Java is the richest and most scenically majestic of Indonesia’s countless islands. Its diverse landscape ranges from towering volcanoes to dense forest, manicured rice paddies and teeming cities. Our Railway Adventure explores this intriguing 1,000kms long island starting in Jakarta and travelling all the way through centres like Bandung, Yogyakarta, Solo and Banyu Wangi in the east, where we take a short ferry ride to Bali.
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Chris was born in Melbourne but grew up in Kuranda in North Queensland. He loved taking the Silver Bullet (tin turtle) train down the Kuranda range to Cairns for high school during those years. He studied Performing Arts at James Cook University before moving to Sydney to work for the Aboriginal and Islander Dance theatre. He then moved into the film industry working in the art department on many productions such as Babe, Pricilla, and the Wiggles to name a few. In 1992 he took his first trip to Japan and fell in love with the country, food, culture, and people. He studied Japanese and returned to Japan every year for holidays. Chris began working as a coordinator for Japanese productions in the South Pacific and in 2012 moved to Tokyo. His love for Japan and all things Japanese has grown over this time, just going to the convenience store is still exciting for him!
Rob has worked in the travel industry since 2017, mainly leading rail tours in the UK and continental Europe. Having had a keen interest in rail travel since he was a child – many days in the 70s and 80s were spent with his father travelling on steam and diesel trains all over the country. During university holidays, he worked on the Severn Valley Railway, one of Britain’s longest heritage steam railways.
He has travelled extensively by rail throughout the UK and more than 30 European countries from Portugal in the west to Lithuania in the east. He has a passion for long-distance rail trips and has travelled on trains across the USA, Canada, South Africa and the Indian Pacific across Australia.
Rob’s interests revolve around travel and sport. Many of his most memorable journeys have been on trips involving watching the England cricket team lose all over the globe.
With a love of art and travel, Giovanna holds a master’s degree in fine arts and a Diploma in Tourism. At Railway Adventures, she works in operations but has experience as a Product Manager and Travel Advisor. Time spent abroad as a child ignited a curiosity for the world and an appreciation of the unique character of each destination. She has visited over thirty countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania, and travelled on the classic Trans-Siberian and Indian Pacific railway journeys. Experiencing the half-light of Icelandic winters and driving into the unending horizons of the South Gobi Desert have been some of her favourite moments.
Kevin has worked in the travel industry in Australia and overseas for 25 years and has travelled to over 100 countries worldwide. At Railway Adventures, he works in product design but has experience in business development and tour operations. Kevin spent two years living in Switzerland running his own travel company and has led cultural and adventure tours to over 60 countries since 2000. In between working in travel, he travelled the world for almost two years, spending a great deal of time in the Middle East and North Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, China and Russia where he was lucky enough to ride the famous Trans-Siberian Railway, The Orient Express, Shinkansen bullet trains in Japan and many trains elsewhere. Kevin also has a passion for football and has researched, designed and led over 20 football fan tours to five World Cups and other major tournaments over the last 18 years. His great life adventure was when he rode almost 6,000kms on his mountain bike throughout 12 countries in Europe over a 5-month period in 1998!
I have a background as a professional squash player and undertook an accounting and finance degree in the background. Lived in Europe for 6 years competing in squash and when it was time to move on, I dove into bookkeeping and finance, aiming to help small businesses plan forward and manage their monies. Operating completely independently I work with small business owners and accountants organising the accounting side of the business. Outside of this I love going on long hikes and traveling overseas and back to Europe for vacations. The best part about travel is trying to be like a local in a city and experience it from their eyes. I also keep very active, which helps relieve the stresses of everyday life.
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Mende has been in the travel industry on and off since 1995, mainly working in outbound with companies dealing with Scandinavia, Russia and Japan. Mende has been with Railway Adventures since July 2022 in customer service and sales, he has a passion for geography, geopolitics and history. Mende has travelled extensively throughout Europe, East Asia and North America, his main interest in traveling is immersing himself in the culture and the architecture of foreign lands.
Originally from Brazil, Mariah moved to Australia in 2014. At the Railway Adventures office, she works in operations but has experience in customer service and sales, having previously worked for other businesses in travel. Mariah fell in love with travelling after living in Belgium on a student exchange, and she has not stopped travelling since. She also lived in Mexico where she taught English to children and teenagers, and then in Portugal where she completed a Master’s degree in Tourism, studying the country’s food tourism industry. Mariah is passionate about gastronomy and languages and speaks English, Portuguese, French and Spanish.
Born and bred in London, Liane’s early career was in Photography, Advertising and Graphic Design. Having moved permanently to Australia in 2002 she developed her skill set in Marketing and the rapidly changing world of Digital Marketing. Liane manages all Marketing and Communications within the Railway Adventures team. Having spent 18 months travelling the world, including a long stint in India, Nepal and Southeast Asia she is passionate about travel and loves nothing more than sampling culinary delights and wines from around the world.
Lissa has worked in the travel industry in Australia and overseas for 30 years and travelled to over 80 countries. She joined Railway Adventures in October 2018 and plays a key role in the organisation and fulfilment of every tour in the program. Having grown up in Florence, Italy and snagging a job with Italian Tourism early in her career, Lissa was hooked on travel from a young age. A fluent Italian speaker and a lover of all things Italian, a move from corporate travel to Air Zimbabwe, introduced a new passion, all things African. A move to University of Sydney Study Tours enabled Lissa to combine her national tourism, corporate and airline experience with her ebullient personality to start developing and leading tour programs in her own right. After 15 years with USyd, she ventured into the world of specialist small group tour operators, where she has found her niche.
Peter is a Tour Leader, a Rail Enthusiast, and a Tour Organiser speciali s ing in Railway Journeys in South America. He is a Swiss resident who has been living in Quito in Ecuador for almost 15 years, and he loves organising unusual travel experiences both for rail enthusiasts and adventurous travellers alike. With Rail South America, the journey is more important than the destination. While we do visit famous tourist destinations on some trips, the attraction is i n the journey itself, as well as in the remote regions most travellers have never seen.
Bernadette is a trained actor, psychologist, businesswoman, and writer. Passionate about the arts, culture, and how others live, Bernadette’s travel experiences are many and varied. She’s explored every state and territory in Australia and has the greatest fondness for those ‘out of the way’, quirky experiences that can only be found outside the cities. Internationally, she’s travelled to many countries across Asia, Europe, North America, and Africa.
Bernadette has navigated groups of kids through Eisteddfod competitions, teens through personal development programs, and adults across countries. She’s been a big part of our team and has co-hosted many tours with Scott McGregor as well as running a few in her own right.
SCOTT MCGREGOR has been involved in the media for over 30 years as an actor, presenter, writer and producer, but sharing his love of travel, and particularly railway travel, is where his passion now lies. Graduating from NIDA in 1979, he appeared in a wide range of stage, film and TV roles, including the lead in the ABC’s epic mini-series 1915. He has presented and hosted numerous prime-time ratings winners including many years as the handyman on Better Homes and Gardens and Room For Improvement. He presented two series of his own Railway Adventures for Channels 10 and 7 and a number of programs for The History Channel. After more than a decade leading tours he decided to establish Railway Adventures in 2012. He also owns and operates RUWENZORI—an Orient Express-style tourist retreat on the Great Dividing Range near Mudgee.
Barbara lives in the Blue Mountains and has a solid background in travel, tourism and hospitality. She has worked in wholesale and retail travel, then as an events coordinator in a 5-star hotel, before living and working in Japan for 2 years as a conversational English teacher with her husband Duncan. Once back in Australia, she managed of group of spa cabins and wedding venue, and for the next 10 years owned and managed a local Teahouse and Australian Gallery. Barbara has been part of the Railway Adventures tour leader team since April 2021 and loves being part of a like-minded group that supports a well-planned and inspirational itinerary, creating lifelong memories with enthusiastic passengers. She always enjoys having the opportunity of travelling and meeting new people, and has a real understanding of traveller’s expectations and needs. She’s also a member of Oral History NSW and her latest venture is recording individual life stories.
DUNCAN WASS grew up in Sth Australia. He switched from Road Design to theatre via Queensland Uni. in 1977, and met Scott in 1982 when they did the Tempest for Queensland Theatre Co.. After a hectic 5 year stint at QTC, La Boite and TN, he moved to Sydney and worked for JC Williamson, The Q, and STC. He was in the inaugural cast of Les Miserables for Cameron Mackintosh. He also did a number of TV roles for the ABC, as well as some very small parts in a few movies. He spent 6 weeks as B1 in Bananas in Pyjamas, doing the first 40 episodes. Bell Shakespeare occupied his attention for 6 years to 1999, before he went with his new wife Barbara and taught English in Japan for a couple of years. They travelled extensively there, and have been back a number of times, as well as taking trips to the US, UK, France and Italy, Cambodia and the Phillipines. Back home, they ran a Teahouse and Gallery for ten years before establishing a holiday accommodation management business the Blue Mountains. Duncan loves the freedoms and camaraderie of train travel.
Eamonn joined Launceston City Council in 2013 as Tourism Manager until a wish to ‘semi retire’ gave him the opportunity to start a small day tour company, Prestige Tours Tasmania, which, over the last few years has seen him leading and hosting tours on various themes all over the island. Prior to this Eamonn’s career has had a distinct heritage rail focus.
In 2007 he became CEO of Puffing Billy Railway heading up seventy staff and over 1000 volunteers. Prior to this he was invited to project manage the rebuilding and reopening of the ABT Railway in Tasmania. With a formal opening in 2003 and the railway renamed the West Coast Wilderness Railway, Eamonn led the team and became its first Chief Executive Officer. He has had a great interest in railways since early childhood. Initially in heritage railways when he was asked to join a volunteer working party at the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales. His professional training as a stage manager and events coordinator led to him taking on full time employment at the railway to develop a marketing department. It was whilst he was marketing manager, he became involved in the very early days of the Welsh Highland Railway Project. Eamonn has led a number of tours for Railway Adventures and is pleased to lead this tour once again and is looking forward to sharing his time with you all in Tasmania.
Stephen is a trained mediator and has extensive experience in conflict resolution, management consulting, designing and running workshops, coaching, acting, and travel.
Stephen has a lifelong interest in travel and discovery having grown up on the western wheatfields of NSW. His interest in rail was sparked as a youngster by watching steam trains shunt in the yards at Nyngan, and later by regular travel on the Western Mail between Dubbo and Sydney to attend university. After completing an Economics Degree Stephen initially worked within corporate and retail banking areas then moved into the employment, education and training sector where he worked for over 20 years in both metropolitan and regional areas of NSW, and federally in Canberra. He also worked for over 10 years in the health sector in NSW to assist in improving workplace culture.
Stephen enjoys trains and travel, bushwalking, geography and land-use, maps, pastoral care, poetry, and the great outdoors. He has explored every State and Territory in Australia and especially enjoys spending time in regional and remote places. Internationally, he’s travelled throughout NZ, Cook Islands, North America, UK, and Thailand. Stephen is interested in connecting with people and tailoring his expertise to enhance the enjoyment of all travellers.
Graeme has travelled Australia and the world extensively his entire life, whether it be by train, motorcycling through the outback, Europe or North America , or through Africa in a ‘worse for wear’ Kombi van. As a child growing up in Sydney he witnessed the very last of the days of steam on the railways of NSW and thus began a fascination for trains and rail travel that continues today. He enthusiastically followed every boy’s dream of becoming a steam engine driver, becoming involved in the railway preservation movement at an early age, and today he is a regular volunteer steam driver and trainer at a number of preserved railways in Victoria. Graeme’s professional life was in water resource engineering and operations, a field in which he is still involved, and this resulted in him residing in a number of rural locations in NSW and Tasmania. He has also lived in Canada and spent a few years in South Africa working for the railways there. Some favorite places to travel? Graeme says “The back blocks of Australia, the Isle of man (Motor bikes AND trains!), and anywhere where you learn something you didn’t know!”
Hayley has experienced many aspects of the travel industry. It began in her very early twenties, when she set off to see the world. Eighty-four countries (and many varied careers) later, she still considers travel to be the most exciting and broadening of experiences.
“My travel career began when I jumped off a truck in Morocco and somehow got work with a holiday company there”. Since then, she has worked in and around 18 other countries in the travel arena and had a lot of fun, free- travelling around the others.
She has worked as a tour leader in Africa, Canada, all around Australia and New Zealand, as well as Asia, Europe and Greenland / Iceland.
Hayley has worked with people of all ages, nationalities and abilities, and understands how important holidays are to her passengers – she is passionate about not only justifying the financial outlay but their expectations and dreams.
Allan and his wife Patricia operate a small tour company based on the South Island that began in 1988 and leads tours all over New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Allan has managed rail tour groups from the USA for the International Railway Travellers Group to both New Zealand and Australia. In addition, Allan was a Train Manager for Dunedin Railways and as such, managed cruise ships and tour trains into the Taieri Gorge and across the South Island.
Chris Harding has carried an interest in railways since he was a small boy. His high school was near a major railway line, and he loved to spend time after school watching the parade of freight and passenger trains.
He joined the Bank of NSW in 1966, where he progressed through the ranks, including service in London with the International Division. After 30 years in the finance industry Chris turned his attention back to his passion, working with the heritage steam locomotive 3801, and later, managing the Railway Bookshop on Sydney’s Central station.
Chris followed with interest his friend Scott McGregor’s Railway Adventures, and made an offer to put together a Swiss Rail tour for Scott – little realising that it would lead to him to becoming a guide for the company– something that he has enjoyed doing ever since.
Chris is a past president of the Australian Railway Historical Society, and often appears on radio and television as the society’s media representative.
His other interest in paleontology has now been developed into our Dinosaur Discovery Tour.
Thank you for your interest in this tour. It has currently reached capacity, We are, however happy to put you on a waitlist and we will contact you if places become available.
Please contact the office at [email protected] or call us on 1300 800 977 to be added to the waitlist and receive information on future departures of this tour.
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Train traveller, well known TV personality and travel company owner, Scott McGregor, has travelled on some of the world’s most inspiring railway tours and led the most exclusive group adventures to numerous exotic destinations over the years.
“Rustic, character-filled, zig-zagging railways of Burma, opulent hotels on wheels in India South Africa and Sri Lanka, steam-hauled heritage trains in some of the most staggeringly scenic parts of the world, dinky little rail-cars in outback Queensland, bullet trains in Japan, cliff-hugging lines in Switzerland and Norway—if it travels on a rail track, I’m there!”, exclaims self-confessed train travel tragic, Scott McGregor. “In my mind, travelling by rail is still the most wonderful way to immerse yourself in the country you’re visiting. It’s romantic, relaxing and about as much fun as you can have!”.
Aa a child of the last days of steam trains in the busy junction town of Orange, NSW; trains heading in all directions offering temptations and dreams of faraway places, left an indelible impression on a young, inquisitive boy and Scott has been riding the rails in one form or another ever since. While Scott’s acting career of 30 years kept him busy starring in numerous TV shows and stage plays and then as an on-air presenter on programs such as Better Homes and Gardens, Room for Improvement and various pay-TV programs, his passion for railway tours was ever-present. “Presenting a series of Railway Adventure travel programs for Channel 7 was a career highlight”, he says with as much enthusiasm now as he had then.
In 2012 Scott decided to combine three of his passions; travel, trains and presenting, and launched Railway Adventures. Not only does he get to expand his own horizons and indulge his love of train travel, he gets to use his extensive hosting experience and love of people to lead other like-minded travellers on escorted train tours around the world. Since then, Railway Adventures has mounted more than 50 tours from Sweden to Sri Lanka, Tasmania to Transylvania, Britain to Burma and Venice to Vietnam, thrilling over 1,000 travellers. New tours are launched regularly, inspired by new trains, new routes and the growing interest in taking a train to some of the world’s most fascinating places. But you don’t have to be a train ‘nut’ to enjoy a Railway Adventures tour – there’s something for everyone!
Just one example of how Scott finds inspiration for a tour can be found in Outback Queensland. “There you find some of Australia’s most eccentric and appealing trains and together with a mail-plane flight over the Gulf and some interesting local coach and boat trips you have the essence of a quintessential Aussie outback adventure. The sleeper train, The Spirit of the Outback, the Savannahlander and the Gulflander (which has been running on the same timetable for more than 125 years!) are all iconic trains that traverse various parts of the wild Outback, Savannah and tropical rainforest landscapes of the vast state of Queensland. Along with some other special treats not available to the ordinary traveller, Railway Adventures passengers get to do it all!.
One of his favourite journey’s is by private train in Sri Lanka. For 2 weeks every year Scott charters the Viceroy Special heritage train to tour the island on a gentle rail cruise with a lucky group of travellers. Staying in luxury resorts and hotels along the way, his special train travels to almost every corner of the scenic island. “Having a private train at your disposal for an adventure around this magic island is a rare treat and a great way to immerse yourself in the scenery and culture of the country.”, he enthuses. “Our Vietnam tour makes use of private carriages attached to regular trains to explore that great country in comfort and in South Africa we use a variety of trains including the luxurious Rovos Rail and the Royal Livingstone steam train to move from one incredible adventure to another”.
Apart from the obvious joy of seeing a country by train, travelling in a small group of like-minded travellers with a dedicated, experienced tour leader and knowledgeable, English-speaking local guides is what really sets Railway Adventures apart. “The camaraderie that comes from both shared purpose and shared experiences on tour is an important aspect of the journey” Scott adds. “We’ve seen many people become life-long friends from the time they shared together along the line. The best feeling in the world is when I welcome these same people on repeat journeys”.
Along with popular destinations like Switzerland, Scandinavia, Outback Queensland and Sri Lanka, a new breed of more unusual destinations has gained great interest. Java, Cuba, Southern Africa, India and the New England region of NSW are just some of the newer adventures on offer. As for Scott’s next escape, it’s most likely some quality time at Ruwenzori Retreat, his own personal train on the Great Dividing Range near Mudgee, Central NSW. Built from a collection of vintage railway carriages it’s now a boutique tourist accommodation, comprising exclusive Orient Express style comfort for up to 13 guests. “When the travels are done, coming back to my own train in the beautiful Mudgee mountains is the most restorative and magical time for this committed rail romantic”, Scott says.
BOB DANIEL has been fascinated with trains all his life, his father having engineered the construction of many of the famous Australian trains during the 1950’s and 60’s, including the Southern Aurora and The Sunlander. Bob is the founder and original owner of Guidepost Tours, established nearly 40 years ago, which now operates niche market tours to many destinations around the world. He regularly travels by rail on local trains throughout South East Asia and many other countries, discovering how the spread of rail routes has led to the development and enhancement of culture and life in rural communities and cities. Whilst still involved with the development of itineraries for Guidepost Tours and Railway Adventures, Bob is heavily involved with Heritage Rail Groups in New South Wales, is qualified in Rail Safety and Track Awareness, and travels regularly on steam and diesel tours as train manager or in other capacities.
Phil has spent most of his life in travel related work and pleasure. He flew internationally with QANTAS Airways for some 20 years. This opened up considerable opportunities for him to travel on numerous rail operations abroad from Asia to Europe, the UK, North America, Canada and parts of South America. He now works with Virgin and continues to explore the Australia and the world.
Phil has a lifelong passion for all things rail, maritime history ships and colonial architecture. While working predominantly in the aviation industry for over 25 years he has also worked in varying capacities in the rail industry, including as rail booking officer for the NSW Department of Tourism and as a relief station attendant based in Northern NSW. He holds an Advanced Diploma (hons) Tourism Management.
Over the years he has been involved in a number of rail heritage preservation groups. In 2004 he established the Tweed Rail Society to lobby government to retain and improve services on the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line in northern NSW. Originally from Sydney, Phil now resides in Adelaide where he continues to lobby governments for improved urban and regional rail services across Australia.
During his time in Adelaide Phil has gained considerable knowledge about South Australia in a variety of areas, including previous and current rail operations. As a keen photographer he has photographed a number of rail operations there. Previous to this he photographed the final days of steam in NSW in the 1960s and 70s. In 1975 he ventured to South Africa to photograph steam in its heyday and returned to Australia late 1978. While in South Africa he also turned to wildlife and landscape photography.
A true citizen of the World, John Medcalf has a wealth of travel experience. He began at an early age as an international flight attendant with Qantas progressing eventually to cabin crew line manager. After 26 years with Qantas John logged another 25 years as a Tour Manager leading tours in Australia and overseas. His list of countries visited now exceeds 70. The list continues to grow.
John says “It’s hard to define a favourite destination, as I still get a buzz out of visiting new destinations. Travel has been my life and shall continue to be. I get great satisfaction being able to share my broad range of experience with my tour clients.
Once John visits Taiwan, he can say he say he has been to every country in Asia. He has extensive knowledge of Japan, Vietnam and India.
Born and raised in Sydney John settled in the Mudgee area and has resided there for 25 years. He and his wife live on a property near Kandos where for 12 years they ran a B&B located in the old homestead house, established circa 1845. They spent 4 years building their dream home, a stone yurt set on the edge of the escarpment at 820 mts. Here they enjoy the blissful serenity of the wildlife and bushland that surrounds them.
Born and bred in Scotland, David has lived in Lisbon in Portugal for the last 20 years and has always enjoyed travelling, especially by train. His career in Scotland was in banking, helping him to be the careful organiser that he is today. He is known for his relaxed but efficient way of running tours. He first became involved with tour leading almost a decade ago when he joined enthusiast tours in Portugal and was later asked to assist his predecessor with some of the larger groups.
David took over as Tour Manager in Portugal in 2012 and specialises in the company’s tours in Portugal, France, Austria and Sri Lanka, and some of the Spanish and Italian tours, though he has also led a tour in Australia. He speaks Portuguese and a little German.
ROBERT KINGSFORD SMITH has had a passion for Railways since he was a child, and so began a quest to record on film the world’s disappearing steam locomotives. His often adventurous travels have taken him to over forty countries. The resulting photographs and articles have appeared in numerous Australian and overseas publications. Robert has led groups of like-minded enthusiasts on tours to places as diverse as South America, Pakistan and South Africa and more recently has been the celebrated tour leader on many Railway Adventure tours through Outback Queensland, Sri Lanka and India. A passion for history and wildlife is well served on his travels and he combines his many interests with regular and extensive train travel.
MIKE CONDON was born into a railway family with connections to Queensland Rail stretching back to the 1890’s, and so was destined to share this passion of railways. Surrounded by railway books and antiquities as well as being immersed in a household operational life of Queensland Rail, Mike soon found opportunities to travel with his father on locomotives. A career in media as a producer and director afforded Mike the professional skills to record railways by photographing and more prominently filming railways. For over 30 years, Mike has been trackside and on board trains capturing unique scenes of railways. Mike has also worked in production of educational content, corporate marketing and information programs, training materials for the Australian Army’s Aviation Corps, news gathering and training and operational reporting for Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. Mike has a wide range of interests including history, arts and travel. His career has gifted him the opportunity to meet a very wide range of people from diverse backgrounds and he thoroughly enjoys engaging with new people.
ALAN COLTMAN is a retired English police officer, having served for 30 years, and considers this a perfect training ground for his current role as a professional tour leader. Alan has had an interest in railways since he was a young child, having grown up living next to the Great Central Railway (GCR) in Leicestershire until its closure in 1969, when he joined the GCR Main Line Preservation Group (MLPG). Over the years he has travelled extensively around the UK and most of Western Europe and has been leading groups for over 12 years on scores of railway-themed tours around the world, including the UK, Germany, India and Switzerland.
