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Riding the Rails The Great South Pacific Express The Orient Express is the most famous, glamorous train in the world. The great spies, film stars, and statesmen of the twentieth century rode the rails ensconced in its opulent cars, sipping cocktails as the world flashed by outside the window. Now the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express company has teamed up with Australia's premier passenger rail operator, Queensland Rail, to bring that glamour and luxury to the Antipodes.
The Great South Pacific Express is a five-star hotel on wheels, traveling through some of the world's finest landscapes. The train travels from Australia's capital, Canberra, through the bucolic landscapes of the Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains to the dynamic metropolis of Sydney. From there it heads to the Gold Coast capital of Brisbane, and on to the exquisite scenery of the country's great north: to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rain Forest, both protected World Heritage sites. Everywhere along the route, passengers enjoy excursions to experience the highlights of these areas, from wine tasting in the Hunter Valley to trips out to snorkel on the reef.
Passengers aboard the Great South Pacific Express travel in grand style. In the dining car, haute cuisine is served alongside fine wines. In the bar, an expert bartender mixes cocktails while the on-board pianist serenades passengers. Wildlife can be spotted from the open-sided observation car. The spacious compartments transform into deluxe bedrooms at night, where passengers sleep accompanied by the hypnotic rhythm of the train.
Highlights
of Queensland The
Grand Tour *Based on double
occupancy. |
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