Great Southern Rail Journey

Today, you will meet the group at a nearby location to visit the historic Rocks area and learn more about early convict history, the financially focused Central Business District and Macquarie Street. Marvel at 19th-century sandstone architecture, such as NSW Parliament House, Rum Hospital, Hyde Park Barracks and St Mary’s Cathedral. Then, continue to Mrs Macquaries Point to enjoy magnificent views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. 

Continue through Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, home to the rich and famous. Travelling along the coves and shores of one of the world’s most impressive harbours, take a few stops for photo opportunities, including a panoramic 
photo of the Sydney skyline. You will pass through areas such as Kings Cross, Double Bay and Rose Bay before arriving at Watsons Bay.

Your next stop is the famous Bondi Beach, where you can visit the beachfront promenade, dip your toes in the surf and watch locals riding the Bondi waves. Re-board your bus and continue to Tamarama and Bronte beaches before returning to the city via Centennial Park and Paddington, a trendy district with elegant terrace houses and boutique shops along Oxford Street. 

Head back through the city towards Darling Harbour and Barangaroo for a brief stop to see Sydney’s newest entertainment precinct. The tour concludes at either Darling Harbour or Circular Quay, where you can spend the rest of the day strolling and exploring.
 

Meet the group to start your journey to The Blue Mountains National Park, one of seven national parks that make up the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. This wonderland of sandstone outcrops, deep ravines and hazy blue eucalyptus forests boasts luxury retreats and stunning views. 

Today, your guide will take you off the beaten track to visit remote lookout locations and discuss the history, flora and fauna of this magnificent region. The first stop of the day is at Calmsley Hill, a working farm also home to kangaroos, emus, wombats and koalas. Enjoy morning tea and time to wander at your leisure.

From Calmsley Hill, continue to ascend the Blue Mountains via the highway. Visit one of a range of stunning outlooks of the Jamison Valley, composed of beautiful vistas. When possible, this excursion will be away from the crowds of tourists that visit the mountains each day, ensuring guests enjoy a stress-free experience, taking in the views and information imparted by their guide.   

You’ll then arrive at Eaglehawk Lookout, a remote lookout point for views of the famous Three Sisters. Here, your guide will discuss the legends behind this famous rock formation. There will also be time available for you to take some scenic photos.

The afternoon is spent visiting a selection of lookouts. Once you set your eyes on the view from Govetts Leap, you’ll know why it’s one of the most famous lookouts in Australia. The magnificent waterfall drops a whopping 180 metres to the base of the cliff, and the lookout provides sweeping views down the valley to the Grose Wilderness. 

Finally, you’ll stop at the delightful Blue Mountains Botanic Garden, where you enjoy the sweeping views across to Sydney before travelling down the Bells Line of Road and its fruit orchard industry.
 

Dynamic, dazzling and endlessly photogenic, Sydney is Australia’s most iconic city—where natural beauty and cosmopolitan living meet in spectacular fashion.  Explore buzzing neighbourhoods like Surry Hills, Newtown and Paddington, then take a ferry across the harbour to Manly or watch the sun set behind the Opera House.

This day is yours to discover Sydney’s culinary delights, shops and culture at your own pace.
 

Today, your driver will escort you to the airport to board your flight to Adelaide.

Upon arrival in Adelaide, your driver will meet you at the airport for your transfer to the hotel.   

You’ll spend the rest of your day exploring at your leisure, perhaps visiting the Adelaide Botanic Garden.
 

Today, you’ll meet your group at a nearby location to start the tour through several island habitats and see wildlife in their natural environments. Kangaroo Island is a haven for Australian wildlife, which exists without the threat of introduced predators. It’s home to some 250 species of birds, many of which, through isolation from the mainland, have developed their own subspecies and are therefore unique to Kangaroo Island. You can listen to their distinct sounds echo throughout the island’s tall Eucalyptus trees. As you travel the island, also keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies, reptiles and wildflowers.
At the spectacular Seal Bay Conservation Park, you will enjoy a memorable walk along the beach, home to a healthy Australian sea lion colony, which, from a distance, you may see basking on the beach or among the sand dunes after their extensive fishing expedition. 
Travel through the island’s interior, keeping an eye out for koalas and echidnas. Explore spectacular beaches and enjoy a bushwalk. Listen for Australia’s rarest cockatoo, the Kangaroo Island glossy black cockatoo and watch out for the Tammar wallaby, with its small, fine features.
Later in the afternoon, as the day draws to a close, see kangaroos leave the safety of the bush to begin grazing in the open pastures. Your tour concludes in Penneshaw in time for the return ferry to the mainland and coach transfer to Adelaide.
 

Explore the historic Barossa Valley with a local guide, discovering boutique wineries that are big on character. Known for producing hearty Shiraz, Barossa is perfect for the red wine lover.

Visiting four boutique wineries in a day, where professionally trained wine guides will create a unique and engaging wine experience for your group. Avoiding the crowds in a small group, guests will visit both big-name and small, family-owned wineries, and taste some of the best wines available in the region.

This tour experience also includes a lunch at a popular Barossa restaurant.  
 

Meet your driver in the hotel lobby for your transfer to the train station. Settle into life on the train and get familiar with your cabin, the lounge and the social hub. Enjoy morning tea and savour a relaxed lunch on board while watching the ever-changing landscape through the windows.

In the afternoon, the train will arrive in regional Victoria for your first off-train experience.
 

After breakfast on board, today is yours to explore Australia’s political capital, Canberra. Enjoy a coach ride to Canberra City Centre to experience a memorable lunch at Old Parliament House before an afternoon of insightful guided tours that you can choose from, including the National War Memorial, Parliament House or the National Portrait Gallery.

As the afternoon turns to evening, return to the train in time for another gourmet dinner on board. After dinner, retire to the lounge with your fellow travellers as the Great Southern rolls northward.  
 

Linger over breakfast on board before departing on your choice of off-train experience around Coffs Harbour. The Coffs Explorer travels up to Sealy Lookout, offering views for miles from the Forest Sky Pier, before heading to the spectacular North Coast Regional Botanical Garden.  

Soak in the beachside vibe at the boutique Sunday Markets, where you can explore the popular market stalls, take a leisurely walk on the historic jetty or simply sit back, relax and enjoy the local music. Alternatively, take a stroll from the Urunga Boardwalk to the Beach with a local Indigenous guide, who will help you spot native wildlife through the walk and teach about the history of the Gumbaynggirr people, with a demonstration of traditional tools and weaponry, and the opportunity to see and taste bush tucker. 

After your Coffs Harbour morning, indulge in a final lunch on board before arriving in Brisbane, completing your coastal train journey. Your driver will meet you at the train station and transfer you to your hotel in Brisbane. 
 

Meet the group at a convenient departure place, right in the heart of Brisbane city, to enjoy informative commentary from your captain as you glide along Brisbane’s waterfront, passing from the bustle of the city’s skyscrapers to leafy suburbs with waterside mansions. 

Enjoy three hours exploring the world’s largest koala sanctuary and discover the Platypus House, where you may get a chance to see the shy platypus, a native of Australia.  
 

Today, you will meet your driver who will take you to the wharf to board the ferry ride over to Tangalooma Island Resort.

Go further than land can take you and enjoy a cruise along the Moreton Bay Region’s protected marine park. As you motor along the bay in a pontoon boat, you are able to see the marine life beneath the surface. Your knowledgeable guides will tell you all about the island and its surroundings.  

Spend your day on the island enjoying the beach and Ranger experiences. When evening falls, you will board the return Ferry to Brisbane. Upon arrival at the wharf, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
 

Brisbane is a city that blends relaxed charm with modern sophistication. As the capital of Queensland, Brisbane is often described as Australia’s most welcoming major city—a place where you can soak up sunshine year-round, explore cutting-edge art galleries and enjoy open-air dining along scenic riverfronts.

Whether you're wandering through the cultural precinct at South Bank, admiring views from Mount Coot-tha or discovering the vibrant energy of neighbourhoods like Fortitude Valley and West End, Brisbane offers a perfect balance of nature, culture and urban life.

Spend your last day in Australia exploring Brisbane and all it has to offer at your leisure.
 

Your extraordinary journey through Australia ends today. Meet your driver in the lobby for your transfer to the airport.