The Antipodean Express

A Journey by Train from New Zealand to Spain

Gregory Hill

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Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

Exisle
01 May 2024

True stories; Trains & railways: general interest; Travel & holiday; Expeditions

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

When Gregory Hill set out to travel from his home in Wellington, New Zealand to its antipode – the furthest point from it on the globe – he knew it would be an incredible adventure. What he didn’t anticipate was that his journey would be one of the last of its kind, as the places he travelled through, and travel itself, would shortly be devastated by war and pandemic. This turned what could simply be a captivating travel log into a meaningful reminder of the joy and privilege of setting out on an epic adventure.

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, passes over the volcanoes of Java, through Southeast Asia and on into Europe. From a hilarious miscommunication in China to cultural immersion at the Paris Opera, there are stop-offs with half a world’s worth of impressions, people, history, food, music and culture. Hill also describes most of the great trains of the Eurasian hemisphere, from New Zealand’s Northern Explorer to the Eurostar, and everything in between.

The grand finale is a day spent in the obscure Spanish village of Alaejos, locating the exact antipode of the author’s living room. The perfect end to a vast adventure, and a last look at an era of such ambitious journeys.

By: Gregory Hill
Imprint: Exisle
Country of Publication: New Zealand
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 155mm,
ISBN: 9781921497155
ISBN 10: 1921497157
Pages: 296
Publication Date: 01 May 2024
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Gregory Hill is a former principal player in the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. Following his career in music, he indulged his secret passion for long-distance train travel, resulting in this epic journey.