Julie Goodwin: 'I've travelled all over Australia, but this train holiday from Perth blew me away.'

Thanks to our brand partner, THE INDIAN PACIFIC

Julie Goodwin is one of Australia's most beloved personalities — so when she says a holiday's worth doing, we're all ears.

Julie first captured the nation's attention in 2009 when she became the inaugural winner of MasterChef Australia, triumphing over Poh Ling Yeow in a finale watched by more than four million viewers. 

Since then, the mum-of-three has continued her dominance in the home cooking space, releasing multiple successful cookbooks, TV shows, doing several reality TV stints, starting a cooking school and sharing her love of cooking on social media. 

The cook is married to Michael Goodwin, and the couple stays busy with three sons: Joe, Tom and Paddy. Recently, the couple enjoyed a much-needed getaway with Journey Beyond aboard the Indian Pacific from dreamlike Western Australia.

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"I've always loved travelling around Australia — it's something I've done my whole life," Julie told Mamamia.

"When I was in sixth grade, my parents took us out of school and we travelled around Australia for three months. That experience gave me a deep, lasting love for this country." 

Julie and Mick's five-day Gold Premium trip began in sunny Perth (Boorloo), starting with a day of biking and exploring on the pristine Rottnest Island (Wadjemup).

"The island itself is absolutely stunning. As soon as we got off the boat, we grabbed our bikes and helmets and set off on a long ride. We spent a few hours exploring, stopped for a swim and even spotted quokkas in the wild," she said.

The Rottnest Island day trip included a tour of the island. "We had a quick bite to eat and then we jumped on the Rottnest Express, which took us around the island and showed us the lighthouses and lookouts," she said.

"The thing I love about doing a bus tour is that you get the commentary, so we learned a lot about the history of the island, how it generates its own power now and the history of the quokkas and whales."

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They then boarded the Indian Pacific, making their way through Australia's largest outback town, Kalgoorlie (Karlkurla), crossing the vast Nullarbor and stopping in the remote South Australian town of Cook.

From the moment Julie stepped aboard the Indian Pacific, she knew she was in for something truly special.

"We headed down to the platform where the train was set to depart, and they had beautiful musicians playing with canapés and drinks while we waited to board the train," she said.

On board, Julie enjoyed access to the Gold Premium Restaurant and the Gold Premium Lounge. The all-inclusive nature of the journey meant the trip's value for money spoke for itself.

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"We didn't have to reach into our own pockets once — and that's what I love about all-inclusive trips: you're not constantly worrying about dollars and cents. You can just enjoy the full experience."

The Indian Pacific boasts refurbished interiors and upgraded carriages, with the Gold Premium Restaurant offering chef-prepared meals and premium Australian wines.

"I thought the food was outstanding. Each meal was abundant and beautifully showcased native Australian flavours. It was perfectly presented and delicious," Julie said.

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"The room had everything you could possibly need. They were compact, but surprisingly spacious — especially for Mick, who's 6'7. If anyone was going to feel cramped, it'd be him, but the beds were big enough and it actually felt roomier than our caravan. Cosy, yes — but really comfortable."

Julie was especially impressed by the level of service offered by the friendly train crew. "We had a lady who greeted us as we got onto the train, and she looked after us for the trip," she said.

"People showed us through the dining room, and the bar staff were making coffees all day and night. It was beautiful service: it was friendly and warm, they were very generous, lovely people."

Aside from what she experienced on board, Julie was thrilled with the curated off-train experiences — with highlights including Broken Hill, Kalgoorlie and the tiny town of Cook.

"One of the most beautiful stops was a tiny place called Cook in South Australia. We got off the train at night to find a bonfire, and one of the onboard guitarists was there, playing classic Australian songs under the stars," she recalled.

"They walked around with chocolates and they had drinks. A guy there turned off all the lights and showed us the constellations in the sky — it was really special."

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After passing through the Flinders Ranges, Spencer Gulf and the Adelaide Plains, the train made a stop at Long Plains, followed by an afternoon in the world-renowned Barossa Valley. The final two destinations were Broken Hill and the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

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For Julie, this trip was a chance to see all the beauty of Australia. 

"It's different to anything I've ever done before. It's quite mesmerising crossing the Nullarbor and you really get a sense of this country and how unique it is," she said.

"It's really unique being rocked to sleep by a train and being able to visit places on both sides of the country in the span of only a few days," she said. 

Julie plans on enjoying many more trips in her future.

"I think I could spend my whole life travelling the length and breadth of this country from top to bottom and side to side and still not scratch the surface of all the things that there is to see."

To plan your own Indian Pacific adventure with Journey Beyond, head to their website.

Feature Image: Supplied.

A journey aboard the Indian Pacific will whisk you between Perth, Adelaide and Sydney in comfort and style. With epic transcontinental crossings between the Indian and Pacific oceans, step onboard for an all-inclusive rail journey you'll never forget.
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