} Let us customize a dream holiday for you. All services have aServery orCafonboardfor customers to purchasemeals and refreshments. }, Features Movies, music, and audiobooks were on demand. Ask the airfare experts at GowayAir. I thought that it had been upgraded. } I am sure the passengers at the other end of the platform were all now awake. The Spirit of Queensland has a maximum speed of 160km/h and the entire trip takes 24 hours.. Contact Queensland Rail to find out how your travel plans can be accommodated. It arrives at 4:30 pm. It was a very bad crossing on a ship without stabilisers, with screaming banshees all night. selected = false;

Our FREE AUSTRALIA Travel Guide is a great resource for planning a trip to Australia! I took a Queensland Rail train form Brisbane to Maryborough and it was very affordable. For information on the site, please see the, Ride the historic railway to the hinterland, Sydney at its best: A self-guided tour of The Rocks, the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and points in between, Cycling around Uluru: the best way to experience Australias most recognizable natural landmark, https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Assistance-Animals.aspx, Whats the best use of Scotia Rewards? My wife and I have just returned from a trip Brisbane to Cairns and returned Proserpine to Brisbane. In this video I have covered every single aspect of this train, if you have any questions about Spirit of Queensland, I think you should be able to find out the answer after watching the whole video. Onboard Payment Options page. RailBed customers aboard Spirit of Queensland receive inclusive meals served directly to their seat. else { If youre travelling solo, reserve a seat in the single bed aisle at the time of booking. Amanda Woods travelled on Spirit of Queensland and the Sunlander as a guest of Queensland Rail, and stayed as a guest of the Brisbane Hilton. document.body.appendChild(script); (function(global) { I even spotted the odd kangaroo and wallaby, and lots of cockatoos. setFormClassName: function() { The lack of privacy was unpleasant and with the exception of one shower room, the bathroom facilities were very cramped with wet floors. Another route through the Outback, this time going from Brisbane to Charleville, taking in the picturesque scenery of the. } var name = this.form.className; Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation. As I came back from the bathrooms feeling all comfy I noticed some people had the same idea as me while others planned to sleep in their clothes. Delicious meals were served making this a stress free way to travel. Shoes with a decent tread will keep you upright when moving throughout the train. Apparently the galley crew don`t understand how to heat food. I did this trip recently and I loved it to bits, except for one thing and I'll get to that. The menu brings a paddock to plate experience with meals prepared using the freshest Queensland produce. } The service and the food was very delicious not a leftover to be seen at each meal. var _this = this; A 24-hour journey from Brisbane to Cairns on the Spirit of Queensland train will set you back by, that many tourists miss out on. Here in Australia Ive gone north to south on the Ghan and east to west on the Indian Pacific, travelled out to Longreach on Queenslands Spirit of the Outback outback and was able to experience The Sunlander train before she became an Australian travel memory. And Im with you and definitely want to do it again someday. if (!Mimi.Signups) Mimi.Signups = {};

The main lights were turned off at 21:30, but each pod had individual reading lights. I was told that I had to repack it. . The spinach & feta quick was definitely our favourite! Any other drinks and snacks can be purchased from the club car, which is where premium economy passengers buy their meals. Copyright 2022 Adventures All Around | Website by Liveby5. this.form.className = this.setFormClassName(); How much were you paid for this review? Railbed Car - Spirit of Queensland. },

this.submit.value = this.submit.getAttribute('data-submitting-text'); }, isnt the only one departing from Queensland there are a number of other routes taking you to the far-flung corners of the state! this.updateSubmitButtonText(this.submit.getAttribute('data-thanks')); Its still all fresh Queensland produce but its mostly been prepped on land before its finished on board. if (type === 'text_field') { var fields = this.form.querySelectorAll(".mimi_field.required"), It provides two new travel options for customers: State-of-the-art personal entertainment systems featuring a large screen with on-demand movies, music and audiobooks. We found out that while the menu was different in the Gallery Car, where Economy customers ate on their journey, everything served on the Spirit of Queensland Train was fresh with a paddock to plate focus. For $389?. Cairns is an excellent base and launching point for exploring Far North Queensland. I wasnt paid anything for the review, and clearly we had very different experiences. Not unlike first class in a plane but more spacious. You can easily plan your trip with the full Spirit of Queensland timetable. You can spend a few days just exploring Airlie Beach with its palm-fringed beaches, bars and restaurants before going island hopping or sailing around the 74 islands of the Whitsundays. The Spirit of Queensland train journey is a 1681 kilometre route taking about 24-25 hours from Brisbane to Cairns. return 'text_field'; At the start of 2015, it replaced the diesel-hauled train The Sunlander . For us, trains offer the best alternative to flying. more. Your email address will not be published. Yes. On the plus side the staff and meals were excellent. if (input.value) { Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. Orders were taken in advance of the meal.

dropdownValidation: function(field, input) { window[this.callbackName] = function(response) { } Hi Amanda, could you tell me what items are included in amenities bag on Spirit of Queensland please. , or one of the many wildlife and nature experiences just outside of the city. Looking for an airfare only? It took longer to get from Cairns to Townsville than it did fifteen years ago. The new Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options with the romance of long distance rail travel. At busy times, it was possible to buy a drink and take it back to the comfort of your seat. var elements = this.form.elements; By day the RailBeds are large seats that can recline 35 degrees and have a footrest that can be used as a seat if youre travelling with someone who wants to come and have a chat. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Cost: A$0 (2 Passengers) Not Available. Dear TDK1962,Many thanks for your kind review. The fold-down seat had a pocket for reading material and assorted items. But Ive never travelled on a train like this anywhere else in the world. Passengers were invited to take the blanket and cushion with them at the end of the journey. Cost: A$0 (2 Passengers) . If you are thinking of going from Brisbane to Cairns, fly there! While the cold option included a choice of cereal with greek yogurt, berry compote and a freshly baked pastry. if (instance.wrapperEl === dropdownEl) { Did it represent good value? var dropdowns = field.querySelectorAll('.mimi_html_dropdown'); if (response.success) { Check out the Queensland Rail site for options. var input = inputs[i]; if (input.id === 'signup_email') return;

Travelling between Brisbane and Cairns five times a week, the Spirit of Queensland redefines the modern rail travel experience with a comfortable and convenient way to access spectacular holiday destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays, Townsville and Cairns and everywhere in between. What was missing from the RailBed experience? 2 Days / 1 Night aboard the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns in a lie-flat RailBed with lunch and dinner. } The ones in the amenities kit are cheap and flimsy. So really the choice is up to you, and whatever you feel comfortable doing. We are storytellers, photographers, and videographers traveling the world full-time in search of outdoor adventures, wildlife encounters, cultural experiences and ways to make a positive impact on the destinations and communities we visit. RailBeds - There are 2 accessible RailBeds, however, there is no provision to park a non-collapsible wheelchair. Its beautiful out there, and I feel lucky to be seeing this part of Queensland in a completely new way. The journey to Kuranda passes by. } Any other drinks and snacks can be purchased from the club car, which is where premium economy passengers buy their meals. this.isValid = false; disableForm: function() { this.dropdownValidation(field, input); this.formSubmitting(); Before leaving home Id already decided I was going the PJs route and had packed my Singapore Airlines sleep suit. Stay up to date with the latest travel info and destination deals! The one in front pulls while the one at the rear pushes. This feedback has been passed on to the relevant area for review.We understand your frustration RE luggage limits, however these have been implemented with the safety of our staff in mind, as well as being in line with the luggage limits of our interstate neighboring rail operators. } Which is why an eye mask and earplugs are a good thing to have in your bag so you can do that plane-like sleep (as hard as its getting to remember what thats like!). } else { A selection of hot cooked dishes, ranging from traditional roasts, pastas, beef, chicken, vegetarian and gluten free meals as well as fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps are available from our onboard kitchen. I hope you get to enjoy the train and sleep easily. Planning your next trip? },

Hot breakfast in RailBed Class on the Spirit of Queensland train Lunch was a 2-course meal served at around midday. We got to sample the delicious all-inclusive railbed menu and were really impressed by its quality.

if (!Mimi) var Mimi = {}; The RailBed ticket for the Spirit of Queensland train includes all-inclusive meals which are served directly to your seat. The Spirit of Queensland train is quite possibly, But the best thing is, that you can really take your time and make a few pit stops along the way, the. } The whole thing rattled and vibrated constantly, and lurched from side to side, so that sleep was virtually impossible. this.submit.className = 'disabled'; The Spirit of Queensland runs between Cairns and Brisbane five times a week. if (name.indexOf('mimi_invalid') === -1) { What is the food like in the Railbed section? Copyright 2022 Adventures All Around |, London to Paris in Eurostar e320 business class style, Travel to Machu Picchu in style on Belmonds Hiram Bingham train, Read: 20 incredible Queensland holiday homes and Airbnbs, Read: Farm stay fun in Guyra, New Englands highest town. While you cant feel the speed of a plane once youre up in the air, you can feel the speed of a train. Further north were cattle stations, wetlands, sugar cane fields, and mango and banana plantations. } else { this.isValid = false; You can take the Spirit of Queensland train to Proserpine and then take a RailBus Connection to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. There are windows throughout the carriage so youll be able to see that view. The Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options with the charm of long-distance rail travel. On the Brisbane to Cairns route, the views were interesting and varied. My partner and I chose to do Brisbane to Cairns on the Spirit of Queensland. to Townsville. },

You also get an amenities pack which included all organic products. Website: www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au. However, with daylight, it was more interesting to enjoy the constantly changing coastal Queensland landscape. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. if (this.fieldType(fields[i]) === 'text_field') { }, But, theres also the train thing. The Spirit of Queensland. } We got to sample both the spinach and feta quiche served with a fresh garden salad and the lemon chicken with rice pilaf and seasonal vegetables. }, the only improvement seems to be more leg room and a bigger toilet/shower room. With a high ticket price, many would wonder, is the journey on the train really worth it? One of the advantages of train travel is that travelling between city centres is usually more convenient and less costly than getting to and from airports. updateFormAfterValidation: function() { input.placeholder = ''; onSubmitSuccess: function(result) { The USB ports are useless for charging so I plug mine into the power point beside the bed. It had been over fifteen years since I travelled from Brisbane to Cairns on this service. } A heavy label was attached and I was then told that I could have taken it on board myself. },

if (document.addEventListener) { Unlike the Sunlander where meals are all freshly prepared in the kitchen, here theyre more airline food style. In my opinion the Rail Beds are a dismal failure. Categories. } else if(result.single_opt_in || !result.confirmation_html) { if (typeof Widget === 'undefined' || !Widget.BasicDropdown) return; } When it comes time to get ready for bed, the staff leaps into action, bringing out the hydraulics to flip the seat over to reveal a mattress. For dessert, I had the tiramisu cake.

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for (var i = 0; i < inputs.length; ++i) { We are always striving to improve the customer experience and it is always fantastic to hear from people like yourself who thoroughly enjoy their trip with us. for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; ++i) { Planning to get the train from Brisbane? It was really good value considering it is overnight accommodation, travel and three hearty meals! (Fully Paid For so why Try Putting someone else or reselling . return name += ' mimi_invalid';

fieldAndListValidation: function() { (this.form.querySelectorAll('fieldset')[0] || this.form).innerHTML = html; RAILBED Spacious reclinable seat Seat converts to a lie-flat bed at night All-inclusive in-seat dining experience including two course meals with complimentary beverage Linen, pillow, towel and amenities pack provided On-demand entertainment Tray table, reading light, drink holder, footrest and 240-volt power point There's a locomotive at each end. if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) field.className += ' invalid'; The ride was quiet and smooth, and conversation was possible at a normal volume. Next. this.isValid = false; We never got bored looking at the stunning scenery outside of our windows, but when it got dark, and we had to amuse ourselves before getting some shut-eye, the entertainment options on board the Spirit of Queensland were plentiful. var inputs = fields[i].getElementsByTagName('input'); The Service fell down at the Dinner Service ex Townsville, Good food spoilt by over heating. Well, one of my things. formUrl: function(format) { I'm Anne, a dedicated carry-on traveller. fields[i].style['display'] = 'none'; A perfect day trip from Cairns to Kuranda by historic train and rainforest cable car, For a perfect day in Outback Australia, visit Alice Springs Desert Park. On 10 September 2021, I finally boarded this train once more and experienced Railbed Sleeper from Cairns to Brisbane. }, },

for (var i = 0; i < elements.length; ++i) { Toilet seats have become loose and generally a good refurbishment program would work wonders. text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-default-text'); } else { All seats come with a 240 volt AC power outlet so depending on your machine you should be just fine, but do let them know when you book your ticket. You can spend a few days just exploring Airlie Beach with its palm-fringed beaches, bars and restaurants before going island hopping or, sailing around the 74 islands of the Whitsundays, Not only is Cairns a hub of vibrant city life full of great cafs, markets, art galleries, and nearby beaches, but its also. All Railbeds face the direction of travel and can not be reversed. In the evening the onboard team convert the seat to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided.