ORIGINAL PLAN FOR THIS TRIP

DATE	TRANSPORT	FROM	TIME	TO	TIME	ACCOMMODATION	NIGHTS
Wed	59 Bus	Hat St	15:37	Woy Woy	16:44
Jun-05
	I.U.Train	Woy Woy	16:57	Gosford	17:06
	C'link Train	Gosford	17:29			Sleeper	1 night
Thurs				Brisbane	6:30
Jun-06
	Sunlander	Brisbane	13:25			Queenslander Class	1 night
Friday				Cairns	19:15	Il Centro	5 nights
Jun-07
Wed	Savannah	Cairns	6:30	Chillagoe	14:00+	Chillagoe Cabins	1 night
Jun-12	lander					Queen St 740947206
Thurs	Savannah	Almaden	8::00	Forsayth	17:45	Forsayth B & B	1 night
Jun-13	lander					Walk from station	40625470
Friday	Savannah	Forsayth	6:45?	Cobbold	7:45
Jun-14	lander
	Electricboat	Cobbold	7:45	Einasleigh	9:15
	S'lander	Einasleigh	12:15	MtSurprise	14:15	BedrockVill T Park	1 night
							40623193
Saturday	S'lander	MtSurprise	8:15	Cairns	18:30	Ryan's Rest	1 night
Jun-15
Sunday	Tilt Train	Cairns	9:15	Townsville	15:30	Classique B&B	4 nights
Jun-16
Thursday	Inlander	Townsville	12:40			Sleeper	1 night
Jun-20
Friday				Mount Isa	9:35	Aidan & Peta	12 nights
Jun-21
Wed	Greyhound	Mount Isa	6:50	Longreach	15:25	Abajaz Motor Inn	1 night
Jul-03	Bus
Thur	Spirit of the	Longreach	7.15			Sleeper	1 night
Jul-04	Outback
Friday				Brisbane	7:10
Jul-05
	C'link Train	Brisbane	7:30	Gosford	19:51	Daysitter
	I.U. Train	Gosford	20:13	Woy Woy	20:21	No ticket?
	Taxi	Woy Woy	20:30	Home	20:45
QUEENSL	ANDRAIL						1800627655

QUEENSLAND RAIL ITINERARY

Call 1800 627 655 for more information Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm Saturday: 9am - 1pm Sunday: Closed
Booking confirmation	Booking number: 50445
Dear Malcolm Colless, Your booking is now confirmed and the booking details are shown below.  Please review the information to ensure its accuracy. If you find a discrepancy, please contact us immediately on 61 1800627655. Once the booking is finalised your travel vouchers will be attached. Vouchers must be presented upon arrival at your destination. Failure to do this may result in service being declined upon arrival at your destination. A non-refundable deposit of AUD165.00 is required to secure your booking. Queensland Rail Travel strongly recommends travel insurance. Please ask your Travel Consultant for further information.We thank you for booking with Queensland Rail Travel and wish you a safe and pleasant journey. Sincerely, Clinton Kay Queensland Rail Travel For full terms & conditions please visit Queensland Rail Travel's official website - queenslandrailtravel.com.au.
Booking details
Booking number		Booking date	Payment due date
50445		February 13, 2013	April 15, 2013
Total Cost: $4734.74		Deposit Paid: $165.00	Balance Due: $4569.74
Itinerary details
Rail - The Sunlander - June 06, 2013 Train Name Train Option The Sunlander Queenslander Class Twin Sleeper - Brisbane to Cairns Service Date June 06, 2013 Departure Details Thu 06 Jun 13 1325 (1:25pm) Arrival Details Fri 07 Jun 13 1915(7:15pm) No. of Customers 2 Aust Senior Customer Names Malcolm Colless, Aust Senior, Lynette Colless, Aust Senior, Status Confirmed Total AUD1438.40 Customer Notes Packages - 4 Day Savannah Experience June 12, 2013 Package Name 4 Day Savannah Experience Package Option  ex Cairns Departure Date June 12, 2013 No. of Customers 2 Aust Senior Customer Names  Malcolm Colless, Aust Senior,  Lynette Colless, Aust Senior, Status Confirmed Total                                          AUD1660.84 (excluding the cost for Bedrock Village) Package Itinerary Important Information: Customers please note the below itinerary is our standard itinerary for the 4 Day Savannah Experience package. Any changes made to this itinerary will not be shown below, however correct details will be reflected in your travel vouchers. Highlights: - Travel onboard the Savannahlander. - Barron Gorge National Park. - Chillagoe, Cobbold Gorge, Undara Lava Tubes. Itinerary: Day 1 Wednesday: Cairns to Chillagoe Depart Cairns on the Savannahlander, travelling up through the Barron Gorge National Park and past Kuranda to remote Almaden. Spend the afternoon taking in a guided tour of Chillagoe and its attractions.  Overnight Chillagoe Cabins (D). Day 2 Thursday: Chillagoe to Forsayth Rejoin the Savannahlander and head for Forsayth. Enjoy a lunch break (own expense) at Mount Surprise before surveying the Copperfield Gorge and Delaney Range for plenty of great views and photo opportunities. Overnight Forsayth B & B (BD). Day 3 Friday: Cobbold Gorge to Undara After breakfast, experience a boat tour of Cobbold Gorge. Spend the afternoon exploring Undara Lava Tubes with a Savannah guide. Overnight Bedrock Village (BD). Day 4 Saturday: Undara to Cairns Enjoy a bush breakfast at Ringers Camp, then board the Savannahlander for the final leg back to Cairns. A lunch stop (own expense) at the Railway Hotel in Almaden lets you refresh and refuel to soak up the last remaining hours on the Savannahlander journey to Cairns.(B). Inclusions: - Travel onboard the Savannahlander from Cairns to Almaden. - One-way transfer from Almaden Railway Station to Chillagoe with Chillagoe Cabins. - Chillagoe Cave and Town Tour with Chillagoe Cabins. - 1 night in a Cabin at Chillagoe Cabins including dinner and breakfast. - One-way transfer from Chillagoe Cabins to Almaden Railway Station with Chillagoe Cabins. - Travel onboard the Savannahlander from Almaden to Forsayth. - 1 night at the Forsayth B & B including dinner and full breakfast. - Return transfer from Forsayth to Cobbold Gorge with Forsayth Tourist Park. - 1.5hr Cobbold Gorge Cruise. - Travel onboard the Savannahlander from Einsaleigh to Mount Surprise. - One-way transfer from Mount Surprise Railway Station to Bedrock Village. - 1 night at Bedrock Village including archway explorer tour, dinner and breakfast. - One-way transfer from Bedrock Village to Mount Surprise Railway Station. - Travel onboard the Savannahlander from Mount Surprise to Cairns. Hotels - Bedrock Village Tourist Park - June 14, 2013 Hotel Name Bedrock Village Tourist Park Hotel Address Garnet Street, Mount Surprise Queensland 4871 Australia Hotel Phone No. 617 4062 3193 Check-In Date June 14, 2013 Check-out Date June 15, 2013 Check-in Time 2:00pm Check-out Time 10:00am Room Details Rate Type Self Contained Cabin Dinner, Transfers, Breakfast and Tour No. of Customers 2 Aust Senior Customer Names  Malcolm Colless, Aust Senior,  Lynette Colless, Aust Senior, Status Confirmed Total AUD 335.00 Customer Notes Important Information Inclusions Valid for 01APR13-31MAR14: - Return transfers from Mount Surprise to Bedrock Village. - 2 course dinner. - Cooked breakfast. - Undara PM tour. Important Information for Undara Tour: - A moderate fitness level is required to participate in the tour. - Please advise any special dietry requirements at time of booking. What to Bring: - Closed in shoes/joggers. - A light jacket. - Any required medication. Rail - Cairns Tilt Train Southbound - June 16, 2013 Train Name Train Option Cairns Tilt Train Southbound Busines Seat - Cairns to Townsville Service Date June 16, 2013 Departure Details Sun 16 Jun 13 0915(9:15am) Arrival Details Sun 16 Jun 13 1515(3:15pm) No. of Customers 2 Aust Senior Customer Names Malcolm Colless, Aust Senior, Lynette Colless, Aust Senior, Status Confirmed Total AUD109.00 Customer Notes Rail - The Inlander Townsville to Mount Isa - June 20, 2013 Train Name Train Option The Inlander Townsville to Mount Isa Twin Sleeping Berth - Townsville to Mt Isa Service Date June 20, 2013 Departure Details Thu 20 Jun 13 1240(12:40pm) Arrival Details Fri 21 Jun 13 0935(9:35am) No. of Customers 2 Aust Senior Customer Names Malcolm Colless, Aust Senior, Lynette Colless, Aust Senior, Status Confirmed Total AUD473.50 Customer Notes Rail - Spirit of the Outback -Longreach to Brisbane - July 04, 2013 Train Name Train Option Spirit of the Outback -Longreach to Brisbane Twin Sleeping Berth - Longreach to Brisbane Service Date July 04, 2013 Departure Details Thu 04 Jul 13 0715(7:15am) Arrival Details Fri 05 Jul 13 0710(7:10am) No. of Customers 2 Aust Senior Customer Names Malcolm Colless, Aust Senior, Lynette Colless, Aust Senior, Status Confirmed Total AUD718.00 Customer Notes
Queensland Rail Travel • GPO Box 1429, Brisbane Queensland 4001 Tel: 1800 627 655 • Fax: +61 7 3235 5601 1 • Email: holidays@qr.com.au Queensland Rail Limited ABN 71 132 181 090 Travel Agent Lic. No. QLD 327 4957

FRIDAY JULY 5 ALMOST MADE IT

Our train finally arrived in Brisbane at 9:15am and the daylight XPT had left.  The Queensland train people had already transferred our booking onto the overnight XPT, which meant we needed to catch a Countrylink bus from Roma St at 3:10pm.

We put our luggage into a locker and headed for the South Bank again where we visited the State Library.  When we looked around we could only see people sitting in front of computers, so we asked at the desk where we might find a book to read.  The helpful man directed us to the third floor where we were able to find some actual magazines to read for an hour or so.

Next door was the Art Gallery.  The feature of the month was Quilts.

It contained some interesting fountains.

and statues.  This malevolent creature had no name.

We followed the crowd onto the second of two buses at 3pm and crawled along the motorway to the Gold Coast.

 It took us four and a half hours to get to Casino. It is supposed to take two and a half. The XPT left as soon as we boarded and delivered us to Gosford on schedule after an uncomfortable night sitting up in First Class near a man with uncontrolled sneezing attacks.  A nice lady took us home in her taxi from Woy Woy Station for $30.  We unpacked and went straight to bed for two hours then reinitiated ourselves to Killcare by walking the Bullimah Spur track.

We enjoyed our trip fully and commend the Queensland trains for their great service.

THURSDAY JULY 4 SPIRIT OF THE OUTBACK

Alarm went off with Tchaikovski's violin concerto at 5:20 am on Classic FM, which we have not tuned into for a long time. Walking in the dark to the Longreach Station, we sat and waited for the train doors to be opened.  Lyn is inventive with incognito photos.

We found our cosy cabin and settled in until the train left on time at 7:30.

On the way to Barcaldine we saw many kangaroos, emus, budgies and black kites as we passed grazing properties.

You need to zoom in to find the kangaroo.  At the little town of Jericho we admired a derelict Bakery and a roadside mural.

The service and the meals were just as good as the Sunlander Queensland class.

We have enjoyed this train very much and could easily do it again.  In the afternoon we passed a small lake with many water birds.

At Blackwater we saw why the track was being duplicated and upgraded.  Electric wires were installed towards Rockhampton and Gladstone to transport coal.

This is how they deliver wooden sleepers along the track, using container trucks.

As we leave Rockhampton at 9:47  we are about an hour behind schedule, so we are unlikely to arrive in Brisbane on time to catch our 7:30 XPT.  We are hoping it is running just as late.

WEDNESDAY JULY 3 GREYHOUND BUS

Out of bed at 5:30 and a quick breakfast with Peta and Oliver, who wanted to smell Lyn's hair.

Dropped off and farewelled by Peta at the bus station at 6:35.  It was still dark when the bus left but we enjoyed the dawn and sunrise as we passed through hilly desert country on the way to Conclurry. The red hills turned to gold as the sun hit them.

We stopped at Cloncurry for breakfast and Kynuna for morning tea.  The old house where we heard the story of Waltzing Matilda with Catherine and John in 1998 was still there but the storyteller has no doubt passed on.

Lunch was at the Coolibah Cafe in the Winton Waltzing Matilda Museum.  We had a beef and salad sandwich which was several inches high and beautifully decorated.  Up to the standard of Betty's in York.  the coffee was of high standard also.

Across the road was the swagman.

Next to our bus was an opal shop with much attractive jewellery.  The country around here is very flat with mainly spinifex, buffle grass and Mitchell grass.

The highway followed the train line through to Longreach,  but unfortunately no passenger trains come this far to Winton only a railway bus.  We alighted near the Information Office and obtained a map which showed us the Abajaz Motel, which we reached by following a concrete botanical trail.  Lyn remembered this trail from the last time we passed through here.  She explored it while the Shell mechanic adjusted our handbrake.  Along the way we were confronted with hundreds of corellas who were denuding the park trees.

We have a great motel room close to the station and shops.  A stroll around the town convinced us that this will be a better place for Aidan and Peta to live.  We just hope they can finish their house before they move out of Mount Isa.  It is a 6+ hour drive between the two towns.

We were very comfortable in the Mount Isa house and ever since we left home we have had excellent accommodation.  The Abajaz Motel is no exception.

Another early start tomorrow.  The Spirit of the Outback  is sitting at the station and we aim to be on board at 7am.

TUESDAY JULY 2 DEADLINE MET

This morning we were woken at 5:30 by Oliver, who decided it was now our job to let him out of jail.  Aidan was picked up by his team to go to Mornington Island for a couple of days, so we bade him farewell and got him to promise to wait for us at the end of the City to Surf.  He has wangled a personalised "HOBBS" race label, so will start from the front again.  They are still using his picture this year.

We installed a frame around the front door.

Then we sanded the front deck with 40 grade on a small belt sander.  We started at 7:30 today and finished at 6pm , completing the last jobs on the list.  We are very pleased with how the front of the house looks now.  They probably have less than a month now to do the other jobs that should be done before renting out the house.

This is Lyn putting the last coat of paint on the door frame before Peta came home.

There are giraffes everywhere in this house.  Did you notice one had climbed into our bedroom via the window?

Peta cooked us a slowcooked shank for dinner.  She has kept us superbly fed.  We must be at the Greyhound Bus at 6:30am tomorrow to travel to Longreach. 

MONDAY JULY 1 NEARLY THERE

Cool and windy again today, but quite pleasant to work.  Peta was picked up by friends to get to work and Aidan ran in with a backpack.

We had the use of the ute so we bought the makings for the back steps and some other things at Elliots and Bunnings.  We almost know our way around now.  Morning Tea was at McCafe which in this town is actually more pleasant than Gloria Jean's.

Malcolm installed the window surrounds that Lyn had painted and punched down the 600 nails in the front deck, getting it ready for sanding tomorrow.  Lyn was filling cracks, painting, shovelling dirt and cleaning all day.

Aidan went to a Men's Shed Barbecue organised by his church and Peta met friends at The Coffee Club for dinner.  We took the car to Red Rooster and bought a Wholesome Roast Chicken Meal.

We ate half of it at home, watched by Oliver the ginger cat, who has poor table manners and waits his chance to borrow food if you look the other way.  This morning he was chased up a tree in the neighbour's yard by Tiger (the striped ginger cat from up the street).  That was a signal for Tiger to come in the back door of Aidan's house and help herself to cat leftovers.  Oliver took a very long time to climb down, refusing all offers of help.

Molly the she-cat likes to sit on our bed.  This is her in the backyard.

Oliver shot through when a camera was pointed at him.