[James]

Did you sleep on the train?  Did you have the opportunity to get off the train and experience Aussie life and wildlife?

Yes, usually quite well.  There were a number of off-train experiences available. Mine involved wine tasting at three wineries, two in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, and one in Victoria.  The Hunter Valley vines were imported from France in either the late 18th or early 19th Century.  They thus are descended from vines that had been in Gaul since time immemorial.  There was a gentleman from England in our group!