Woke up at 0800, slept like a log. Out at 0945 to get to the train station, stopping for a coffee and a terrible croissant from Muffin Break.
Got to the station, a big queue because for some reason they don’t allow payment online in advance although you can book. We had paid for Gold Class on the way up which meant comfy seats and a small plate of food. We were coming back Heritage class because the later train didn’t have Gold. Heritage class was wooden bench seats so Song decided to buy a cushion for the way back because the trip was 2 hours.
The train was due to leave at 0930 but there were late comers as usual and they were subjected to the Andy Horne stare of disapproval. Eventually left at 0940.
Weather was fantastic, blue skies and about 25C although a bit humid. The train didn’t have air conditioning (might have spoilt the historical aspect) but there was a refreshing breeze with the windows open. Song said the train must be over 100 years old – now that I’ve hit 60 that’s not particularly impressive. Stopped to pick up more people and the food staff and the carriage filled up.
Lots of views over the canyon and across valleys, past a couple of waterfalls including one where we stopped for 10 minutes to take photos. This was the third time I’ve been on this train; once with a mate when I first came to Australia in 1993, once in 2012 when I came to see a total eclipse and now. I’d also done the cable car three times, and this was my 4th time in Karunda. Unless I get married again it will probably be my last.
Decided it was a bit early for a beer so opted for a soft drink to go with the savoury muffin, Anzac biscuit and some other nibble.
Got off the train and wandered into the village, it was very busy. Lots of tourists and souvenir shops, cafes and art galleries. Found a cafe but were told it was a 40 minute wait for food so went to a German sausage place and had one each. We had to wait a while and were subjected to a speaker blasting out 80s disco tunes – actually German 80s disco tunes which was worse. Food was ok, we didn’t feel like much. Wandered along and grabbed a coffee then walked to pick up the bus to take us to the rainforest tour.
The tour was in an ex army amphibious truck from 1944 which was the slowest vehicle I’ve ever been in, but the idea wasn’t to speed through. The tour guide was the typical lame joke cracking one (life jackets are $5 today ha ha) but it’s what you expect. The tour was good, saw some dangerous plants, a bird, a couple of lizards and a turtle. It sounds dull but was good, relaxing and the weather great. There was an American teenager sat next to me who spent most of the tour on her phone looking at instagram. Luckily Song wasn’t sick as the truck entered the lake. Got on the bus back to the station and then on the train back to the hotel. Decided to upgrade to Gold Class on the way back as well because the other seats were too hard and the carriages very busy. It also meant I could have a beer after all my hard work. In fact, I had two and we were served a cheese platter and a dip plus mango sorbet.
Crashed at the hotel for about 30 minutes before heading out for dinner at a seafood restaurant (for a change) just a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Feeling a bit full from the train food, I decided to just have an entree of clam and bacon chowder and share the seafood plate with Song, and also skip the beer.