Australia 2025

Day 35 - Farewell Australia and Flying home

The last day of a holiday is always an odd day - looking for things to do before an appointment set in stone.

We decided to visit the South Australian Maritime Museum so our day started with breakfast in the cafe over the road and then back to pack our smelly clothes and souvenirs.

Having checked out and left our luggage at the hotel, we head to Adelaide railway station and catch the train to Port Dock, where we were the last time we visited a few days ago now. Funny how a five day test match takes over time.

We toured the museum which has some great artefacts including a complete Ketch and then sought the cafe over the road for lunch.

Having another couple of hours to kill, we decide to try for the cutter they are preserving - The City of Adelaide - but on our way, we find the path blocked by construction work. We encounter a local chap called Neil who also wants to visit the ship and he drives us the 2 miles there. For some reason, he didn't want to tour the ship. Curious.

The ship is known as "The Ship that wouldn't Die" and for good reason as it's been sunk at least twice. Inside it's like the Great Britain, outside a scruffy Cutty Sark. It has a teak hull with iron framing. It was built in Britain, used to transport people out here and was then a hospital ship. It then ended up in the service of the Royal Navy as a reserve headquarters until it sank. After 18 months, it was salvaged and brought back to Adelaide where it's undergoing restoration which is likely to take decades considering the snails pace it currently going at. Inside it smells of paint, thinners and glue.

We walk the 2 miles back to Port Dock and catch the next train back to Adelaide. The station at Adelaide I should mention, it a really good piece of 1920's architecture. The hotel arranged a taxi for us and we arrived at the airport in good time to catch the flight. the airport hasn't got that many facilities so we struggle to find drinks and food.

Having cleared to security checks, we boarded the A350-800 for the 13 hour flight to Dubai - most I have ever flown in one go so it's a bit of an ordeal. It's also a cold flight and the crew weren't that welcoming. I was glad to get off in the end. Emirates does have a good entertainment system though which kept me amused well enough.