Day 6 of 9 nights/10 days between Sydney and Fremantle. Day 66 of 102, Southampton – Southampton, via among many places, Brisbane, voted Australia’s favourite city.

I do detest getting up early in the morning, and this week, I have had to do so on three occasions during this nine night, ten day sabbatical from Queen Mary 2. 

Annoyingly, I had to wait until 06.30 for the breakfast room to open; I was desperate for a coffee!  Although feeling slightly hungry, I could not face a mountain of cooked food today, and with that much needed coffee, I had merely a lethal mix of All Bran and Museli, as well as a self-made sandwich of cold meats and cheese (no butter!)  I then had just enough energy to lug my suitcase the 5 – 10 minute walk to Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station where on platform 2B stood the coaching stock for this morning’s Overland service to Adelaide.

The procedure for boarding seemed familiar after entering the station, for some reason, reminiscent of London’s massive Waterloo Station.  I presented my documents to the Great Southern representative who directed me to an unmarked Car B.   My initial seat, 28, was right by a wide coach pillar affording a very limited view.  I would be moved to seat 22, which gave me a full half window to see through. 

I did this journey in 2019 but the only section I felt that recognised was the descent from Murray Bridge through the gorgeous Adelaide Hills into the out of town terminal station, Adelaide Parkway, used exclusively by Great Southern Railway (The Journey Beyond). Apart from the extensive industrial landscape at Melbourne, the train passes through  enormous expanses of flat countryside mostly all developed farmland with silhouetted hills and mountains on the horizon, with some undulation occasionally nearer the railway. 1

Although run by the people who run the Ghan, Indian Pacific, and the newly introduced Great Southern routes, for well-to-do tourists, The Overland serves several towns between Melbourne and Adelaide providing a vital link for those in the places The Overland calls at.  The train looks like and feels like something decades old, with modern refurbishments inside which make for a pleasant relaxing journey. 

17 kilometres before arriving at Bordertown Station, we crossed from Victoria into South Australia at 14.37 hrs.  At that point, the time zone went back half an hour to 14.07.  Soon, we would cross the Murray River and begin our descent through the lovely Adelaide Hills for a two hour scenic ride to Adelaide Parkland Terminal

Although the train staff had pre-ordered taxis, it was several minutes before the first ones appeared. With assistance, I had an Uber, and even that couldn’t take me to the hotel entrance.  You couldn’t make it up, the road was blocked off for a street function, all part of Adelaide’s festival.  I had to walk the last few yards, through locals enjoying themselves!   The spectacular view from the 10th floor reception of the Crowne Plaza convinced me to upgrade to a room with a similar view on the 12th floor.  It was well worth the extra 40 dollars, around £11.00/day.  “You only live once,” I told myself yet again! 

Despite being properly fed on the train, I was ready for a hot meal and at 8 pm, the hotel’s 10th floor restaurant “Koomo” beckoned with its upscale Japanese menu.  I chose a chicken dish with rice.

Eventually, I would go to bed and enjoy a much needed long sleep.  Not before watching part of a decent detective series on the massive TV in my room.

This would be a fabulous hotel to stay for over a week in, with outside pool, bar, and places to bask in the sun. Annoyingly again, I leave on Sunday.

I was extremely pleased to repeat the train journey I took in 2019. If I go again, I would like to set off from Adelaide for the climb through the Adelaide Hills towards Melbourne.

An early night was welcome, and I managed to catch up on some lost sleep.

Many thanks for reading, David, in his 12th floor hotel room at the Adelaide Crowne Plaza, 18.27hrs, 18th March 2023.