Great Australian Railway Journeys

Original version

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Documentaries

Factual: Travel

Michael Portillo travels the length and breadth of Australia by train.

BBC Four

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Four HD

Michael Portillo

Alison Kreps

FremantleMedia

Ben Rowland

Great Australian Railway Journeys: Series 1: Newcastle to Brisbane

Newcastle to Brisbane

Series 1

BBC Two - Great Australian Railway Journeys, Series 1, Newcastle to Brisbane

Michael crosses the Hawkesbury River and rides a solar-powered train.  

Michael Portillo travels from the coal mines of Newcastle, New South Wales, to Brisbane. He crosses the mighty Hawkesbury River, tends to an injured koala and rides a solar-powered train.  

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 the way, he crosses the mighty Hawkesbury River to admire magnificent scenery, tends to an injured koala, gets some tips from an Aussie rugby legend and rides a solar-powered train.  

In the world’s largest coal exporting port, Michael marvels at the skill of the loader as he transfers thousands of tonnes of coal from rail to ship. The North Coast Line takes Michael to the koala hospital at Port Macquarie, where he finds populations of these iconic marsupials are in rapid decline.  

At Kempsey, Michael discovers a factory where, at the time of his Bradshaw’s, they began to make the quintessential Australian bush hat.  Michael learns how the hats are produced and tries some for size.

In Woolgoolga, Michael joins a Sikh community to hear how they have integrated into Australian society. He learns how to meditate on the beach at Byron Bay and tastes traditional lamington cake in Brisbane before tackling training with the Queensland Reds.

Great Australian Railway Journeys: Series 1

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Great Australian Railway Journeys

Series 1

Newcastle to Brisbane

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Brand

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

About BBC Two