Category Archives: Train Trips

Parramatta, NSW. Riding the Rails of Yesteryear

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Sconquest

Ye Olde Steam Tramway After my recent trip on the Southern Aurora, I wondered why I have such a fascination with trains. Beyond the fact that they are such marvellous examples of human ingenuity, trains are a tangible link to … Continue reading →

Posted in Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Sydney, Train Trips | Tagged blue mountains, Heritage Rail, high tea, Lithgow, Locomotive 1022, Oberon, parramatta park, Railway, Steam Tramway, Tarana, Thirlmere, tourism, Tram 103A, Tramway, Valley Heights, Wood Guys, Zig Zag Railway | Leave a comment

2014 New Years Escape: Coming Full Circle.

Posted on January 4, 2014 by Sconquest

Life Aboard the Southern Aurora If you haven’t travelled overnight on a sleeper there is a lot of insignificant detail to learn. How do you get the bed down? Why won’t it lock back into the wall? Why isn’t there … Continue reading →

Posted in New South Wales, Tour, Train Trips | Tagged Beds, Carriages, Comfortable, Heritage Rail, Single Berth, Southern Aurora, zerotohero | Leave a comment

Wallabadah, NSW. Racing Headlong into the New Year

Posted on January 3, 2014 by Sconquest

Day 2: Off to a Great Start Knowing nothing about racing was not entirely a disadvantage at the Wallabadah races as two horses in the first race refused to enter the barriers so my odds went from 1 chance in … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardens, Museum, New South Wales, Train Trips | Tagged Cup, First Fleet, gardens, Heritage Rail, Memorial, Moonbi Ranges, museum, Races, Railway, Southern Aurora, Tamworth, Walcha, Wallabadah, Werris Creek, zerotohero | 1 Comment

Upper Hunter Valley, NSW. Cruising aboard the Southern Aurora

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Sconquest

Day 1: On Being without Barrington Tops or Scones but with Fireworks Travelling with Heritage Express on the Southern Aurora, a 50 year old inter-city express passenger train. The itinerary says: Explore the Barrington Wilderness from the Hunter World Heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in Hunter Valley, Sightseeing, Tour, Train Trips | Tagged Barrington Tops, Camelot lavender, carriageways, Dungog, express, Fireworks, foster, Gloucester, Heritage, Heritage Express, Heritage Rail, Southern Aurora, Taree, train, Tuncurry, Upper Hunter Valley, Vintage | Leave a comment

Taree, NSW. A Voice in the Wilderness

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Sconquest

It’s New Year’s Eve and it’s hot in Dungog. Last night I boarded the Southern Aurora at Sydney’s Central Station. For me this was not my first sleeper but it was my first trip on the Southern Aurora which is … Continue reading →

Posted in Train Trips | Tagged carriageways, Dungog, escape, Gloucester, Heritage Rail, new year, Southern Aurora, Taree, train, Vintage | Leave a comment

Auckland-National Park, NZ. Train Spirals on Kiwi Rail’s Northern Explorer ****4stars

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Sconquest

Why would you drive 350 kms? Finally on New Zealand’s North Island and heading down from Auckland to National Park to stay at Chateau Tongariro and walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing and Mt Ruapehu. Mt Tongariro volcano has erupted … Continue reading →

Posted in National Parks, New Zealand, North Island, Scones, Tour, Train Trips | Tagged Alpine Crossing, cafe, Chateau, Chateau Tongariro, Kiwi Rail, lemonade, Mt Ruapehu, mt tongariro, new zealand, North Island, Northern Explorer, railway station, raurimu spiral, Scones, Tongariro, Walking Legends | Leave a comment

North Island, New Zealand. Assorted Scone Adventures 2013.

Posted on January 21, 2013 by Sconquest

GREETINGS FROM NEW ZEALAND (AGAIN)! Just returned from the North Island of New Zealand and an assortment of scone adventures. Flew into Auckland and travelled on the new Northern Explorer Train to Tongariro National Park, then returned on the train back … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, New Zealand, North Island, Scones, Tour, Train Trips | Tagged Airport, Auckland, Bay of islands, cafe, Cape Reinga, Chateau Tongariro, cheese, date, gumdiggers, Hokianga, Kauri Ancient Kingdom, kauri Museum, Knoll Ridge, lemonade, Mt Ruapehu, national park, Northern Explorer, railway tearoom, raurimu spiral, Scones, tearooms, The Dome, Tongariro, train | Leave a comment

Carrington Falls, NSW. A Tranquil Haven. ****4stars

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Sconquest

Whiling Away an early Wattle Day A late lunch of tomato and bacon soup with sourdough at the Robertson Cheese Factory Cafe fortified us for more waterfalls. The cafe was right by the railway line and there were a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bushwalk, Southern Highlands, Train Trips, Waterfalls | Tagged Belmore, Budderoo National Park, canon camera, carrington, cheese factory, falls, Minnamurra, Morton National Park, Robertson, steam train | Leave a comment

Fraser Island -Hervey Bay -Maryborough & Tilt Train to Brisbane -Express to Nerang -Gold Coast, Qld. 9 hrs & 375km.

Posted on August 11, 2011 by Sconquest

A Very Long Way for a Coffee and No Scones! 7.50 am. Ferry from Fraser Island to Hervey Bay. 8.40 am. Bus from River Heads, Hervey Bay to Pialba, Hervey Bay. 9.50 am. Bus Pialba, Hervey Bay to Maryborough West … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland, Train Trips | Tagged queensland, rail, tilt, train | Leave a comment

Airlie Beach-Proserpine-Hervey Bay-Frazer Island, Queensland. 837kms. Sleeping First Class on the Sunlander.

Posted on July 27, 2011 by Sconquest

Initiation into Overnight Sleepers My goodness, it’s dark on the top bunk of a sleeper as you hurtle through the night. 9.30pm. Boarding the Sunlander at Proserpine means the seat is gone and there’s bunk beds instead. Bad luck if … Continue reading →

Posted in Queensland, Train Trips | Tagged airlie beach, class, first, hervey bay, queenslander, sleeper, sunlander, train | Leave a comment