Riding The Ghan in Australia with Zeb and Eider Duck

Zeb and Eider Duck are on another train.

Comfortable in our seat with a water bottle

Comfortable in our seat with a water bottle

We had our first long train ride on Australia’s Indian Pacific, and now we are going on another one.   This is the Ghan.   The Indian Pacific travels east and west, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.   The Ghan travels north and south, connecting Darwin with Adelaide.

The Ghan. Our second Australian train

The Ghan. Our second Australian train

We are getting on the train in Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory.   The Ghan is named for the Afghan camel drivers that worked in Australia building the telegraph system.   That is why we have a camel emblem on the side of our train car.   People are still getting on the train.

Many people boarding the Ghan

Many people boarding the Ghan

People are loading our luggage on the train.

The luggage goes on the train. We can only have hand luggage with us.

The luggage goes on the train.   We can only have hand luggage with us.

Larry, the safety manager, said that we have about 36 cars on our train.   We also have train cars with automobiles.   Some people are bringing their personal vehicles with them.   We, of course, retuned our rental car and our personal vehicles are in Colorado and Alaska, so no car for us.   Soon we crossed the Elizabeth River.

Elizabeth River

Elizabeth River

This is one of Australia’s most important rivers.   This is a view as we approach the town of Adelaide River.

Approaching town of Adelaide River

Approaching town of Adelaide River.   Much open space and many trees.

The Ghan stops in Katherine.

Stopping in Katherine

Stopping in Katherine

We stay here for a couple hours.   Eider’s dad took a shuttle into Katherine.   Zeb’s mom took Zeb and Eider into Nitmiluk Park again.   We were here before, but it is very pretty.

Nitmiluk National Park is beautiful

Nitmiluk National Park is beautiful

As we approached the Visitor’s Center, this wallaby was busy and did not pay attention to the tourists taking her photo.

Wallaby at Nitmiluk National Park

Wallaby at Nitmiluk National Park

Wallabies look like small kangaroos.   We like this wallaby.   Some passengers on the Ghan took a short version of the cruise we enjoyed through the gorges.    We did a little hiking.

Hiking in Nitmiluk National Park

Hiking in Nitmiluk National Park

Back on the Ghan, we wanted to show you the inside of  train passenger car.

Inside our car on The Ghan

Inside our car on The Ghan

The dining car looked like the one we showed you on the Indian Pacific train.    In the morning the landscape had changed.

Earth is red approaching Alice Springs this morning. Blurry since train is moving quickly

Earth is red approaching Alice Springs this morning.   Blurry since train is moving quickly

As we approached Alice Springs, in the center of Australia, the dirt is red and we are entering desert areas.   We arrive in Alice Springs.

The Ghan arrives at Alice Springs

The Ghan arrives at Alice Springs

This camel statue is here to welcome all the passengers to Alice Springs.

Camel statue at Alice Springs Ghan station

Camel statue at Alice Springs Ghan station

We are leaving the train here and flying to Ayers Rock Airport where we will see Uluru, or Ayers Rock.   In the airport, we visited the restroom.   This was a new sign for us.

In the airport. This was an unfamiliar sign for us

In the airport. This was an unfamiliar sign for us

We liked our Australian train trips.   We hope you travel by train there, too.

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