yafm

Has anyone done this?? I hope to do the full Sydney to Perth trip and take the car with us to meander back taking our time.
Have heard several different views on the value of this from Poor service and inefficient communication - lack of the promised stop overs as running late as well as excellent ones.
Its a lot of money if it does not live up to its reputation. Any thoughts anyone??? (was thinking of the Gold Kangaroo service as you can then take the car on for only $99)

ljpac

Did this in Jan 2002. From Perth to Adelaide. Thought it was really good. Had a single cabin Gold Kangaroo service. Expensive but worth it! Some friends put car on train and then drove back from Perth. The scenery on the road closer to the coast is different so definately worth doing

Paul and Chloe

Definately worth doing but just not like we did as backpackers in the cheap seats! 42 hours in a chair is very little fun, we went from Adelaide to Perth back in 2000, and to top it off we went from The Alice to Adelaide on the Ghan train about 2 months later (another 24 hours in the cheap seats!).

thebears

Was also thinking of doing this - love the thought of a few days on a train.

Hope you do it - let us know how it goes

Pet

Haven't done it myself but one of my best mates and her hubby did it earlier this year. Took their car across to do a bit touring.

Sorry but they hated it even tho they went top class. Said the service and food was excellent tho. They didn't sleep much at all, found the bunk beds very narrow and, as they are both very tall, too short. The constant noise also got to them. Not much room to move around and basically boring as bat sh*t. Suppose everyone is different tho just relaying their observations. If you decide to do it hope it works for you and you have a great time.

wongstonn

Hi

We travelled first class from Perth to Sydney in 2000. I enjoyed it, as I was very relaxed. But it would not be everyone's cup of tea.

Aside from the dramatic Blue Mountains, the scenery changes very slowly. Ensure your cabin is not above one of the carriage's bogies as you'll not get a wink of sleep. Centre carriage is much better. The rooms are small, but it all works. The menus rotated, but came predictable with time. The service for us was fine.

The one hour tours from the stopping places were fine. Enjoyed Kalgoolie in particular.

Neil

The Bloke

Thought you might like some good travelling music:

Slim Dusty - Indian Pacific Lyrics:

From coast to coast by night and day, hear the clickin' of the wheels
The hummin' of the diesel, of her ribbons of steel
Carryin' the memories of a nation built by hand
See the Indian Pacific span the land

She's the pride of all the railway men 'cross country where she flies
From blue Pacific waters to where the mountains rise
By lakes and wide brown rivers, through desert country dry
See the Indian Pacific passin' by

Oh the Indian Pacific she goes rollin' down the track
Five thousand miles to travel before she's there and back
Beside the line, a drover waves his battered old grey hat
And kids are catchin' yabbies down by the river flat
And a woman hangs her washing in a backyard near the line
As the Indian Pacific's rollin' by

Hear the whistle blowin' lonely 'neath the Nullabor star light
Saluting those who walk across the track she romps tonight
Callin' to the railway camp and the fitters on the line
I'm the Indian Pacific, right on time

From the silver of the Broken Hill to old Kalgoorlie gold
She mirrors all the colours of the land so hot and old
Then the western clouds are blooming and the air is just like wine
And the Indian Pacific's makin' time

Oh the Indian Pacific she goes rollin' down the track
Five thousand miles to travel before she's there and back
From the waters of the western sea to the eastern ocean sand
The Indian Pacific spans the land
Oh the Indian Pacific spans the land