We can’t believe we’re writing this, as though it’s even possible to choose between the two, but, sigh, it needs to be done.
Mostly because it’s fun to talk about wine and food, also because when you travel aboard the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth, your Off Train Excursions will split your tastebuds on whether they’d prefer to gorge themselves on rich chocolate fondant frogs or while away the afternoon with a glass of full-bodied Barossa shiraz as the sun sets over the horizon.
It’s a tough call, that’s for sure.
Then again, life is full of decisions and, let’s be honest, if the hardest part of your day is deciding what type of gourmet treat to feast on, then it’s pretty darn clear you’re having a great holiday.
So in the interests of science and saving you time, here’s the breakdown on what awaits you (or what you’re missing out on when you choose one or the other).
Wine Is What Powers South Australia
For the uninitiated, the Barossa Valley in South Australia is the epicentre of our local wine industry. Especially famous for its full-bodied shiraz blends, it’s also home to natural scenery that’s just as rich. It’s a place where nourishing red soil meets lush green hillsides that softly roll on the horizon and it’s genuinely so beautiful we feel like a morning spent staring upon its landscape might be better for the soul than any church service.
Great Southern Rail knows this and has tailored its Barossa Valley tours to capitalise on the both the winemaking and natural wonder of this unique destination.
You disembark from the train at Two Wells, which is a fairly non-descript stop that belies the actual beauty of the locale. From here you’re picked up by air-conditioned coach and toured past the patchwork quilt of farms and plantations that dot the vista before stopping at the iconic Seppeltsfield winery (known as much for its incongruous road lined with towering palm trees as it is for its wines).
Here you’ll be given a private tasting tour inside the original 1920 barrel hall that housed the very first blends ever created by the Seppelt family. You’ll taste sweet Barossa Vermentino and dine on sugar cured salmon with mustard dressing, made from the estate providore.
If you’re feeling adventurous (and no doubt you will be after a few Muscats) be sure to ask for the exclusive Taste Your Birth Year experience, an extra $AUD60 per person but worth the cost just to be able to walk in the footsteps of Prince Charles and Camilla when they visited the Barossa late last year. For the record, 1985 is an excellent drop.
The team at Great Southern Rail seem to firmly believe that there’s always room for more and so just when you’ve had your fill of vintage tawny you climb aboard the Glutton Express (our name, not theirs) and are whisked over to Yalumba Estate, one of the largest wine producers in the country.
There’s the customary wine tasting at the cellar door but it’s all preamble for what truly awaits; a 3 course dinner of roasted lamb, summer vegetables and chocolate parfait, set inside a renovated concrete wine vat.
As you can see, there’s a lot going for venturing down the vino trail when you travel on the Indian Pacific.
But then again…
How Much Do You Like To Eat?
Your answer to this question will undoubtedly alter dramatically between the start and the ending of this tour. You might initially answer ‘a lot’ but, sweet summer child, you have no idea how much your human stomach can truly consume.
The Adelaide Hills tour leaves the city by coach and winds through the picturesque churches and laneways of the city of before climbing up towards the forest surrounds. More specifically, to the historic town of Hahndorf, which is one of the of oldest surviving German settlements in the country.
To say this town is charming is like saying Australia is ‘big’. Walking its tree-lined streets are like being transported to a movie set where quaint cafes, bookstores and galleries are the star attraction.
You’ll be guided to Chocolate No.5, a tiny house that holds a veritable treasure trove of sweet treats that you’ll be invited to taste almost completely at your leisure. Owned by cocoa expert Alison Peck and chocolatier Sarina Waterman, someone seriously needs to give these two ladies their own show because despite the to-die-for treats, they are truly the headlining act.
Together they’ll breathlessly riff on single origin Venezuelan beans all the way to what drives a person to stir melted cocoa all day and night. We guarantee you’ll never look at a supermarket stocked block of chocolate again.
If you don’t feel like eating yourself into a post-chocolate haze you can opt to be whisked down the road to Udder Delights, which famous for it’s softer than soft goats cheese. Owner and cheesemaker Sheree Sullivan speaks with such reverence for the process that you’ll almost want to pack up your own city life and start your own dairy farm. We would definitely advise against this, mostly because it takes decades, a strong family bond and a hell of a lot of grit to take on the major brands. Let’s be honest, eating it is a lot more fun than making it.
Finally your day closes with a stroll down to the road to The Haus, a German-inspired restaurant with a seasonal menu that celebrates the best of local Adelaide produce. You’ll dine on all the bockwurst, bratwurst and cheese kranskys your stomach can handle before being driven back to the Indian Pacific.
It’s also probably worth mentioning that all the food, wine and beer onboard the train is all-inclusive. Safe to say that whether you’re a vino fan or a die-hard foodie there’s something for you on the Indian Pacific – you just have to choose your side.
It’s intense. It’s delicious. We wish you the best of luck.
