremantle (is dead in the water). Searching our systems, only cruises that are presently scheduled to depart from Sydney is the 4th January 2021. I will be surprised if that is not cancelled shortly. The Australian cruise industry is not anticipating any real start before the 1st May 2021, we hope they are wrong.

If you can get a flight and permit to Singapore, there are cruises departing for various Asian ports commencing 7th January 2021, but be careful; Asian ports are susceptible to typhoon warnings at this time of year and at this stage possibly quarantine on returning to Australia.

Options in Touring Australia

APT and AAT Kings are the traditional coach touring companies. They are now joined by Trafalgar, Cosmos and Scenic Tours and our very own Mornington Peninsula based O’Shannessys offering a limited range of tours in Australia (including Christmas departures – pop in and see us for details), as international travel is off the radar at the moment even though there are cruises and river cruises currently operating overseas.

Rail Australia

In the absence of cruising availability until possibly May 2021, the demand for The Ghan and Indian Pacific is going to exceed supply as many of the departures have sold until May/June. Rail travel suits many travellers, particularly older ones like us because they offer meals, refreshments and toilet facilities onboard.

Whilst the coach tours operate to various parts of Australia and New Zealand, one of the more popular holidays that are catering to clients is rail travel. Sitting back with a picturesque window watching the world go by is an enjoyable relaxing pastime.

There are marvellous holidays to be had in country Victoria; how about 3 or 4 days in Warrnambool, Swan Hill, Echuca or Albury - all within easy reach of Melbourne. We can book accommodation within walking distance of the rail station or most accommodation is a short taxi ride. Echuca is a standout for the option of doing a Murray River cruise of 3 or 4 days on PS Emmylou - a traditional paddle steamer.

Or something different, rail to Adelaide and cruise the lower Murray on the Murray Princess similarly for 3 or 4 nights. Why not adventure further afield to NSW with Sydney as your base. Us senior people can get a travel pass that costs $2.50 per day to travel on all their ferries, suburban trains and buses; reaching over the Blue Mountains to Lithgow, or up as high as Newcastle or down south to Kiama.

NSW also has regional rail tours on the refurbished Southern Aurora that used to travel between Melbourne and Sydney. These tours offer private ensuite cabins and the tours depart Sydney on 10th March and 6th October for the Riverina Trail Tour and departs Sydney on 10th February, 7th April and 8th September for the Golden West Tour. There is another option to join the Indian Pacific to Broken Hill or Adelaide - all in the comfort of a two-berth sleeper cabin.

Fly to Cairns and stay a few days in Cairns or Port Douglas, then board the Queenslander down to Airlie Beach and perhaps take a cruise out to the islands. Then, on the rail to Brisbane; this can be all done in daylight hours! Then fly home, or if you’re still in the rail mood take the train to Sydney, stay a few days and then on to Melbourne by rail.

Spirit of Tasmania

A popular time to travel to Tasmania is in our warmer months. It may be difficult to get passage with the Spirit of Tasmania, howeve we are willing to try and */get you

and your car onboard.

Can’t drive?

There are many short 3 or 4-day coach tours from Melbourne departing Southern Cross Spencer Street Rail Station, visiting Great Ocean Road, Grampians, etc. The choices are enormous.

With over 40 years’ experience, we can plan your next getaway. Moira and I are still planning international travel for 2021 – stay tuned.