The Antipodean Express

A journey by train from New Zealand to Spain

Gregory Hill author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Exisle Publishing

Published:13th Aug '24

Should be back in stock very soon

The Antipodean Express cover

An epic journey from New Zealand to Spain, celebrating the enduring romance of travel by train.

The journey of The Antipodean Express takes in 89 days of travel, on 33 trains, through 19 countries. It begins in New Zealand's North Island, weaves past the volcanoes of Java, through East Asia and on into Europe. From hilarious miscommunications in China to cultural immersion at the Bolshoi Ballet, there are stop-offs with half a worlds worth of impressions, people, history, food, music and culture. Hill also describes most of the great trains of the Eurasian hemisphere, from New Zealands Northern Explorer to the Eurostar, and everything in between.

The culmination is a day spent in the obscure Spanish village of Alaejos, locating the exact antipode of the authors living room. The perfect end to a vast adventure.

“Enjoy travelling vicariously with some quirky companions?  How about a journey from New Zealand to Spain undertaken almost entirely by train?  Meet amusingly eccentric French horn player Gregory Hill and his German violinist wife Anne.  Well-illustrated with maps and photos, this is a fun armchair journey with Gregory and Anne with musical interludes including the Bolshoi Ballet and the Paris Opera.
- Gourmet On The Road
“Inspiring and unexpected, The Antipodean Express is a delightful account of a New Zealand couple’s extraordinary adventures to reach the other side of the globe.”
- Foreword
“The Indian Pacific and the Ghan are like luxurious cruise ships on rails”  
-ABC Melbourne Afternoons with Trevor Chapel (Broadcast Statewide in Victoria)
“A railway adventure tracing a journey from the author’s home in New Zealand to its exact antipodes in rural Spain. The narrative recounts 89 consecutive days of travel with 33 trains through 19 countries. It describes most of the great trains of the Eurasian hemisphere, from New Zealand’s Northern Explorer to the Eurostar and everything in between. Full of people, memories, history, and places – anyone interested in travel, trains, food, music, and cultures will love taking this armchair journey.”
- Our Generation Magazine
“For lovers of train travel it’s all about the journey. And what a journey Gregory Hill and his wife Anne Loeser took – 89 days of travel, on 33 trains through 19 countries. The journey is chronicled rather beautifully in Gregory’s book The Antipodean Express which is subtitled A Journey by Train from New Zealand to Spain. To my mind this trip is right up there with some of the great rail journeys I have followed involving Michael Portillo, Paul Theroux, Joanna Lumley, and, among others, Michael Palin.”
-InReview
“Well written and a thoroughly enjoyable story. Gregory Hill has a most wonderful sense of humour as he describes situations and people's foibles that they met on this epic journey. There were many times that I laughed, smiled or was sitting on the edge of my seat. It certainly is an enjoyable page turner.” 
- School Days Magazine
“The most interesting book I have read for a long time.”
- Flax Roots
 “Well illustrated with maps and photos, The Antipodean Express is a fun armchair journey with Gregory and Anne, with musical interludes, and a vivid travel chronicle filled with surprising global insights and fascinating railway anecdotes. A captivating travel log has been converted into an expressive reminder of the privilege and enjoyment that can be derived from setting out on a grand railway exploration. Always making sure to keep on the right track(s) – so to speak!” 
- Public Service News

ISBN: 9781921497155

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

296 pages