Michael Portillo ventures down under to ride one of the world’s greatest rail journeys aboard the legendary Ghan Railway. \n\nMichael's 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide tells him 'a transcontinental railway is being constructed' and he traces its route from the southern harbour of Port Augusta to the port of Darwin on the north coast. Along the way, Michael uncovers the history of the ambitious project, which stretches nearly 2,000 miles across Australia’s red centre, and learns why it took nearly a century to complete. \n\nSteaming through the Flinders Ranges, Michael travels on the Pichi Richi heritage railway - the only remaining part of the 'Old Ghan' line in operation. \n\nIn the outback city of Alice Springs, Michael meets the indigenous Arrente people of the region around their campfire, where he hears dreaming stories and shares their bushtucker. He learns first-hand how their grandparents were mistreated at the time of his guidebook, when state policy required that children be taken from their families to be assimilated into white society.
Source: BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 10. Kuranda To Townsville – Part 2
Michael Portillo continues his rail exploration of Queensland, Australia, from the tropical rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef.\n\nIn the wonderfully preserved Art Deco town o ...
19-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 9. Kuranda To Townsville – Part 1
From tropical rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef, Michael Portillo navigates his way by rail through Queensland, Australia with the aid of his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide.\n\n ...
18-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 8. Canberra To Melbourne – Part 2
Michael Portillo continues his exploration of southeast Australia in Melbourne, Victoria, guided by his 1913 Bradshaw.\n\nIn the suburb of Lilydale, he discovers Coombe Cottage, ...
14-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 7. Canberra To Melbourne – Part 1
Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo crosses the south east of Australia, from the seat of government in Canberra to the multi-ethnic heart of its second ...
13-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 6. Adelaide To Perth – Part 2
Michael Portillo continues his 1700 mile rail journey across southern Australia from Adelaide to Perth.\n\nArriving in Kalgoorlie aboard the luxurious transcontinental Indian Pa ...
12-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 4. Sydney To Broken Hill – Part 2
Michael Portillo strikes west from the waterside metropolis of Sydney, New South Wales, into the Blue Mountains, travelling 570 miles into the interior of the vast Australian co ...
11-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 3. Sydney To Broken Hill – Part 1
Michael Portillo embarks on a new rail journey down under, exploring New South Wales with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide. Beginning in the waterside metropolis of Sydney, the N ...
07-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 5. Adelaide To Perth – Part 1
Michael Portillo embarks on an epic rail adventure aboard the transcontinental Indian Pacific Railway, from the southern port city of Adelaide, south Australia, 1,700 miles deep ...
06-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 2. Port Augusta To Darwin – Part 2
Michael Portillo continues to trace the route of one of the world’s greatest rail journeys – the legendary Ghan Railway. Before boarding the luxurious, modern transc ...
05-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 1. Port Augusta To Darwin – Part 1
Michael Portillo ventures down under to ride one of the world’s greatest rail journeys aboard the legendary Ghan Railway. \n\nMichael's 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide tells ...
04-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 5. Adelaide To Perth – Part 1
Michael Portillo embarks on an epic rail adventure aboard the transcontinental Indian Pacific Railway, from the southern port city of Adelaide, south Australia, 1,700 miles deep ...
06-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 7. Canberra To Melbourne – Part 1
Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide, Michael Portillo crosses the south east of Australia, from the seat of government in Canberra to the multi-ethnic heart of its second ...
13-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1: 6. Newcastle To Brisbane
Michael Portillo is on the eastern coast of Australia travelling from the coal mines of Newcastle, New South Wales, to Queensland’s modern state capital, Brisbane. Along t ...
30-04-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 8. Canberra To Melbourne – Part 2
Michael Portillo continues his exploration of southeast Australia in Melbourne, Victoria, guided by his 1913 Bradshaw.\n\nIn the suburb of Lilydale, he discovers Coombe Cottage, ...
14-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 9. Kuranda To Townsville – Part 1
From tropical rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef, Michael Portillo navigates his way by rail through Queensland, Australia with the aid of his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide.\n\n ...
18-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 3. Sydney To Broken Hill – Part 1
Michael Portillo embarks on a new rail journey down under, exploring New South Wales with his 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide. Beginning in the waterside metropolis of Sydney, the N ...
07-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 10. Kuranda To Townsville – Part 2
Michael Portillo continues his rail exploration of Queensland, Australia, from the tropical rainforest to the Great Barrier Reef.\n\nIn the wonderfully preserved Art Deco town o ...
19-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 2. Port Augusta To Darwin – Part 2
Michael Portillo continues to trace the route of one of the world’s greatest rail journeys – the legendary Ghan Railway. Before boarding the luxurious, modern transc ...
05-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 6. Adelaide To Perth – Part 2
Michael Portillo continues his 1700 mile rail journey across southern Australia from Adelaide to Perth.\n\nArriving in Kalgoorlie aboard the luxurious transcontinental Indian Pa ...
12-11-2024
BBC 2
Series 1 (30-minute Versions): 1. Port Augusta To Darwin – Part 1
Michael Portillo ventures down under to ride one of the world’s greatest rail journeys aboard the legendary Ghan Railway. \n\nMichael's 1913 Bradshaw’s Guide tells ...
04-11-2024
BBC 2