Streaking across Australia
Get out into Australia and see it the slow way; by train. Discover these great Australian train journeys that will take you out and through the heart of this great land of ours. The Indian Pacific, the Ghan and the Overland all now offer a range of journey classes and you can take your car along as well.
Get on board and enjoy the ride...
Travel across Australia on the Indian Pacific
Journey on the iconic Indian Pacific across Australia; from Perth to Sydney or Adelaide and vice versa.
This historic train journey covers 4,352 kilometres, passes through three states and travels along the world’s longest stretch of straight railway track when it crosses the Nullarbor Plain.
Highlights along the way include the vast expanse of the Nullarbor Plain and the spectacular Blue Mountains. Add on an optional off-train sightseeing tour and get out and explore the heritage of towns like Kalgoorlie, Broken Hill or Adelaide.
•Route: Sydney – Adelaide – Perth
•Meals including a three course dinner and sunset canapés.
•Duration: three nights in either direction
•Distance: 4,352 kilometres
•Frequency: twice weekly in both directions
Travel to Alice Springs and Darwin on the Ghan
Offering luxury services between Adelaide, Alice Springs and Darwin, the Ghan is a classic Australian rail journey that takes 48 hours and covers 2,979 kilometres.
Departing from Adelaide, the Ghan heads to Port Pirie, following the scenic Flinders Ranges to Port Augusta, and then north from Tarcoola through the MacDonnell Ranges towards Alice Springs. From Alice Springs the train continues north towards Darwin, crossing the Tropic of Capricorn.
Heading towards Katherine, the train passes through the gold mining settlement of Tennant Creek. From Katherine, the Ghan heads into the tropics; crossing the Adelaide River and arriving at Darwin.
•Route: Adelaide – Alice Springs – Darwin
•Duration: two nights in either direction
•Distance: 2,979 kilometres
•Frequency: twice weekly Adelaide – Alice Springs – Darwin
Get on the Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide
This is an historic train journey that pioneered inter-city rail travel between Melbourne and Adelaide in 1887.
The train journey takes passengers through classic Australian landscapes and some classic Australian towns such as Murray Bridge, Dimboola, Ararat and Geelong. Passengers also have the opportunity to disembark and explore the towns along the way.
The Overland links Melbourne with the Indian Pacific and the Ghan rail journeys, providing the opportunity for rail travel that covers most of Australia.
•Route: Adelaide – Melbourne, Melbourne – Adelaide
•Duration: daylight service in both directions
•Distance: 828 kilometres
•Frequency: three times weekly in both directions
Smart move, Qantas: tag team check-in
Qantas is about to overhaul its domestic check-in at City Flyer ports across Australia in a bid to reduce waiting time. The airline's top-tier frequent flyers will receive smart cards that will act as a personal boarding pass. It will be linked to a permanent luggage tag that Qantas will also supply.
"This will enable Qantas passengers to swipe their frequent flyer card on a reader and head to a simplified baggage drop, or straight through the security process to their departure gate or Qantas lounge," says Qantas' chief executive, Alan Joyce.
Only silver to platinum members and Qantas Club members will get the new cards, although the airline is promising new online kiosks and improved baggage drop for bronze members, who comprise 60 per cent of the national carrier's 6 million frequent flyers.
"While the process will be simple, the technology behind it will ensure the full range of security checks remain solidly in place," Joyce says.
The new system will be installed at Perth airport first and then Sydney by the end of the year. Melbourne will be operational in early 2011.
Duty free liquor sales under threat
Source: Trend-news
Sales of duty free wines and spirits are under threat following the release of a strategic paper containing a proposal for a worldwide ban on duty free liquor.
According to Trend-news.net, the World Health Organization's (WHO) report, Strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol: draft global strategy, proposes that all international travellers buying alcohol should pay the same tax as is applicable on the relevant domestic market.
The worldwide duty free alcohol market was valued at $6.3 billion in 2008.
European Travel Retail Council (ETRC) secretary general Keith Spinks told Trend-news that the industry has less than five months to oppose the proposal which is due to be ratified by the WHO' executive board in May.
Spinks said that while the proposal had been expected in the long term, the inclusion of the clause in this particular report had been a surprise.
"It is extremely worrying and we have got to get this message out to the industry worldwide and we have also got to talk to other stakeholder organisations, such as those representing the liquor industry to make sure that they have picked this up and that they are going to start working on it.
"If we are going to have any chance of getting this off the table completely, then we have got to do it before May, because once it is adopted at the World Health Assembly then that's it," Spinks told Trend-news.
Why we get sick on holiday
Over half of all Australian travellers experience some kind of illness while they’re away, according the Traveller’s Medical and Vaccination Centre.
Around 18 per cent will lose up to two days of their holiday due to illness.
So why do we often get sick at a time when we should be feeling better than ever?
It’s not because our immune system goes on holiday as well.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) travellers simply expose themselves to a wide variety of risk factors, from changes in climate to foreign microbes, all in a relatively short period of time.
Fortunately, many common travel illnesses can be managed or even avoided with some common sense and forward planning.
The most common travellers’ disease worldwide is diarrhoea.
Travellers’ diarrhoea is caused by the consumption of contaminated food and water and is most common in developing countries.
The most important treatment is re-hydration with clean water. Adding an electrolyte replacement such as Gastrolyte is also beneficial in severe cases.
Respiratory tract infection is the second most common travellers’ illness, affecting up to 20 per cent of travellers.
You have a higher risk of respiratory illness during travel because you will more often be in close proximity to large groups on tours, at tourist sites and on public transport.
The Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centre recommends decongestants and antihistamines to help to relieve symptoms.
Sun burn is also a surprisingly common illness for travellers.
Australian travellers should know better but often an unfamiliar climate can mask the sun’s intensity.
Some medications may also affect a person’s sensitivity to UV radiation.
The number one rule is to cover up as much overseas as you ideally should at home.
If you do get stung, drink plenty of water and apply a cold compress to affected areas.
Contrary to popular belief communicable diseases are not easily spread through aircraft ventilation systems, according to the WHO.
Cabin air and ventilation rates are very carefully controlled and recirculated air is passed through filters which remove bacteria and viruses.
If you do get sick shortly after getting home it’s more likely that you developed it before you boarded the plane or you sat very near someone who was ill and coughing.
Tips for Driving Overseas
Tips and information
•In Greece children under the age of 10 are not permitted to travel in the front seat.
•In Belgium it is legal to overtake on both sides, on some roads.
•In some countries, it is compulsory for all vehicles to carry a first aid kit.
•In Portugal you must carry some form of photographic identification.
•In some countries it is compulsory to carry a fire extinguisher.
•In some countries it is compulsory for all vehicles to carry a warning triangle.
•Seat belts, if fitted, should always be used while driving.
•If hiring a car, get any information available from the hire company on road rules and regulations specific to that country.
•If you plan to borrow a car from a friend overseas, you will need to carry a letter of authorisation to drive the vehicle and also arrange adequate insurance cover.
•Discuss the route you plan to take with the car hire people and ask their advice on what you should see and do. They will probably have lots of information on hand.
•Check with the local tourist information centre for details of places to visit, how to get there and accommodation.
•Don't use cruise control on icy roads.
•Keep the headlights on low beam when driving in falling snow.
•In bad weather, stay on major roads, as minor roads will be last to be cleared of flooding or snow.
•In situations of heavy snow and ice, it may be necessary to use snow chains.
•Don’t forget your international driving permit. (See seperate post)
Which side of the road?
As in Australia, you must drive on the left side of the road in the following countries:
Asia: Indonesia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal and Brunei.
Oceania: Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Fiji.
Indian Ocean: Seychelles, Mauritius.
Europe: Cyprus, Malta, Channel Islands, Ireland and United Kingdom.
Africa: South Africa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Somalia, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Namibia, and Malawi.
South America, Central America and the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Christopher, St Helena, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent, Falkland Islands, Suriname, Guyana, Tobago, Trinidad.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
