Catch a Free Train Ride Across the River Torrens
The Outer Harbor and Grange train services have been closed for a while as works on the
Torrens Rail Junction Project have been carried out. Commuters to the western suburbs have had to rely on substitute bus services in the meantime, causing a great deal of inconvenience to people who usually travel by train.
Both Grange and Outer Harbor railway lines re-opened in January, and the government has promised free train travel for everyone on these services until January 28 to compensate for the trouble caused to passengers. For people who haven't taken these train trips before, it's a golden opportunity to go west and explore - here are some tips of fun things to do on your free train ride.
See Industrial Heritage Buildings in Bowden and Brompton
are historic suburbs that are slowly being gentrified. Hop off at Bowden railway station to take a heritage walk and admire the old architecture, or look at the new housing which is now on the market just minutes from the city. Call into
Plant 4 Markets for lunch and a drink, or eat at the conveniently located
Loose Caboose Cafe in the old Bowden railway station.
CroydonExplore the
7 Top Places to Visit on Elizabeth Street Croydon using your free train travel in January, or visit a unique heritage listed reverberatory incinerator at
Josiah Mitton Reserve Playground.
Relax With Coffee and Cake at Cafe Latino
Do some thrifty shopping for a bargain at the
Salvation Army Store at Woodville or pop in for a great coffee at the delightfully art deco
Cafe Latino at Woodville Park - just because you can.
Port AdelaideYou might need to devote a day to Port Adelaide on your free train trip. There are so many fun things to do in the Port that it's hard to finish it all in less than a day. Wander down to the South Australian Maritime Museum, the current exhibition is
Leviathan: An Astonishing History of Whales, which is a pretty cool thing to do on a summer's day. Your ticket also gets you into the lighthouse free, so you can check out the views from the top.
Take a look around the Port River and admire the maritime heritage and amazing collection of vessels there - you may catch a dolphin if you are quick. Head west to Hart's Mill and its
award winning playground, then take a walk on the
Anna Rennie Path (previously Port Adelaide Loop Path.
View East From the Port Adelaide Lighthouse
Following the river east will take you to Dock 1 where you should tour the
Clipper ship City of Adelaide. Keep an eye out for
ghost signs and the
Wonderwalls Festival street art in this area. The redevelopment of Dock 1 will sadly see the City of Adelaide move to Dock 2, quite a distance away where
Australia's oldest powered ship the Nelcebee has been languishing some years.
Of course, while you're at
Port Adelaide there are two other splendid museums to visit - the
SA Aviation Museum and the
National Railway Museum. Afterwards refresh yourself on the
Heritage Pub Trail, or have lunch at the newly reopened
Port Admiral Hotel or the
Low and Slow American BBQ.
GlanvilleGlanville is the closest railway station to Semaphore, a buzzing coastal community that I love to visit. Take a stroll down bustling Semaphore Road to take in the
amazing buildings, cool cafes, and friendly casual atmosphere. If you've got kids the
foreshore amusement park is just the place to go in January. Another highlight is joining the Coast Park walking trail which runs between North Haven and Sellicks Beach.
Get Up Close to Cruise Ships at Outer Harbor
There are so many gigantic cruise ships visiting Outer Harbor that you have a good chance of seeing one if you come down by train. Check the
cruise liner schedule for dates, or just head down to the
Lady Ruthven Reserve where there's a playground and you can watch people fishing.
Grange
For over a hundred years people from miles around have flocked to Grange by train, as it's only a short walk to the beach. It may not be as busy now as it once was because more people travel by car, but Grange has gone through a renaissance lately. Grab a coffee and cake at the bakery, or fresh fish and chips on the foreshore before taking a walk on the jetty. For a longer historical walk follow
this heritage trail.
Dine on Fresh Fish and Cips at Grange Jetty Cafe
Do you have other tips to use free train travel in January? There are so many fun things to do along the Grange and Outer Harbor railway lines that we couldn't cover them all. Tell us your favourites in the comments!
