A journey aboard the Spirit of the West is like a journey through Australian history. The three oldest carriages, built in 1915 and 1917, were created for the original Trans-Australian Railway - the rail link between Western Australia and the eastern states. In 1996 these carriages were donated to the Australian Railway Historical Museum, and volunteers spent around 40, 000 hours restoring them back to their former glory.
Nowadays the carriages are used for a delightful journey that combines fine food and wine with great atmosphere. It offers a taste of history, gourmet cuisine, sight seeing and as you travel back in time, the stunning landscape and breathtaking views of the spectacular Avon Valley sweep gracefully past your window.
The Spirit of the West currently operates two regular journeys; Avon Valley Evening Indulgence and The Avon Experience.
The Avon Valley Evening Indulgence travels to the Avon Valley for an evening floodlit view.
The three and a half hour Avon Experience takes you on a leisurely Sunday ride through the breathtaking Avon Valley countryside. While enjoying your meal you can experience the beauty of the Avon River and rolling green landscapes all the while listening to historic bushranger tales.
For rail enthusiasts, there's One Hundred Hubble located in Fremantle. The owner bought a 1955 carriage for $600 18 years ago and transformed it into unique accommodation. There is a double bed at one end of the carriage and bunks at the other end, which used to be the conductor's room. It still has some of the original features, including pigeonholes (for the conductor's clipboards), and caboose seats. This accommodation has other quirky features too; one of the showers is inside a 1950s phone box, and the toilet is situated near a big pink cast iron bath and a lot of foliage.
The facts
Qantas flies to Perth daily from all capital cities. Prices start at $472 from Melbourne and $531 from Sydney.
Qantas
Tel: 13 13 13
The Spirit of the West takes off on alternate weekends; Saturday evening 7.25pm - 11.00pm one week and Sunday afternoons 12.30pm - 4.00pm the following week. It costs $125 for a regular seat, $150 for two people in a private booth, $140 for three people and $130 for four to six people.
Spirit of the West
Tel: 08 9250 7011
100 Hubble Accommodation sleeps up to six and rates start from $90 per person per night.
100 Hubble Accommodation
Tel: 08 9339 8080
