Departing Perth and Overnight to Nullabor Plain
Pre-Boarding Activies
Saying goodbye to our
friends in Perth, we were picked up by the Indian Pacific
sponsored town car mid-afteroon and driven to the Perth
Railway Station. When we arrived we were greeted by the
train staff and our luggage was taken for storage. In our
case we checked a large Monos bag and two carry-ons for
storage for the remainder of the trip, and specified a
medium size Monos bag as our shared cabin luggage. From
there we were directed to a section of the platform that
was cordoned off for Indian Pacific passengers.
There was beer, wine, and nibbles on offer. In addition,
live music from several musicians was provided, as well as
the opportunity to get acquainted with species native to
Australia, in this case a koala bear and a rather large
snake. As the music concluded we were introduced to our
cabin crew in preparation for boarding the train and
journeying through the night to the Nullabor Plain.Pre-Boarding Activities
Exploring the Indian Pacific
Once aboard
the train we were escorted down the hallway of the car to
our cabin. The Platinum cabin had two seats, and offered
views from both side of the train. As we pulled out of
Perth heading to the Nullabor, we sampled the sparkling
wine and enjoyed the scenery. As afternoon gave way to
evening, it was time to enjoy our first on-board meal. We
walked ahead two cars to the Lounge/Dining Car. Our first
meal was communal, with all the tables place together to
allow us to meet our fellow travelers. The chef came out
and explained the ideas behind the menus we were to enjoy
for the next five days.Listening to the Chef
Our first meal featured
three starters (mushroom, bruschetta, eggplant) paired
with Bollinger Champagne, 3 main courses (lamb shank,
Duck Confit, Canneloni) paired with a Souvignon Blanc
and a choice of two desserts (date and almond tart,
chocolate mousse) as well as a cheese offering. These
were paired with a Barossa Tawny Port or a Muscat for
the cheese plate. . All delicious, and all expertly
prepared. We chose the Lamb Shank and the Spinach and
Ricotta Cannelloni. The menu is shown to the left and
the Lamb and Cannelloni plates are shown below. The meal
set the tone for subsequent culinary adventures |
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Following the meal we
returned to the cabin to find the room made into a comfy
double bedWant to Explore the Indian Pacific Train Further?
There is a virtual
tour of the Indian Pacific train. Follow
this link--tour opens in a new browser window
