Picture yourself sitting around a roaring bonfire in the middle of the Great Australian desert, sipping a nightcap with a group of new friends as you gaze up at a star-studded sky.
That’s just one of the unforgettable memories you could take home with you when you book yourself an all-inclusive rail holiday through the magnificent Australian landscape.
If there’s one thing more fascinating than the ever-changing view from the window of a long-distance train, it’s the intrepid expeditions you discover when you disembark.
Australia’s leading experiential tourism company, Journey Beyond, offers three exciting multi-day rail journeys. Running south to north – and back again – between Adelaide and Darwin, The Ghan is widely considered one of the world’s greatest train journeys. Crossing the continent coast to coast between Perth in the west and Sydney in the east, the Indian Pacific offers a rare opportunity to see the spectacular interior landscape of Australia’s southern states. And the Great Southern route skirts the south-eastern corner of the country, tracking between Brisbane and Adelaide via Victoria.
All journeys include meals and beverages, and your choice of an exciting selection of unique Off Train Experiences. Simply step aboard, unpack your bags in your stylish private cabin, then relax with a glass of bubbles while you watch the world go by.
And when the train stops, the adventure continues. There’s an Off Train Experience to suit everyone, from cycling tours and gorge cruises to cultural experiences. Take in the breathtaking natural scenery, sample the superb local food and wine, soak in Australia’s Indigenous culture and learn more about the area’s fascinating rail and mining history – all included in the price of your ticket. At selected stops, you can add an optional upgrade to see the sights from the air.
The world-famous Ghan route takes you through the heart of Australia’s Red Centre, stopping at fascinating, remote desert locations you’d be unlikely to experience travelling by any other means.
In Alice Springs, located pretty much slap-bang in the middle of the country’s vast interior, you can view the impressive rock formations of Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm, learn about the Indigenous Arrernte people’s deep spiritual connection with the land or encounter fascinating native wildlife, including wallabies, bilbies, desert raptors, frill-necked lizards and thorny devils.
Engine enthusiasts should be sure to sign up for the Roads and Railways tour, which takes in the National Road Transport Hall of Fame, the Kenworth Dealer Hall of Fame and the RSL Military Museum, as well as the Old Ghan Heritage Railway.
In the remote Northern Territory town of Katherine, your options include a cruise down the Nitmiluk Gorge, an underground adventure in the Cutta Cutta Caves or a horse-breaking demonstration at a large cattle station.
The 4,352km Indian Pacific journey stops in one of Australian’s most famous outback cities, Broken Hill, where you can choose between a historical tour of the mining town, an art class with the late iconic Australian artist Pro Hart’s son John, delving underground into the nearby silver mines, a lesson in foraging and bush tucker with a local chef, or a dazzling town tour and drag show hosted by local guide Shelita Buffet in a nod to the movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which is partly set in Broken Hill.
Depending on your direction of travel, the Indian Pacific also stops in the tiny ghost town of Cook, the Barossa Valley for a taste of the wine region and for eco-adventures in the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains.
On the Great Southern route, the spectacular coastal and inland scenery between Brisbane and Adelaide also offers opportunities for an array of tailored activities. Disembark in the beautiful seaside town of Coffs Harbour to explore its beaches, boardwalks and vibrant markets or in the Grampians National Park to take in the panoramic views, or be one of the first to visit the newly opened Wama Foundation National Centre for Environmental Arts and Endemic Botanic Garden.
Journey Beyond rail adventures are all-inclusive and operate year-round. Discover Australia by Train in 2026 and experience the romance of rail.
To find out more and book your all-inclusive train journey, visit journeybeyondrail.com.au
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