Hi Dave;
Yes, our plan is to go to the Rotary Convention in Brisbane the first week of June next year.
I have looked a bit about the Indian Pacific train, which I believe is the correct name for the train that does the transcontenential trip from Sydney to Perth. It is my understanding that it is about a five day trip and then, of course, you need to get back
Woodie or someone can tell you much better than I can, but I have been told in the past that you need to have a reservation at least a year in advance. I don't know if that might be extended with 15 - 20,000 Rotarians in country or not.
My wanting to travel one way between Brisbane and Sydney was sort of stimulated by Wooie and his adventures. I'm pretty certain he told me once that the trip in a daytime trip one way and a nighttime the other and I don't recall, if he told me, which is which.
Our plan is to be gone about three weeks. I would guess we would spend most of a week in New Zealand and then head for Sydney. Might try to get to Melbourne (on the train, of course) and then head for Brisbane, the convention, and home.
I'm scheduled to go on a Rotary Friendship exchange in September this year to Turkey, so haven't spent a whole lot of time on Australia yet. I served in Vietnam with the Aussie Task Force and am trying to see if I can find a couple of those blokes and visit with them while there. Won't be there for ANZAC Day, or I could probably stand along the street and pick some of them out of the parade.
Bob