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| Great Southern Rail brings back the elegant days of private car rail travel. |
Australia’s Great Southern Rail is bringing style back to the glitterati with the debut of four private, self-contained charter carriages on both The Ghan and the Indian Pacific trains.
The Prince of Wales Carriage, built in 1919, was recently refurbished and maintains many of the original features. The carriage accommodates up to 10 people and has a private lounge area, kitchen facilities and full-size bathroom.
The Governor’s Lounge is a recent addition to the fleet. This carriage was constructed in 1917. It can accommodate 30 guests for cocktails or 20 in theater style. It has large picture windows, lounge areas and more. Additional features include a TV, two minibar fridges, and tea and coffee facilities.
The Chairman’s Carriage has a large lounge area, private dining room and kitchen facilities. It can accommodate up to eight.
The Sir John Forrest Carriage has large picture windows with a lounge area. It is also outfitted with a kitchen, bar, big-screen TV, video/DVD and PowerPoint facilities. It can host up to six.
Reach out to Dave Atherton ([email protected]; 011-61-8-8213-4408).
Be sure to visit Kingsford Homestead, which opened in the Barossa Valley wine region on July 1. Once a working sheep station, the hotel is now a seven-suite, all-inclusive property. Tip: The Stonemason’s Cottage, located at the rear of the property, has a fireplace, double shower and spa bath, and private garden.
Guests can bathe in the “bush bath”—a freestanding tub overlooking the river—or check out the 24-hour lounge with a fireplace and a TV. Coming Soon: A pool and spa are planned to open in October. Luxury travel advisors can contact Sally Kent ([email protected]).
Traveling Down Under in September? We recommend the Perth Fashion Festival, which will be held September 19-25. The festival includes 40 fashion-forward events promoting the work of Western Australian designers, models, makeup artists and industry professionals.