The Overland: Melbourne to Adelaide 828km

Melbourne Saturday 5th Nov 2016

Another early start leaving the apartment at 6.45 and a short walk to Southern Cross Station to check in my bag for the “Overland” train to Adelaide. According to Great Southern Rail the latest time for check-in is 0705 for an 0805 departure so had an hour to hang around the station. I booked the Red Premium Service which meant more spacious carriage but more importantly guaranteed me a window seat. It also ensured I was in the grey haired carriage but having grey hair myself I can hardly complain 

At 0805 the train started moving, very slowly along a rather bumpy track until we stopped half an hour later in an industrial suburb of Melbourne when it was announced that there was a “problem with the locomotive” which didn’t sound too good but 20 minutes later we were on our way. Breakfast of Egg Beggi, a quiche without the pastry, served at my seat along with a coffee for $8. Although there is a buffet car there are only a few stools in it so eating at my seat seemed the better, if less sociable, option. Soon we were running parallel with the road we took yesterday towards Geelong, through Werribee and North Shore Geelong finally before getting into open country of golden wheat fields and then flat grassland stretching to the horizon. The pastoral scenery didn’t change much apart from stopping at the small towns of Ararat and Horsham.

I chose the “Malaysian Chicken” and rice for lunch which wasn’t a great choice but Giorgio's red wine was quite good. 

Cricket

We stopped at Dimboola to changes drivers and entered South Australia at Bordertown just after 2 pm South Australia Time, which is ½ hour later than Victoria time. I can’t work out why anyone would have a ½ hour time change.

The scenery didn’t change much until after we reached Bakers Junction and crossed over the Murray River, which was much smaller than I had expected. Now we were winding through the wooded Adelaide Hills, much more as I imagined Australian "bush" to be. The bright afternoon sunshine helped.

Bridge across the Murray River

Scenery in the Adelaide Hills

We arrived in Adelaide Passenger Train Terminal at 1730 which is outside the city, and appears only to serve the Great Southern Long distance trains, the Overland, Indian Pacific and the Ghan. According to the train conductor it doesn't have any connections to the Adelaide metro or suburban lines and is a 45 minute hike into the city so, after collecting my bag, I got the shuttle bus for $5 to the Mercure & Ibis Hotels in North Terrace, which share the same building and reception. The Ibis rooms are along a long corridor and down a half flight of stairs. The room is compact but fine with all the usual conveniences.

Later went out for dinner at the rather upmarket Apothecary  Wine Bar at 118 Hindley Street,  an oasis of fine dining surrounded by fast food joints, bars and even a couple of strip  clubs. Being Saturday night, the bars were looking lively and Hindley Street was heaving with young people out to party.  I had the duck breast in the Apothecary which was excellent although rather pricey at $36. Had a glass of wine and then was tempted by the chocolate brownie so it proved a more expensive dinner than I had planned. 

Inside the Apothecary

Inside the Apothecary