By Caz Parker
‘An itinerary without train travel is very lacklustre,’ says Tim Fischer (former deputy prime minister), who returned to Byron this week to speak at the Byron Writers Festival. Describing his last trip to Byron he says, ‘I loved the beaches and hinterland but was very sad to see the rusty train tracks. I’m glad to hear light rail is coming to Byron.’
Mr Fischer is a prolific author whose works include Transcontinental Train Odyssey. The Ghan. The Khyber. The Globe and Trains Unlimited, in the 21st Century. He says, ‘You can enjoy the relaxation of train travel on every continent in the world’.
‘I really urge people… don’t stay in Venice [Italy]! It’s expensive, and you can’t roll your trolley bags on the cobblestones. It’s far better to stay in nearby Padova, thirty minutes away by fast train, and commute to Venice. You’ll save an extra $1,000 on accommodation to spend on shopping. Scott McGregor (of Railway Adventures) and I proved this two months ago and it works an absolute treat.’
He recommends the European Alps for dramatic scenery: ‘You can catch a train right up to the base of the Matterhorn and just be in awe. Train travel is the best of the best, to indulge and relax.’
For train-travel dining, he describes the majestic palace Le Train Bleu Restaurant, in the heart of Gare De Lyon train station in Paris, as ‘the best train restaurant in the world’.
Mr Fischer, who is also the former chair of Tourism Australia, shared some of his recommendations of closer-to-home destinations: the towering sandstone cliffs of Carnarvon Gorge, Queensland; Bright in Victoria, and the scenic Great Alpine Road to Mount Hotham; Deloraine, Tasmania, complete with cheeses; Port Augusta, South Australia, and the historic Pichi Richi Railway; Albany, Western Australia, with its National Anzac Centre and beautiful harbour.
‘The southbound Ghan Expedition is as good as an experience as anywhere is in the world,’ he says. The four-day epic train journey travels through remote Australia, from Darwin to Adelaide, with whistle stops at Katherine Gorge, Alice Springs and opal-mining capital Coober Pedy. It is complete with private cabins and luxury dining, and Mr Fischer is adamant the Ghan experience is a trip of a lifetime.
And his favourite NSW destination? Trainless though it may be at present – Cape Byron.
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