One could argue that it’s a matter of the lines, the style, the craftsmanship, the engine performance… who knows? To me it’s the whole shebang. From a ’71 apple green Torino to a ’64 AMC Rambler (cream-colored with a gold top) I just loved walking out into the parking lot to realize that each beauty was mine. And that pride of ownership never really translated to any newer cars that often treated me far better.

Blind Love?

Did those classics leave me stranded on more than a few occasions? Most definitely. It became a running joke that I’d pay for car towing privileges even before covering the rent. Did I spend years smelling like exhaust instead of a lady? Yep. But there’s a feeling of unquenchable joy to get out on the open road in a beautiful car on a beautiful day. Just to see someone’s face light up as you drive by is worth it all.

Reality Intrudes

As I grew older my finances sadly didn’t improve much, and I still had more allegiance to my old cars than what would become my daily driver. So when they both needed repairs I’d put what little money I had into the old until I realized I had to let it go. Anyone who really loves old cars knows how tough it is to see one sitting out to rot. It was a grownup decision to send it somewhere where it could be cared for but it hurt to make it.

A Girl Can Dream

With the world being what it is I’m just happy to pay the bills but I can’t help but aspire to having a life-size model of one of those Hot Wheels I prized so much as a kid. Maybe an old pickup with the wood-slat bed or that ’65 red that flew down the apartment stairs with such panache. I’ll wrap my hair in a white scarf like Grace Kelly and paint my lips a perfect matching red. But until then I’ll just double-take when a sweet car rolls by and remember when I was that girl with the cool car. She’s coming back. Some day.

Written by Emily Rankin. Need to find the best auto insurance for your sweet rides? Look here: www.carinsurance.org.uk

The journey from Sydney to Melbourne aboard the XPT CountryLink train takes a total of only around 9 hours. The train makes a total of 16 stops, but skips some of the smaller stations unless a passenger requests a pickup or stopover. You can travel economy class or first class: either way, you will have a comfortable seat in an air-conditioned coach and have access to the dining car. If you’ve travelled the route before or are under time constraints, there is a sleeper service that includes all bed linen and toiletries and even a complimentary buffet breakfast. An ideal way to take a round-trip journey is to travel by day the first time and take in all the sights and by night on your return trip.

What You’ll See Along the Way

The CountryLink XTP from Sydney to Melbourne is an ideal way to see a broad cross-section of the Australian countryside. From Sydney, the first leg of your journey takes you from Sydney’s Central Station through Strathfield and Campbell until you reach your first scheduled stop in the Southern Highlands town of Moss Vale. If you want to make the most of your journey and take your time, consider arranging an on-again-off-again train trip and spending a day and night in this beautiful historic town before moving on when the train passes through the next day.

About halfway through your journey, the train will stop briefly in Cootamundra, another historic town. In cricket-mad Australia, Cootamundra is known as the birthplace of Sir Donald Bradman. The cottage this sporting legend was born in has been lovingly restored and today is a museum housing cricket memorabilia from Bradman’s career and exhibits that give visitors an overview of Australia’s cricket history. Also in Cootamundra is the still-in-the-making Captain’s Walk, which when completed will include bronze sculptures of all 41 of Australia’s cricket captains. A charming country town with a rich and proud history, consider an overnight stopover in a Cootamunda accommodation to break up your train journey.

Less than an hour after crossing the border into Victoria in Albury, you will stop in Wangaratta, a beautiful town on the northern edge of the Alpine Way, the main road that traverses the Great Dividing Range and the Snowy Mountains. From here, you’re only a few hours away from all the urban attractions of Melbourne, so why not consider lingering for a few days and exploring the Snowy Mountains from Wangaratta?

The best way to take advantage of the train system in Australia is to plan ahead and make arrangements to break up your trip along the way. You can book all your Australia accommodations ahead of time to coincide with your arrival dates, thus ensuring you have a comfortable place to stay and a hospitable local to make you feel at home.

Rob writes about visiting and travelling in Australia. If planning a vacation in Australia check out our range of Sydney Accommodation and after your train trip from Sydney to Melbourne relax in one of our Melbourne Accommodation options.

Saving fuel has the dual effect of saving drivers money, and of course helping the environment with lower CO emissions.

* Use your vehicle less wherever possible, especially making lots of short trips which tend to burn considerably more fuel per kilometre, due to the fact the engine hasn’t properly warmed up.

* Driving in the right gear is fuel efficient. Too low or high a gear at any particular point is wasteful.

* Hard acceleration uses more fuel. Anticipating traffic that is stopped ahead so you can take your foot off the accelerator, rather than slamming on the brakes.

* Don’t idle, car engines nowadays don’t need warming up before the car is driven.

* The average car will use more fuel at 110 km/h than it it will at 90 km/h, in fact as much as 25% more. So, don’t speed.

* If you aren’t using it then take off your roof rack. Aerodynamic drag created by roof racks can result in your using 20% more fuel.

* Your vehicles’ tyres should be inflated to the right level. Keep up the pressure, but don’t overinflate.

* Aircon is great, but remember that airconditioning can increase your fuel consumption by around 10%. At speeds of over 80 km/h, it is better to use your airconditioning rather than to open a window as this creates aerodynamic drag. At low speeds it is often more fuel efficient to open a window.

* The more you load your car up, the more fuel you will use. Travel light and take those items you don’t need out of the car.

* Finally, keep your vehicle well tuned, regularly maintained, and serviced in accordance with your manufacturer’s handbook.

Australia has three time zones.

Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
Queensland, New South Wales (with the exception of the town of Broken Hill), Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Australian Central Standard Time (ACST)
South Australia, Broken Hill in New South Wales and the Northern Territory.

Australian Western Standard Time (AWST)
Western Australia.

Parts of Australia use Daylight Saving Time, which involves putting clocks forward one hour at certain times of the year. Daylight Saving Time is observed in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria.

The states of Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia do not observe Daylight Saving Time.

Time now in:

Adelaide, South Australia

Brisbane, Queensland

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

Darwin, Northern Territory

Melbourne, Victoria

Perth, Western Australia

Sydney, New South Wales

With thanks to Time & Date for the providing of the clocks.

Australia (Lonely Planet Country Guides)

East Coast Australia: Regional Guide (Lonely Planet Country & Regional Guides) [Paperback]

Living and Working in Australia: A Survival Handbook (Survival Handbooks) (Living & Working in Australia) [Paperback]

Sydney (Lonely Planet City Guide) [Paperback]

ANDRE RIEU – Live in Australia

Australian Hat with Corks

The History of Australian Cricket [Hardcover]

Visitors from the US