Hi,<BR>Just wondering which website is the best/official site for buying train travel. I checked gsr.com but it is a site called Trainways. Is this the official site? Last year we got a half-price deal on the tilt train in QLD, wondering where I'd find deals from Adelaide to Alice if they are available.

Hi, Lin!<BR><BR>Try www.railaustralia.com.au/ghan.htm. I think this is the "official" site. Before you start, however, let me warn you that there are not many "deals" to be had on the two trains (the other is the Indian-Pacific from Sydney to Perth) run by this company. You can sometimes get a half-price on the Sydney-Adelaide leg, but costs climb alarmingly from Adelaide northwards. Good luck!

Thanks Alan,<BR>I checked your site and the prices were the same as the Trainways site. It's one of those things - the idea of the train journey appeals to us but the cost is high. (I guess train journeys must be appealling as the 'Rocky Mountaineer' is a very expensive journey through the Rockies here in Canada!) Objectively, would it be worthwhile as a train trip (rather than a mode of transport from A to B?) I realize flying would be cheaper/faster. Thanks for your reply<BR>Lin

Hi, again, Lin!<BR><BR>I am about to get howled down here, I'm sure, as there are people who say it's a GREAT trip.... but my answer to your question is, no, it wouldn't be worthwhile. It's not like your Rockies trip... it is just hundreds of kilometers of flat, dry country, each new sector indistinguishable from the one before. I think there are many more rewarding ways to use your money.

I concur with Alan about the worth of that trip...........NOOOOO a thousand times no!!!

Thanks Guys,<BR>You are right. After looking at the website again with my husband it is a pretty expensive means of travel. I guess I was attracted to the 'luxury' aspect of the gold service but for A$1500 for an overnight trip I'm sure we can fly and enjoy our money in better ways! I appreciate your input. (We are always trying to find ways to stretch our lowly Canadian loonies - no point wasting them!)<BR>Lin

Hi again Lin<BR>I think that the Ghan and things like that are for rich Americans who have a $ that is actually worth something, albeit propped up by the Government. <BR>We mere mortals should be content with just the usual / cheap kind of travel i.e. steerage class on planes - I speak for myself here. <BR>Have a great time out here. You will find that things are pretty much the same price as Canadian. I was in Vancouver last year and I felt I could actually eat there after spending time in Alaska where everything was twice the price, so to speak.

Liz,<BR>We spent ten weeks in Oz Jan-Mar 2001. We had a fantastic holiday, including a week in Sydney CBD, a week on Heron Island, ten days in Tassie, and four weeks in a great unit in Coolum, QLD. We budgeted CAD$10K and went home with $2K!!! My husband wanted to move to Australia he loved it so much - me too except for the three kids here in Canada. We are by no stretch of anyone's imagination 'rich' (or American!) but if it takes a few dollars to do something memorable then our motto is 'you only live once'. You have all talked me out of the Ghan and I notice nobody even 'howled' Alan for his comments!! Thanks everyone, I'm sure I'll be back with lots more questions. We are hoping to do NZ, the GOR and a few days in Alice before visiting the rellies in QLD next time.<BR>Regards,<BR>Lin<BR>

I am about to go to the USA for a holiday Lin and I am pulling my belt now because of the high cost of living there. I agree with you that every now and then a splurge is good but it needs to be rewarding I feel. <BR>If you are going to the GBR ( proper) this trip then there is a wonderful boat trip from Cairns to Townsville which takes you out of the coral cays en route and is a really lovely cruise, being small and with attentive and knowledgable staff. Cost is about $1100 but is worth every cent according to my English friends who did it a couple of years ago. Perhaps a fling like that may be appealing.

LIZ--Economics, NOT the government, determines the worth of a country's currency.<BR>

Linda, thank you so much for that information I really stand corrected, I would never have thought that economics was self driven and was by no means under the control, manipulation or organization of any government of any country.

Hi Liz,<BR>Where are you going to visit in the US? We have a 'winter' place (The Tin Palace) in Florida and even with our own accommos we find the cost of groceries, dining out etc quite prohibitive. Prices used to be considerably cheaper in the US than here but not so any more. So with a 62 cent dollar the difference is very noticable. I know you are in even worse shape than us, not much though!! On the bright side we are able to rent our place for three months and visit other (preferable) destinations. I think the secret is to put the miserable exchange rate out of mind or holidaying in the US and Europe is just too depressing!! <BR>I will keep your GBR suggestion in mind. We were blown away by the snorkelling at Heron. On the days it wasn't too windy we headed out on the dive boat. Having only snorkelled in Mexico we could not believe the beauty of the reef. The fish and turtles were amazing. We ended up being disappointed that we didn't see any reef sharks (initially we were hoping we wouldn't!!)

Hi again Lin<BR>I will be going to Boston & Philly so it will be even more noticeable. I lived in Canada when going to the US was the best shopping trip one could do. However that said, things change and you are right the only way to go is to grin and bear it and not think too much about it. <BR>No doubt I will start some arguements again when I return on the subject of tipping ( pet hate).<BR>In the mean time I hope that you will find something to your liking when you are here and do have a great time. <BR>Cheers<BR><BR>

Have a great trip Liz! Thanks for the help. I'm sure we'll cross paths on this board again. We aren't traveling until Jan 2003 so there's lots of time left for questions! Happy Travels.

These chat opportunities are great. Let me put in a kind word for the Ghan. I am planning my third trip to Austalia, and have taken the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth. Yes, train travel is expensive, but when you travel across the world and have a chance to travel on a few of the best trains in the world, you should consider it. Yes, the view is fairly flat. Stark! But it is beautiful in this condition. This is a unique continent, and much of its soul and history are in the outback. Trains give you the opportunity to be with family, friends, and new friends, like no other method of travel. I have friends for life that I met on the train, in some other part of the world. Read, relax, play games, and discover the Australia that has existed for millions of years, a place like no other. I cannot disagree with any points made by others. Perhaps you just have to like train travel. My wife, who does not, hated the Sydney to Perth trip. But I've got to tell you, it is a trip that I will never forget. I want to take the Ghan from Sydney to Alice Springs, and am having no luck at these chat sights finding any support for my plan. Pity! Train travel is not about getting to your destination, it is a destination in and of itself. And the US dollar stands up fairly well in Austalia, so travel is about 60% of what is quoted in Austalian dollars. Still expensive, but not just for rich Americans. Its for anyone who appreciates that Australia is far more than just the east and west coast.

To Michael. <BR>G'day Michael, <BR>I support you <BR>But then, I was working for the railways, way back when the Old Ghan was still running. <BR>I do miss the Steam..... does that make me old? No, just 'older'. <BR>Guess I'm a romantic. <BR>Oh yes, the outback. If ever you get the chance to get away from the trains, cities and tourist destinations then go and travel Off the Beaten Track. Follow the route of the Old Ghan and marvel at what was accomplished there in the early days and reflect on the hardships the early settlers endured. <BR>The Ghan was named after the Afghan Cameliers to recognize their contribution to the building of the line. <BR>Here are details for a book that may interest you: "Following the Old Ghan Railway Line" by Brian R. Newell, <BR>ISBN No. 0-64-39415-0 <BR><BR>People who say "there is nothing to see in the outback" or "it's all the same" have either never been, travelled with 'closed eyes' or the destination was more important to them than the journey. <BR><BR>Enjoy, <BR>Mike

For our Sept/Oct trip to Oz, we were also considering the Ghan or the IP for a trip between Adelaide and Sydney. Would that portion be a bit more scenic than the portions West and North of Adelaide?

Hi Ghan Supporters,<BR>I agree with you about the 'romance aspect' of the train and appreciate your comments to this end. I lived in Brisbane for several years as a child and remember taking the train (in a sleeping berth) from Brissie to Sydney. This has been my only experience on a overnight train journey in my 47 years! My husband is a train buff and has done a number of excursions on the old steam trains in North America. Unfortunately, we are traveling with Canadian dollars so our Aussie travels are not quite the bargain as they are for US travelers. I think my advisors were taking this into account. If our budget was unlimited (or the cost lower because of a strong currency) we probably wouldn't have hesitated because I have no doubt it would be great to experience the train trip between Adelaide and Alice. <BR>Cheers,<BR>Lin

G'day RK7, <BR>It has been many years since I travelled on the Ghan and IP. <BR>So I can't tell you about the service now. <BR>It's definately more scenic, or should I say the scenery is more varied than between Adelaide and Alice. <BR>You are unlikely to see as much wildlife as you would north and west of Adelaide, but plenty of sheep and cattle. <BR><BR>Enjoy your trip, <BR>Mike