Luxury rail travel in Australia with off-train excursions to explore the country’s vast beauty
In a country the size of Australia, trying to see it all can be the best kind of challenge. A great way to explore is by luxury train, allowing you to cover vast distances in comfort and style, admiring epic landscapes as they pass. There are also off-train excursions so you can connect with the landscape and its people and wildlife.
The Ghan runs between Darwin and Adelaide, while the Indian Pacific goes, as you might suspect, between Perth and Sydney on the Indian and Pacific coasts. With both trains, there is the option to selected your preferred route, so you can choose to spend between one and three nights on board. The Great Southern traverses between Adelaide or Melbourne to Queensland’s capital, Brisbane, and you can decide to stay either two or three nights on board.
Once you’ve checked into your private cabin, every detail of your train journey is cared for, leaving you free to relax and enjoy regionally inspired menus and premium wines in the dining cars and exclusive access lounges. The planned excursions depend on your route, and range from exploring Aboriginal culture in the Katherine region, walking trails in Alice Springs Desert Park or Simpsons Gap (known as Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte people) and discovering the wine producing region of Barossa Valley.
All Australian rail journeys work beautifully combined with longer itineraries, so speak to your travel designer to plan a luxury rail journey as part of your bespoke Australia tour.
Highlights
Delve into Sydney and the iconic attractions in and around the city
Board the luxury Ghan through central Australia’s epic Outback
Understand the spiritual significance of Uluru with your expert guide
Explore the Barossa Valley wine region in South Australia
Walk through spectacular scenery in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales
We love to plan trips that include luxury rail journeys alongside other epic Australian experiences – helicopter flights over Uluru, private boat cruises in Sydney harbour, exploring the floodplains of the Northern Territory with expert field guides, and private tastings, vineyard tours and masterclasses at exclusive Barossa Valley wineries. Tell us what you like and we will weave it in.

Keith Jarman
Senior Travel Designer
Our favourite routes in Australia
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Trip inspiration
Where to go

Brisbane
South Australia spans outback deserts, coastal beaches and fertile wine regions. Its capital, Adelaide, stands apart from other major cities, with its wide streets and 19th-century architecture. Adelaide offers easy access to the Barossa Valley, one of Australia’s oldest wine regions.
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New South Wales
New South Wales, on Australia’s east coast, has Sydney at its heart. The state stretches from surf beaches and coastal towns like Byron Bay to the Blue Mountains, and farmland that fades into the outback. It also includes the Hunter Valley’s historic vineyards, rainforests, ski fields and Aboriginal cultural sites.
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South Australia
South Australia spans outback deserts, coastal beaches and fertile wine regions. Its capital, Adelaide, stands apart from other major cities, with its wide streets and 19th-century architecture. Adelaide offers easy access to the Barossa Valley, one of Australia’s oldest wine regions.
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Sydney
The capital of New South Wales and Australia’s largest city is known for its harbour, historic landmarks and layered history from ancient Aboriginal cultures to British colonisation. Its famous skyline blends 19th-century buildings with modern architecture like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Nearby beaches and national parks make the city a strong base for exploring the outdoors.
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Top End
The Top End, in Australia’s Northern Territory, is known for its remote landscapes and Aboriginal heritage. Its capital, Darwin, was once a gold rush town and now serves as a hub for exploring the region. The area is marked by deep gorges, tropical savannah and diverse wildlife.
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Uluru and the Outback
The raw, elemental beauty of the Australian Outback lies in wide skies, scorched earth and the quiet presence of life that endures. Here, ancient stories are written into the land itself and giants like Uluru rise from the desert like a sentinel. For the Aboriginal people, this is sacred ground, rich with meaning.
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Victoria and Melbourne
Victoria, Australia’s southern pocket, is anchored by Melbourne – a city that thrives on culture, caffeine and sport. Beyond the city, the coastline twists into cliffs and surf breaks along the Great Ocean Road, while inland, the Grampians rise in weathered silhouettes and the Yarra Valley stretches out in vines and morning mist.
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Western Australia
Western Australia stretches across a third of the continent, and its sense of emptiness – from the quiet sweep of beaches to the rust-red heartlands – is part of the appeal. Perth, its capital, balances urban ease with wild surroundings. Head north to Ningaloo, where reef meets shore and whale sharks glide through clear shallows, or south to Margaret River, where waves, wine and towering forests meet.
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When to visit
With Australia’s immense size and diverse landscapes, different regions are best visited at different times of year, and no matter the month, somewhere will be in its prime. The southern coastal cities are wonderful all year round, if a touch cooler in winter between May and August. This, however, is the ideal time to explore the Red Centre, Queensland, Great Barrier Reef and North West, areas which are very hot and humid in the summer.
The Indian Pacific generally operates year-round, the Ghan from March to November, and the Great Southern from December to February.

Uluru and the Outback
April–October

New South Wales
December–February

Wildflowers in Western Australia
September–November

Wine harvest
February–April
Australia Travel Guides
Plan your trip to Australia
Whatever you want from your Australia rail tour, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.


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When you book a trip in today’s world there’s a lot to think about. But with the right advice and expert planning, you can do it with confidence.
If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.