Brisbane and the Great Southern (Southern Spirit)

Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Day 1 Leaving Sydney
Set the alarm for 6:15am for a 10:15am taxi pickup however quite amazingly we were ready with 30 minutes to spare. Mind you we are only away for 9 nights.
So had time for a coffee in the Qantas lounge.
Uneventful trip up to Brisbane We bought some new masks for the occasion, the ones that look like a ducks bill.
On arriving we were not asked whether we had taken the Rapid Antigen Test nor whether we had the entry permit both in fact we had!
We booked into The Sebel which is in the CBD. We catch the train tomorrow. 
Had time for a walk down to the Hilton where we have stayed many years ago. It has a great atrium which hasn’t changed. What has changed is the lovely Regent cinema which was pulled down some years ago. Actually the building is still there with the entrance foyer however the cinemas have gone.
About 20 people on the trip split pretty evenly between Gold and Platinum. We are going Gold this time.
Day 2 Coffs Harbour
Next day we either had a chauffeur car (Platinum class) or mini bus (Gold class) to take us at about 7:30am to Hanworth House for check in. We then had drinks pastries and even live music.      
This was a reception centre rented by the Great Southern people for the occasion.
We were told that there were 137 on the train split over Platinum class and the rest in two sets of Gold class (lounge and dining cars). The classes do not mix whilst on the train.
Why we had to wait so long at Hanworth House is a mystery however it was a lovely sunny day and we were sitting outside in the shade. 
Eventually we were bussed to Acacia Ridge freight terminal where the bus took us right to our carriage. 
Much to my surprise Leith & I were offered the ‘disabled’ cabin which was more spacious and separate beds, rather than bunks. It also had a bigger bathroom suitable for wheelchairs. Very swish.
Train left right on time at 11am. 
We had to wear masks while on train but not in our cabin.
Free drinks before lunch at 12:30pm
Good lunch two courses more free drinks!
About a four hour trip down to Coffs Harbour, we managed to get an hours  card game (500). 
Dinner was off the train at the Pacific Bay resort. It consisted of a three course meal.

Each dish was divided into four portions to be shared between four people, serving tongs were provided. This worked well.  Oysters/prawns, fish/steak, cheese & biscuits/petite fours.
Wine flowed. 
We got back to train about 10pm.
Day Three  Hunter valley
We had noisy and rough night due to a noisy bogey, unfortunately our cabin was at the end of the carriage and my bed was closest to the end. I was lucky in that my bed was longitudinal to the train so I don't think I was rocked and rolled as much as Leith whose bunk was across the cabin.
Arrived Maitland about 8:45am for a day’s trip around the Hunter Valley Wineries.  There were other experiences available such as walk around Newcastle or trip on a catamaran around Port Stephens.
Our first was Brokenwood, too early for wine tasting so Leith and I had coffee then onto Tullochs which had five wines with matching chocolates. Lovely chocolates which may or may not matched the wines. 
Lunch at Peppers Creek lovely wedding venue which could easily cater for about 80 of us.  We left 2:30pm to rejoin the train at Broadmeadows Newcastle. We went via Kurri Kurri, which is home to a number of outdoor murals.  Boarded train 3:45pm
A lovely sunny afternoon as we came down into Sydney, skirted around Sydney via Rookwood. Dinner was at  7:00pm, choice of three dishes from three courses wine complimentary.
Day 4 Melbourne/Geelong
Woke about 7am coming into Albury where we stopped awhile (change drivers perhaps?). 
Leisurely 8:15am breakfast. 
Cards at 10:00am

Since we don’t get off the train till 12ish for our Clyde Park Moorabool Valley experience, this is near Geelong. I gather it is another vineyard where we will lunch. 
Others had the choice of a Melbourne Explorer tour; OR a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground; OR a tour of Old Melbourne Gaol.
Train delayed due to signal failure so we didn’t sit down for lunch till after 2:00pm. 
Lunch was at Clyde Park Vineyard about 48 of us for a long lunch.

Great view across a valley. Two courses then a break for wine tasting back to the tables for desert. Left for the train 5:15pm, overcast nearly rain but luckily got to the train without the heavens opening. 
Rough trip into SA not as noisy which was good but we still rocked and rolled.
Day 5 Adelaide
After an early breakfast we arrive into Adelaide at 08:45am where we come together as a SJR group for the next leg of our trip to Kangaroo Island.
See next email

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