From Cook to the Barossa Valley on the Indian Pacific
Eating as the World Goes By
Traveling overnight, the Indian
Pacific exits the Nullabor Plain and journeys to greener
vistas. In the morning the train passes through the Flinders
Rangers, Spencers Gulf, finally arriving at the Adelaide
Plains. As shown in the photo to the left, the train passed
massive salt flats before entering the Barossa Valley.
Meanwhile, on board, breakfast began with fresh juice and a
starter of cereal or Wild Berry and Chia seed Parfait. The
main course offered full breakfast, Shakshuka Style Breakfast
or a Granola Bowl, along with Artisan Toast. The lunch menu
offerings were a Ploughman's Plate, a Buffalo and Sweet Potato
Massaman Curry, or a Haloumi and Roasted Vegetable Salad, with
either Banoffee Pie or Apple and Chai Spice Galette. You can
see the particulars of each item in the box below.
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
By
mid-afternoon the train pulls into Two Wells.
Two Wells,
Our Gateway to the Barossa Valley The Indian Pacific stops at
the Two Wells station, so named for the two natural wells
that served as vital water sources for both the indigenous
people as well as the early settlers. Here guests exit the
train to take a coach ride through the Barossa Valley on the
way to Seppeltsfield Winery. For those interested in the
history of Two Wells, the video below provides a brief
history of the town.
A Brief History of Indian Wells
Barossa Valley
Nestled
in South Australia, the Barossa Valley is a picturesque region
renowned for its rolling vineyards, world-class wineries, and
rich cultural heritage. Its landscape is a captivating blend of
golden hills, lush rows of grapevines, and clusters of quaint,
historic towns that reflect a strong German heritage dating back
to the 19th century. The valley's warm Mediterranean climate and
fertile soil make it ideal for producing robust, full-bodied
wines, particularly Shiraz, for which the area is globally
famous. Visitors are often drawn to its charming cellar doors,
where they can sample wines crafted by generations-old family
estates alongside innovative, modern producers. Beyond wine, the
Barossa offers gourmet food experiences, artisan cheese,
handcrafted goods, and a thriving local market culture, all set
against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty that changes with
the seasons.
Seppeltsfield Winery In the afternoon we boarded a
bus to take us to the Seppeltsfield Winery. Walking through
the trellis and desending a terrace, we entered the winery.
Descending another set of stairs from the main sales are, we
were taken through a gallery explaining the history of
Seppeltsfield Wines. The tour ended at a small tasting room
where we sampled bubbles and delicious smoked popcorn. We then
adjourned to long tables in an adjacent room to taste several
wines paired with food, along with notes from the tour guide.
From there it was upstairs to a large storeroom that contained
barrels of their signature Tawny Port from every year from
1878 onwards. As an added treat, we were all given the
opportunity to sample a 100 year-old Tawny Port. Below is a
short video of the historical gallery at Seppeltsfield.
Seppeltsfield Historic
Gallery
[Note:
to truly experience the grandeur of the winery, we suggest
you take the virtual tour of the winery, offered below]
The Wine Dinner
Having sampled some of the Seppeltsfield wines, it was time to
move to a large venue west of the main commercial area, to a
large venue building where we were to enjoy dinner. Live
music was provided, along with an exhibit of the burning in a
barrel. The meal began with artisan bread and truffle butter,
while the three mains (eye fillet feef, chicken breast with
basil pesto, and roasted beetroot and crispy chicken skin)
came on shared platter. A green salad was also
provided. The wines included a 2025 Barossa Vermentine (white)
and a 2022 Barossa Shiraz and a Para Grand Tawny. The food,
the wine and the entertainment made for a memorable evening.
We also struck up a conversation at our table with two
Frenchmen, brothers, who were on the tour as well. Tired but
thoroughly sated, we made our way back to the train
Seppeltsfield Wine Dinner
Menu
Seppeltsfield Venue
Roving Musician
Our French Friend
Video Clip of Wine Dinner and the Burning of the Barrel
There is a virtual tour of the
Seppeltsfield Winery. Click on this link. Tour
will open in a new browser window
Traveling overnight, the Indian
Pacific exits the Nullabor Plain and journeys to greener
vistas. In the morning the train passes through the Flinders
Rangers, Spencers Gulf, finally arriving at the Adelaide
Plains. As shown in the photo to the left, the train passed
massive salt flats before entering the Barossa Valley.
Meanwhile, on board, breakfast began with fresh juice and a
starter of cereal or Wild Berry and Chia seed Parfait. The
main course offered full breakfast, Shakshuka Style Breakfast
or a Granola Bowl, along with Artisan Toast. The lunch menu
offerings were a Ploughman's Plate, a Buffalo and Sweet Potato
Massaman Curry, or a Haloumi and Roasted Vegetable Salad, with
either Banoffee Pie or Apple and Chai Spice Galette. You can
see the particulars of each item in the box below.
Nestled
in South Australia, the Barossa Valley is a picturesque region
renowned for its rolling vineyards, world-class wineries, and
rich cultural heritage. Its landscape is a captivating blend of
golden hills, lush rows of grapevines, and clusters of quaint,
historic towns that reflect a strong German heritage dating back
to the 19th century. The valley's warm Mediterranean climate and
fertile soil make it ideal for producing robust, full-bodied
wines, particularly Shiraz, for which the area is globally
famous. Visitors are often drawn to its charming cellar doors,
where they can sample wines crafted by generations-old family
estates alongside innovative, modern producers. Beyond wine, the
Barossa offers gourmet food experiences, artisan cheese,
handcrafted goods, and a thriving local market culture, all set
against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty that changes with
the seasons.
