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Visit to Australia in 2024 (page 1) (by Shane Conway)

Page last updated on 27 October 2024

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MARCH to AUGUST 2024

My usual trips covered on this site typically are to destinations in Europe, usually a week at a time (or less in some cases). Inspired by the pages on this site covering the bus scene in Australia, and with retirement looming in a few years, we pondered the idea of organising an extended holiday down under. Having decided to do it, the next step was organising flights, visitor visas and accomodation. Visitor visas were obtained online, these being valid for one year but only allowing stays of up to three months at a time. After considering various flight options from Ireland, we settled on a four stage journey with Emirates. The first leg would be a seven hour overnight flight to Dubai, with a 24 hour stop-over, followed by a thirteen hour flight to Melbourne.

Planning (and re-planning) this adventure over several months, we looked at various places to visit and things to see. Initially Perth was on the agenda, but as its almost 1,700 miles from Melbourne, it had to be discounted on cost and time restrictions. Eventually we settled on a weekend in Sydney and Adelaide, the latter including a car trip to Jamestown to meet some long lost relations. Accomodation in Melbourne was in my brother's apartment overlooking Port Melbourne beach, and self catering units in Jamestown, Adelaide and Sydney. Getting to Adelaide was to be on a return flight by Regional Express, while we booked first class seats to Sydney on the XPT rail service, with a return flight by Jetstar. All was booked, fingers crossed... It seemed a neat plan, so what could possibly go wrong.....??

........well, three things as it happened.... Our accomodation in Sydney had been done through booking.com and was to be paid for on arrival, around 20.00 on a Saturday night of a bank holiday weekend. It turned out later that the property had also been advertised on an estate agents website for long term letting, unfurnished!! Checking booking.com again showed it was no longer available on their site. If only they had had the professionalism to actually let clients know, rather than finding out by second-hand information..... We then booked an alternative place via airbnb. The thoughts of arriving at the original site and finding we had nowhere to stay could have been interesting.......

Next upheaval was the sudden announcement by Regional Express that their intercity large aircraft routes had gone into administration in late July, although their 52 smaller aircraft on routes to remote areas were still flying. The options were to rebook with Virgin Australia, or join the legal process for a possible eventual refund. That could drag on for months, so we rebooked on the Virgin site.

Finally, on August 26th, an email from NSW Trains arrived, advising that the XPT would terminate at Campbelltown, 33 miles from Sydney, from where coach transfers would be provided to complete the journey. With all the bookings finalised, and visitor visas obtained, we were set to go. Local mobile sim cards and myki travel cards (for Melbourne trams, trains and buses) would be waiting for us on arrival.

29th SEPTEMBER 2024

Even the longest journey starts with just one step, so our first bit was walking to the local bus stop and catching a Bus Eireann route D5 (bus VWL319) on an evening journey. At Drogheda bus station we transferred to LE7 on route 100X to Dublin Airport, one of the few B.E. routes to take debit card payments. Lifting the heavy suitcases into the high mounted luggage compartment over the rear axles was a real test of strength -- later we discovered there was a full length door behind the wheels where they could have been placed more easily!! Our Emirates flight (EK164), due to take off at 22.10, was an hour late departing. This was worked by a Boeing 777-300, with registration A6-EGG. It was my first time in a wide bodied aircraft -- our seats were on one side of the four seat centre row.

30th SEPTEMBER 2024

The shuttle bus area at terminal 3 of Dubai Airport, observed from the comfort of an air conditioned corridor. Outside the temperature was a staggering 40 degrees centigrade.

To break up the journey, we had decided to do a stopover in Dubai, where we arrived at 09.00 local time. Dubai is three hours ahead of Ireland, so the flight took six hours 50 minutes. I found myself impressed with the sheer size of the plane and the entertainment console at each seat. So I had episodes of Friends and Mandy to while away a couple of hours, as well as the flight information display. In between the meals being served (a very nicely prepared menu too), we managed to sleep for a bit......

The 25 hour stopover in Dubai, although useful in breaking up the airborne monotony, was an eye opener in terms of the wall of heat that we faced as we left the airport -- 40 degrees centigrade. It was also the first time I had seen an airport with its own internal railway system too. Our short shuttle bus trip to the nearby Premier Inn gave us our first glimpses of what could be described as a very prosperous and ostentatious concrete jungle. The bus, by the way, was one of two 25 seater Mitsubishi Rosa vehicles (reg number 46404) which operate the shuttle on a 24 hour basis. After a few hours rest we took a free shuttle bus to one of the many shopping malls which are located around the city. I was surprised to see the once familiar British Leyland roundel emblem on the rear of another bus which overtook us, but then I spotted the Ashok Leyland badging under the back window. Produced in India, both truck and bus models are in use in Dubai.

1st OCTOBER 2024

The view of Dubai from the roof of the hotel, which also contains a swimming pool, gym and sun lounger terrace. The round glass building on the right is the metro station at the airport, with the trains running on the raised concrete structure either side of it.

Also seen from the top of the hotel, an overview of the airport complex. A metro train can be seen on the right arriving at (or leaving) the station building, while eight Emirates planes are also visible in the photo.

An early start today, following a hearty breakfast, we boarded Mitsubishi 46404 to return to the airport, where the next part of the journey started. Our accomodation this time was on an Emirates Airbus A380 (A6-EVM) on flight EK406, with a journey time of thirteen hours and 50 minutes, leaving at 10.05. More episodes of Friends to peruse, and the 2023 series of Frasier, which also stars one Nicholas Lyndhurst, best known as the younger brother in Only Fools and Horses, a very different role......... And short spells of sleep.... And more of Emirates excellent refreshment service.

2nd OCTOBER 2024

Dawn had already broken over Melbourne for our touchdown at Tullamarine airport on the outskirts of the city. Arrival was at 05.50, with a six hour time difference to Dubai, and cooler temperatures, in the mid 20s. The immigration forms which we recived on the plane were filled in, and handed to the airport based authorities. Our next form of transport was waiting for us, my brother's Mazda 3. The journey to Port Melbourne produced sightings of large bonnetted articulated trucks with a second drawbar trailer behind, perhaps an overall length of perhaps 85 feet. Their styling suggested American designed vehicles, or at least an Australian assembled equivalent..... The following couple of weeks were to produce further sightings of many vehicles with that unique Aussie feel to them, but for now we had arrived, weary after almost 21 hours at 35,000 feet, with an approximate mileage of around 11,000 behind us, and lots more ahead. A shower, change of clothing and some chill time beckoned.........

An overview of the commercial shipping section of Port Melbourne, which caters for sea freight and cruise liners.

The refurbishment of the Port Melbourne area a few years ago included the re-instatement of sections of the former railway which linked the port with Melbourne city. Most of the route is now used by the tram service.

The present day tram terminus is adjacent to the former railway station building, which is now a medical centre. The port area is in the distance.

Port Melbourne is, as the name suggests, a seaside area and a large port which handles sea-freight services and accomodation for visiting cruise ships. At one time there was also a ferry service to Tasmania, but this was moved to Devonport some years ago, to ease pressure on the road infrastructure in the Port Melbourne area. Our first outing in Australia was a walking tour of the port area, followed by a nice lunch in the centre of town. Opposite the port area is the terminus of Yarra Trams route 109, which travels through the ciy centre area to the northern suburb of Box Hill. Melbourne's tram system is covered by a fleet of around 500 vehicles operating on 26 routes from nine depots, the largest network in the world. The total route mileage is around 160 miles of double track, with nine different types of tram operating -- the oldest ones dating back to 1951. Later that day we travelled on tram 3026 on the 109 to the city centre and back, and in between sampling tram 946 from 1951 on the free central heritage route 35.

One of the small fleet of 1950s trams, 946, seen at the tram stop on La Trobe Street on route 35. In the background can be seen sister tram 764, now a static coffee shop at the William Anglis Institute.

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