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Private Notes
Michael Portillo ventures down under to ride aboard the legendary Ghan Railway. At Bond Springs Cattle Station, Michael discovers the story of cattle king Sidney Kidman.
Michael Portillo explores New South Wales, steered by his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide. He strikes west into the Blue Mountains and travels 570 miles to reach the mining city of Broken Hill.
Michael Portillo rides the Indian Pacific Railway, which stretches from Adelaide, South Australia, 1,700 miles deep into the desert, to the gold rush town of Kalgoorlie, before finishing in Perth.
Michael Portillo crosses the south east of Australia from Canberra to the multi-ethnic heart of Melbourne. Michael discovers the story behind the Ashes at the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground.
From tropical rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef, Michael Portillo navigates his way by rail through Queensland, Australia, with the aid of his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide. Inching his way across the Stony Creek Bridge on the Kuranda Scenic Railway, Michael marvels at the engineering expertise of the 1890s, when the line was built, and the magnificent scenery 300 metres below him. Following in the footsteps of Edwardian tourists, Michael is introduced to the beautiful flora and fauna of the rainforest – and its deadly inhabitants.
Michael Portillo is on the eastern coast of Australia travelling from the coal mines of Newcastle, New South Wales, to Queensland’s modern state capital, Brisbane. Along the way, he crosses the mighty Hawkesbury River to admire magnificent scenery, tends to an injured koala, gets some tips from an Aussie rugby legend and rides a solar-powered train.
In the world’s largest coal exporting port, Michael marvels at the skill of the loader as he transfers thousands of tonnes of coal from rail to ship. The North Coast Line takes Michael to the koala hospital at Port Macquarie, where he finds populations of these iconic marsupials are in rapid decline.
At Kempsey, Michael discovers a factory where, at the time of his Bradshaw’s, they began to make the quintessential Australian bush hat.
Michael learns how the hats are produced and tries some for size.
