There's a particular magic to the 8.17am Bomaderry to Sydney train service. For journalist John Hanscombe, it's known as the travellers' train, a rolling departure lounge filled with passengers clutching suitcases and backpacks, all embarking on new adventures.
As the train winds through the bucolic northern Shoalhaven, its green meadows dotted with dairy cows, a shared but unspoken excitement fills the carriage. It's a final chance to embed memories of home before venturing further afield.
The Heartbeat of Australian Travel
This scene is a microcosm of a national trend, as revealed by ACM's comprehensive Heart of Australia survey. The data shows that the desire to explore is deeply embedded in the Australian psyche. A significant 30 per cent of Australians are planning an overseas trip in the coming year, while a massive 60 per cent are considering a domestic holiday.
Kate Cox, head of Travel at ACM and publisher of Explore Travel, confirms this national sentiment. "What's clear from the Heartbeat data is that the desire to travel - near or far - has become part of our national DNA," she said. "Australians are planners; they're constantly thinking about their next escape."
Beginning the Adventure
The evidence of this wanderlust is visible on the travellers' train itself. Luggage tags hint at grand voyages—a Royal Caribbean tag here, a Carnival tag there. Bags without visible tags are likely destined for airport check-in counters or perhaps a connecting train platform at Central Station for the next leg of a longer rail journey.
For many, including Hanscombe, the choice to take the train is a deliberate one. It serves as a slow immersion into a travelling mindset, a way to begin the adventure before the main event even starts. The journey builds anticipation, with a particular frisson felt as the train approaches Wolli Creek, the station that connects the South Coast line to the airport line.
An Invitation to Explore
In the spirit of this shared wanderlust, Hanscombe is extending an invitation to readers. While the destination remains a mystery for now, he promises to send written postcards from the road, sharing new places and fresh experiences. The aim is to inspire others to start planning their own journeys, proving that the ancient words of Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu still ring true: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
For now, however, the adventure calls. There's a plane to catch, and a nation of eager travellers is ready to follow.
