From Cook to the Barossa Valley on the Indian Pacific
Eating as the World Goes By
Traveling overnight, the Indian Pacific
exits the Nullabor Plain and journeys to greener vistas. In
the morning the train passes through the Flinders Rangers and
Spencer's Gulf, finally arriving at the Adelaide Plains. As
shown in the photo to the left, the train passed massive salt
flats before entering the Barossa Valley. Meanwhile, on board
breakfast began with fresh juice and a starter of cereal or
Wild Berry and Chia seed Parfait. The main course offered full
breakfast, Shakshuka Style Breakfast or a Granola Bowl, along
with Artisan Toast. The lunch menu offerings were a
ploughman's plate, a buffalo and sweet potato massaman Curry,
or a haloumi and roasted vegetable salad, with either banoffee
pie or apple and chai spice algette. You can see the
particulars of each item in the box below.
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
By
mid-afternoon the train pulls into Two Wells.
Two Wells,
Our Gateway to the Barossa Valley The Indian Pacific stops at
the Two Wells station, so named for the two natural wells
that served as vital water sources for both the indigenous
people as well as the early settlers. Here guests exit the
train to take a coach ride through the Barossa Valley on the
way to Seppeltsfield Winery. For those interested in the
history of Two Wells, the video below provioverviewdes a
brief of the town.
A Brief History of Indian Wells
Barossa Valley
Nestled
in South Australia, the Barossa Valley is a picturesque region
renowned for its rolling vineyards, world-class wineries, and
rich cultural heritage. Its landscape is a captivating blend of
golden hills, lush rows of grapevines, and clusters of quaint,
historic towns that reflect a strong German heritage dating back
to the 19th century. The valley's warm Mediterranean climate and
fertile soil make it ideal for producing robust, full-bodied
wines, particularly Shiraz, for which the area is globally
famous. Visitors are often drawn to its charming cellar doors,
where they can sample wines crafted by generations-old family
estates alongside innovative, modern producers. Beyond wine, the
Barossa offers gourmet food experiences, artisan cheese,
handcrafted goods, and a thriving local market culture, all set
against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty that changes with
the seasons.
Seppeltsfield Winery In the afternoon we boarded a bus to take
us to the Seppeltsfield Winery. Walking through the trellis
and desending a terrace, we entered the winery. Descending
another set of stairs from the main sales area, we were taken
through a gallery explaining the history of Seppeltsfield
Wines. The tour ended at a small tasting room where we sampled
bubbles and delicious smoked popcorn. We then adjourned to
long tables in an adjacent room to taste several wines paired
with food, along with notes from the tour guide. From there it
was upstairs to a large storeroom that contained barrels of
their signature Tawny Port from every year from 1878 onwards.
As an added treat, we were all given the opportunity to sample
a 100 year-old Tawny Port. Below is a short video of the
historical gallery at Seppeltsfield.
Seppeltsfield Historic
Gallery
[Note:
to truly experience the grandeur of the winery, we suggest
you take the virtual tour of the winery, offered below]
The Wine Dinner Having
sampled some of the Seppeltsfield wines, it was time to move
to a large venue west of the main commercial area, to a large
venue building where we were to enjoy dinner. Live music
was provided, along with an exhibit of the burning in a
barrel. The meal began with artisan bread and truffle butter,
while the three mains (eye fillet feef, chicken breast with
basil pesto, and roasted beetroot and crispy chicken skin)
came on shared platter. A green salad was also provided. The
wines included a 2025 Barossa Vermentine (white) and a 2022
Barossa Shiraz and a Para Grand Tawny. The food, the wine and
the entertainment made for a memorable evening. We also struck
up a conversation at our table with two Frenchmen, brothers,
who were on the tour as well. Tired but thoroughly sated, we
made our way back to the train
Seppeltsfield Wine Dinner
Menu
Seppeltsfield Venue
Roving Musician
Our French Friend
Video Clip of Wine Dinner and the Burning of the Barrel
There is a virtual tour of the
Seppeltsfield Winery. Click on this link. Tour
will open in a new browser window
Traveling overnight, the Indian Pacific
exits the Nullabor Plain and journeys to greener vistas. In
the morning the train passes through the Flinders Rangers and
Spencer's Gulf, finally arriving at the Adelaide Plains. As
shown in the photo to the left, the train passed massive salt
flats before entering the Barossa Valley. Meanwhile, on board
breakfast began with fresh juice and a starter of cereal or
Wild Berry and Chia seed Parfait. The main course offered full
breakfast, Shakshuka Style Breakfast or a Granola Bowl, along
with Artisan Toast. The lunch menu offerings were a
ploughman's plate, a buffalo and sweet potato massaman Curry,
or a haloumi and roasted vegetable salad, with either banoffee
pie or apple and chai spice algette. You can see the
particulars of each item in the box below.
Nestled
in South Australia, the Barossa Valley is a picturesque region
renowned for its rolling vineyards, world-class wineries, and
rich cultural heritage. Its landscape is a captivating blend of
golden hills, lush rows of grapevines, and clusters of quaint,
historic towns that reflect a strong German heritage dating back
to the 19th century. The valley's warm Mediterranean climate and
fertile soil make it ideal for producing robust, full-bodied
wines, particularly Shiraz, for which the area is globally
famous. Visitors are often drawn to its charming cellar doors,
where they can sample wines crafted by generations-old family
estates alongside innovative, modern producers. Beyond wine, the
Barossa offers gourmet food experiences, artisan cheese,
handcrafted goods, and a thriving local market culture, all set
against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty that changes with
the seasons.
