The couple behind me also suffered the same screaming about being overweight. submitButtonText: function() { . 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. Your email address will not be published. At busy times, it was possible to buy a drink and take it back to the comfort of your seat. The Spirit of Queensland is proud to offer an Australian first, the revolutionary RailBed. This trip was not! 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. I suspect Queensland Rail assigns single bookings in this way but I wouldnt count on it. You can easily plan your trip with the full Spirit of Queensland timetable. The journey to Kuranda passes by. } else { I may have grown up on a farm where kangaroos were commonplace but the sight puts a big smile on my face. See queenslandrailtravel.com.au See also: The world's greatest train journeys See also: What it's really like on Australia's greatest train journey Tim Richards Apr 4 2019 Traveller Book as early as possible to take advantage of saver fares and seat selection. this.removeTextFieldError(email); However, with daylight, it was more interesting to enjoy the constantly changing coastal Queensland landscape. One of Australias best travel blogs, Adventures All Around has a sense of fun and a love for life, with a little luxury along the way. Stroll along the Cairns Esplanade or visit the unique Daintree Rainforest. selected = true; this.textFieldError(email); How much were you paid for this review? On the Brisbane to Cairns route, the views were interesting and varied. I travelled from Roma St to Ayr and return on the Spirit of Queensland 'Rail Bed'. 5 Nights at 4-star Rydges Cairns Esplanade Resort with breakfast daily and welcome drink. Shoes with a decent tread will keep you upright when moving throughout the train. this.callbackName = 'jsonp_callback_' + Math.round(100000 * Math.random()); The lack of privacy was unpleasant and with the exception of one shower room, the bathroom facilities were very cramped with wet floors. if (this.isValid) { Im glad you enjoyed your Spirit of Queensland adventure as much as I did. Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation. It was really good value considering it is overnight accommodation, travel and three hearty meals! Check out the Queensland Rail site for options. and were really impressed by its quality. window.attachEvent('onload', function() { In the evening the onboard team convert the seat to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided. Select a Region you are interested in travelling to. this.submit.className = 'disabled'; On the south-to-north service, the stop in Tully was long enough for passengers to stretch their legs on the platform. Apparently the galley crew don`t understand how to heat food. nice way to travel along the coast of Queensland, relax read a book enjoy a movie, have a coffee, eat a meal enjoy the view. running along the North Coast between Brisbane and Cairns. You can catch the Brisbane to Cairns train five times a week and have the option of booking RailBed or Premium Economy seats. There are little things like bends and track conditions to take into consideration, and of course slowing to come into towns and stopping to let passengers on and off. }, this.emailValidation();

fieldAndListValidation: function() { On the plus side the staff and meals were excellent. } else { 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 bed and bedding were very comfortable. Passengers were invited to take the blanket and cushion with them at the end of the journey. }, Great train journey from Brisbane to Cairns. I must admit they were pushing it, their case was 200 grams over. Not unlike first class in a plane but more spacious. this.isValid = false; Welcome to Packing Light Travel. My bag weighted 20.1kg, 100 grams over weight. The overhead bin was large enough for my carry-on travel bag. This route is slightly less traveled but is by no means less impressive as it crosses the rugged terrain of North Queensland, past Charters Towers, through the Great Dividing Range and into the heart of Queensland. }, The Spirit of Queensland is a Queensland Rail long distance passenger rail service. Club Car - The licensed Club Car allowing guests to purchase light refreshments, confectionery and beverages throughout the journey. 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. Not only is Cairns a hub of vibrant city life full of great cafs, markets, art galleries, and nearby beaches, but its also a jumping off point to many other popular tourist destinations. Hi Joan thats right there in the story complete with a picture! It was a very bad crossing on a ship without stabilisers, with screaming banshees all night. The RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system and 240v powerpoint. One of the best things about travelling on the Spirit of Queensland train is the fact that it opens up so many more travel and sightseeing possibilities than flying ever could. Dear TDK1962,Many thanks for your kind review. There was a good selection of movies, tv shows, kids programmes or music channels available in the in-seat entertainment. }, fields[i].style['display'] = 'none'; But its pretty much just like being in business class on a plane where people may still be walking past and the little bit of light from the galley gets seen through the curtain. The one in front pulls while the one at the rear pushes. The main stops en route between Brisbane and Cairns are Maryborough (where you can get a connecting . The Spirit of Queensland is proud to offer an Australian first, the revolutionary RailBed. } The Sirromet Vineyard Selection Shiraz came from Queenslands Granite Belt. } The three premium economy cars have adjustable leather lounger seats in a 2 2 configuration. I was told that I had to repack it. var inputs = fields[i].getElementsByTagName('input'); The menu brings a paddock to plate experience with meals prepared using the freshest Queensland produce. Staff made them up, and returned the beds to seats, on demand. A fast moving slumber party. this.form.className = this.setFormClassName(); The Spirit of Queenslands RailBed experience was one of the most relaxing journeys Ive ever had. var inputs = field.getElementsByTagName('input'); Fraser Island is known for being a unique nature destination with miles of beach, 100 freshwater lakes and over 30 walking tracks. It has everything you need, from beds, showers, galley car, all-inclusive dining option, in-seat entertainment and much more! Please advise us if you require meals to be delivered to your seat at the time of booking and confirm these requirements with onboard staff when you join the service. I had seen a couple of tv shows about this new train, so I decided to travel from Cairns to Townsville in the so call premium economy. this.formSubmitting(); elements[i].disabled = true; We loved the experience, a few things could do with improvement such as the hot breakfast and it was a bit difficult to sleep in the railbed with the train movement and space station sounding like doors between carriages. Glad the story helped with your travel dreaming and planning . Our toolkit is a great place to get started. What is the food like in the Railbed section? }, When travelling in Australia, I use British Airways Avios points to fly on Qantas, one of British Airways oneworld airline partners. Enjoy the trip! 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. A complimentary wine, beer, or juice is served with lunch and dinner. Hot breakfast consisted of a three cheese omelette served with pork chipolata, bacon and tomato wedge (there was also a vegetarian option available). this.isValid = true; var input = this; input.className = 'required'; No other words are needed.

emailValidation: function() { For the three-course evening meal, the appetizer was a Caprese salad of Mozzarella pearls, tomatoes, and sweet basil seasoned with salt and olive oil. this.onSelectCallback(input); I enjoy train travel far more than flying but my overnight experiences were sadly not my favourites, even in a sleeper car, but this one looks pretty nice. Dear stevecau,It is wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your experience on board the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns recently. The magazine for world travellers. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Instead, you flew from Sydney to Brisbane for $22 and from there took the train to Cairns for $389? We're looking forward to more trips with Queensland Rail. I am sure the passengers at the other end of the platform were all now awake. Showers & Toilets - Showers and toilets are located at the end of all passenger carriages. I did removed one article and my case now weighted 18kgs. } I travelled from Roma St to Ayr and return on the Spirit of Queensland 'Rail Bed'. else { We traveled from Brisbane to Cairns in RailBed seats and were impressed with the comfort and service level in RailBed Class. BC Reg. A FREE travel quote! Hi Joanna, Youll need to ask Queensland rail about that one in the lead up to your trip as the advice on this one could change. textFieldError: function(input) { })(this); We spent many years living and traveling around Australia exploring the country in-depth! is definitely worth a stop along your Spirit of Queensland journey. this.submit.disabled = !this.isValid; It was more expensive than flying but an attractive option, all things considered. For a change of scenery, the Club Car offered an opportunity to mingle with other passengers over conversation and drinks. if (type === 'text_field') { Two of them, dinner and lunch, included a complimentary soft drink, juice, water, beer, or wine. if (this.isValid || !invalidFields) { text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-default-text'); We look forward to seeing you again onboard someday.Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel. My young friend shook her head in disbelief at the absurdity of my travel choices. Most rows have three seats, with two on one side and another on the other side of the aisle, so if youre travelling solo as I was you may want to request the single bed aisle when you book rather than the double if youd prefer not to sleep next to a stranger. Sign up for my weekly newsletter: travel tips, inspiration and a chuckle or two. },

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, 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, Noosa is one of the most popular holiday destinations in all of Queensland and is home to the most visited National Park in the country. What a cool way to slow travel and see more of a country. Your feedback on the noise within the sleeping carriage has been relayed back to our Onboard Customer Service Team for monitoring. The train makes the 1681km journey five times per week. The RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system and 240v powerpoint. I travelled in the RailBed from Cairns to Brisbane and the whole experience was exceptional - I enjoyed every second of it. Thanks for sharing Nicki. 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. The seven carriages in between include two RailBed sleeper cars with airline style seats that convert to lie-flat beds. Dear Talknsmile,It is always great to hear about another happy customer onboard our trains. 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!). After all, there are lots of great stops and things to do between Brisbane and Cairns. For $389?. } The spinach & feta quick was definitely our favourite! . Never again!.. Ride the historic railway to the hinterland or take a tour out to the Great Barrier Reef. The other point is, although lights are dimmed or turned off at night, you still have people walking in and out of the carriage so you still bright light shining from each end of the compartment. } _this.onFormSubmit(e); It had been over fifteen years since I travelled from Brisbane to Cairns on this service. If I had known about the collection procedure at Townsville station, I would have done this. Our FREE AUSTRALIA Travel Guide is a great resource for planning a trip to Australia! } You can easily plan your trip with the full, Australia Travel Tips: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Australia, What Does a Trip to Australia Cost? We do appreciate your honest feedback and thank you for taking the time to review our train. It worked just fine. On 10 September 2021, I finally boarded this train once more and experienced Railbed Sleeper from Cairns to Brisbane. "what do you think we are? }, Cairns is an excellent base and launching point for exploring Far North Queensland. Hi Anna, towels are provided so you dont need to worry about that one. A call button is available to contact the onboard staff for assistance var instance = instances[i]; Second was evening Day One, and given we were going through the heartland of Qld's beef country, I had the beef cheeks. There are also savings from the cost of getting to and from airports, and baggage and seat selection fees associated with air travel. if (result.has_redirect) { return text; It says there are a point for sleep apnea machine as I am travelling in September with mine so made the same enquiry and told them at time of booking. document.body.removeChild(script); }; This nature lovers paradise is definitely worth a stop along your Spirit of Queensland journey. this.submitForm(); And Im with you and definitely want to do it again someday. } if (typeof Widget === 'undefined' || !Widget.BasicDropdown) return; There are windows throughout the carriage so youll be able to see that view. The Service fell down at the Dinner Service ex Townsville, Good food spoilt by over heating. Cars B and C are becoming old. if((input.type === 'checkbox' || input.type === 'radio') && input.checked) { Miles and points are my thing. For information on what forms of payment are accepted onboard when travelling with us, visit our What attracted me to the Spirit of Queensland was the RailBed class. I was just wondering if towels were provided for the showers or if it was byo? Trains are more sustainable and more comfortable and not only that but going at a slower pace allows you to see more of the Australian countryside without the crazy cost of multiple flights. Its quite exciting and Im grinning like a kid on a theme park ride as I pop my head under the curtains to see the shadows of trees whizzing past and the moon and the stars shining above. document.body.appendChild(script); }, var script = document.createElement('script'); revalidateOnChange: function() { } RailBed customers aboard Spirit of Queensland receive inclusive meals served directly to their seat. The one in front pulls while the one at the rear pushes. The sun is preparing to come up over the mountain range, theres mist everywhere, and kangaroos are hopping beside the train. Required fields are marked *. 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? };

The first of her kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the Spirit of Queensland was brought in to replace The Sunlander, cutting the Brisbane to Cairns route down from 31 hours to a 25 hour journey.

13826534d2d51529b2f7c24f374ce48 Shuttle Service From Philadelphia To Cape Liberty Cruise Port, Why Was Barbara Hale Missing From Perry Mason, Articles S