Was it the best night's sleep ever? Not really but so much better than our China train experience. And the luxury of the sunrise from our own viewing windows was worth it. And to be honest, there was another bunk above the 3/4 bed, but I had rejected that one out of hand just to have the fun of making the one bed option work. It was a little bit funny at 2.30 when I had to clamber over Mac for the nightly toilet run, but with a bit of a giggle and a stretch i...

No need for the hurry up this morning, it was full steam ahead to the foyer ready for the pickup for the train ride. The 20 minute bus ride took us out through the suburbs to Berrimah to be greeted by 38 carriages of The Ghan stretching along the platform for 980 metres. Yep, that was nearly 1 km of train! And we thought we had hit the jackpot when we we were given carriage A, only to find it was at the end of the train. The hike, in the heat, carrying the luggag...

On the road again, actually on the "same" road again, but this time in a smaller 21 seater AATKings coach. A very intimate little squeeze to get us out to Litchfield National Park via Northern Territory's tidiest town in 1999, Batchelor. (It does make you wonder who has been the winner for the last 16 years.)Our coach captain today was Cameron and he looked 12 (with a beard) but says he finished high school 8 years ago and is a born and bred local who grew ...

Yeah, we did it. The alarm went off at exactly the right time this morning. Joined the mob in Galloping Jacks for breakfast...our first formal one of the trip (we have been sticking to an apple and juice.)Not sure if we are water nymphs or water rats but it was back to the 'cruise' again this morning. This time in the impressive Nitmiluk National Park and Katherine Gorge.Katherine is the fourth largest town in the Northern Territory and is often referred...

Another classic day at the top end. We are big fans of Kakadu. Saw it yesterday from the air and today we joined a cruise of the Alligator River to get up close and personal with the wetlands before heading off to Katherine. Not a bad pair of book ends to celebrate Mother's Day.It was a 7.45 muster at the bus and agedMac had trouble with the time again and we only just made it by the skin of our teeth. But make it we did and our 17 fellow travellers were seat...