Discover Australia’s best luxury train journeys, where iconic routes like The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and Great Southern blend opulent cabins, gourmet dining, and breathtaking outback landscapes for unforgettable rail adventures.
There is a certain kind of traveller who understands that the journey is not merely a means to an end — it is the destination itself. In Australia, no mode of travel embodies this philosophy more magnificently than the great luxury trains that traverse this vast, ancient continent. To board one of Australia’s iconic rail journeys is to surrender to a slower, richer way of moving through the world; to watch a country unfold through wide glass windows as a landscape shifts from emerald coast to ochre desert, from vine-draped valleys to the shimmering nothingness of the Nullarbor Plain.
Australia is a country of almost incomprehensible scale. At nearly 7.7 million square kilometres, it is roughly the same size as the contiguous United States, yet its population is a fraction of the size. Much of its most extraordinary terrain — the red-dirt heart of the outback, the gorges of the Northern Territory, the ancient ranges of Victoria — sits far beyond the reach of a weekend getaway or a rushed road trip. Luxury rail travel solves this beautifully. It places you in the landscape for days at a time, moving at a pace that invites reflection, with every comfort attended to and every meal a celebration of the regions rolling past your window.
Australia’s rail journeys are not simply transport; they are curated experiences designed for discerning travellers. The finest carriages rival boutique hotels in their attention to detail — private ensuites, premium linens, sommelier-curated wine lists, menus built around local produce. Yet what elevates them beyond any hotel is the intimacy with the landscape they offer: sunrise over the MacDonnell Ranges viewed from your cabin window; a dingo slipping between red gums at dusk; the surreal flatness of the Nullarbor stretching to every horizon, uninterrupted for hundreds of kilometres.
Here, then, is your essential guide to Australia’s greatest luxury rail journeys — where they go, how to travel them, and why every kilometre is worth savouring.
The Ghan: The Heart of Australia
ROUTE Adelaide ↔ Alice Springs ↔ Darwin (2,979 km)
DURATION 2–3 nights depending on service
OPERATOR Journey Beyond Rail
If there is one rail journey that captures the imagination of travellers worldwide, it is The Ghan. Named for the Afghan cameleers who navigated these same desert routes in the nineteenth century, The Ghan has been running between Adelaide and the tropical north since 1929, and today ranks consistently among the world’s most celebrated train journeys.
It connects Australia from south to north — from the wine regions of South Australia, through the scorched red heart of the continent, all the way to the steamy, crocodile-inhabited tropical coast of Darwin.
The full Ghan Expedition covers the entire 2,979-kilometre route over three nights, departing from either Darwin or Adelaide. Shorter segments are also available, including the Adelaide to Alice Springs service and the Top End Discovery, which runs between Alice Springs and Darwin through the wild landscapes of the Northern Territory.
Accommodation
The Ghan’s most extraordinary recent addition is the Australis Suite — described by Journey Beyond as the most expansive suite ever to grace Australian rail. Three times the size of the existing Platinum cabins, the Australis Suite features a separate bedroom, a full ensuite, and a generous lounge, making it a genuinely residential experience on rails.
Joining the Australis is the Aurora Suite, both debuting as part of the new Aurora Australis Suites carriages. For those seeking classic luxury, Platinum cabins offer private ensuites, premium linen, and exclusive access to the Platinum Club carriage. Gold and Gold Premium options provide a more accessible but still beautifully appointed experience.
Dining
Dining on The Ghan is a highlight in itself. Platinum guests enjoy hearty breakfasts, two-course lunches, and four-course dinners, all regionally inspired and matched with champagne and premium wines.
Menus celebrate the flavours of the regions through which the train passes — think native-spiced kangaroo, barramundi caught in northern waters, and desserts featuring bush ingredients. All meals, beverages, and off-train experiences are included in the fare.
Off-Train Experiences
The Ghan’s off-train programme transforms what might otherwise be a passive journey into an active adventure. In Alice Springs, guests can choose between a scenic helicopter flight over the extraordinary Mount Gillen, or an immersive journey to Uluru for the Ultimate Uluru Experience — one of the most profound encounters available anywhere on earth.
Near Coober Pedy, known as the opal capital of the world, the train pauses for a guided tour of this extraordinary underground town, while optional scenic flights over the surreal painted hills of the outback and the vast, mirrored surface of Lake Eyre are available for those who wish to see the landscape from above.
In Katherine, the magnificent Nitmiluk Gorge offers helicopter flights over ancient sandstone chasms carved by the Katherine River over millions of years.
The Indian Pacific: Ocean to Ocean
ROUTE Sydney ↔ Adelaide ↔ Perth (4,352 km)
DURATION 4 nights (eastbound, from 2025)
OPERATOR Journey Beyond Rail
The Indian Pacific is, by any measure, one of the great train journeys on earth. Spanning 4,352 kilometres between Sydney and Perth — from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean — it traverses the full breadth of the Australian continent, crossing through four states and some of the most dramatic and desolate terrain on the planet.
The journey takes passengers from the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, through the vast pastoral plains of New South Wales, across the otherworldly Nullarbor Plain (where the train runs along the world’s longest stretch of straight railway track — 478 kilometres without a single curve), before descending into the goldfields of Western Australia and arriving at the sun-drenched port city of Perth.
From 2025, the eastbound Indian Pacific journey has been extended to four nights, with new immersive off-train experiences added along the route. A new carriages addition — the Aurora Australis Suites — has also joined the Indian Pacific, featuring the same elevated contemporary design inspired by residential luxury: decorative timber accents, stone masonry, and fine ironwork.
Accommodation
As with The Ghan, the Indian Pacific’s premium experience is found in the Australis and Aurora Suites, offering the very pinnacle of onboard accommodation for the first time. Platinum cabins provide the classic luxury experience — private ensuite, premium Jurlique amenities, Champagne Bollinger, and a personal attendant who quickly learns your preferences.
Gold Premium cabins, positioned between Gold and Platinum, feature contemporary outback-inspired interiors with exclusive access to the Gold Premium Lounge and Dining carriage, where chef-prepared regional menus are paired with premium beverages. Gold cabins suit those who want comfort and inclusion at a slightly more accessible price point.
Dining
Food and wine are central to the Indian Pacific experience. Platinum guests dine exclusively in the Platinum Club, where regionally inspired tasting menus change with the geography outside — dishes in South Australia will feature different ingredients and flavour profiles than those served crossing Western Australia.
The Gold Premium Dining carriage brings sophisticated, chef-led cooking to mid-tier travellers, with two-course lunches and four-course dinners paired with premium Australian wines. For those who want to understand what they’re drinking, the sommelier experiences onboard offer genuine depth.
Off-Train Experiences
The Indian Pacific pauses in Broken Hill — the remote outback city that has inspired generations of Australian artists and sits at the edge of the great western plains — for a guided exploration of this extraordinary living museum of frontier history and art.
In Cook, South Australia, the ghost town that once serviced the Nullarbor railway and now stands almost entirely empty, guests step off for a haunting and fascinating walk through the abandoned streetscapes and buildings.
Adelaide’s wine region awaits those doing partial journeys, and in Kalgoorlie, the famous gold-mining city of Western Australia offers tours of the world’s largest open-cut gold mine.
The Great Southern: Coast, Country & Capital
ROUTE Adelaide ↔ Brisbane (2,885 km)
DURATION 2–3 nights
OPERATOR Journey Beyond Rail
SEASON Summer (December–February)
The youngest of Australia’s great luxury trains, The Great Southern made its inaugural run in 2019 and has rapidly established itself as one of the country’s most beloved rail experiences. It is a seasonal, summer journey that sweeps through the southeast of the continent — from the Adelaide Hills through regional Victoria, across the Grampians mountain range, up along the New South Wales coast, and ultimately into Brisbane.
Unlike The Ghan and the Indian Pacific, which traverse the interior, The Great Southern is a journey of extraordinary diversity: ancient mountains, cathedral-like forests, sparkling beaches, and vineyard-covered valleys all appear within a single journey.
The route runs in both directions, and each direction offers a subtly different experience. The northbound service (Adelaide to Brisbane) takes two nights and three days, while the southbound journey (Brisbane to Adelaide) runs over three nights and four days, with the additional day offering further off-train experiences including Victoria’s iconic Twelve Apostles.
Accommodation
The Great Southern offers Platinum and Gold service levels, with the Gold Premium tier also available. Platinum cabins feature full-size ensuites, expansive windows, Bollinger Champagne, Jurlique toiletries, Bracegirdle’s chocolates, and a nightcap delivered at turndown — all the hallmarks of serious luxury.
Platinum guests have exclusive access to an intimate, modern dining and lounge carriage. Gold passengers enjoy the exquisite Art Deco-inspired Queen Adelaide Restaurant, with its crimson dining booths and old-world glamour, while the Gold Lounge — dressed in rich reds and period detail — serves as a vibrant social hub.
Dining
Dining on The Great Southern has earned particular praise from food writers and travel journalists alike. Menus are thoughtfully curated around regional produce, with each meal incorporating an ingredient from the area the train is currently passing through. Native quandong, lemon myrtle, and locally grown stone fruits appear alongside beautifully executed contemporary Australian cooking.
Three-course breakfasts, two-course lunches, and four-course dinners are all included, with a full selection of beverages. The onboard sommelier ensures that the wine list reflects the regions being traversed — something particularly resonant when the train glides through the vine country of South Australia and the Hunter Valley.
A live musician adds warmth to the Lounge carriage, and guests are encouraged to request songs and join in — an unexpectedly convivial touch that reflects the particular spirit of this journey.
Off-Train Experiences
The Great Southern’s off-train programme is exceptional. In the Grampians, guests choose from guided walks to the Venus Baths, coach tours through the dramatic Boroka Lookout, cellar door experiences at Pomonal Estate, or history-rich wine tastings at Fallen Giants winery. In Canberra, an exclusive lunch at Old Parliament House precedes afternoon visits to iconic national institutions — the National War Memorial, Parliament House, and the National Portrait Gallery.
At Coffs Harbour, the train pauses for a celebrated al fresco beachside dining experience, one of the most memorable meals of the entire journey, with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop. In the Hunter Valley (above), guests explore historic vineyards or venture to Port Stephens for land and sea adventures. Optional helicopter flights are available at each stop for those who wish to see these landscapes from above.
The Overland: A Classic Journey Between Two Great Cities
ROUTE Melbourne ↔ Adelaide (828 km)
DURATION Day service (approximately 10.5 hours)
OPERATOR Journey Beyond Rail
The Overland holds the distinction of being Australia’s oldest continuously operating passenger train. Running between Melbourne and Adelaide since 1887, it is a more intimate, daylight journey than its longer siblings — a refined crossing of the Western Districts of Victoria and the Limestone Coast of South Australia, rather than an epic multi-night expedition. The Overland is ideal for travellers who want to experience the romance of rail travel without committing to multiple nights onboard, or as a bookend to a longer Australian adventure.
The landscapes are quietly beautiful: the rolling, sheep-dotted farmlands of western Victoria, the volcanic plains near Ballarat, the mallee scrubland of the Victorian-South Australian border, and the pastoral countryside that unfolds as the train approaches Adelaide. It’s a journey best enjoyed with a good book, a glass of South Australian Shiraz, and a willingness to simply watch Australia drift past.
Onboard Experience
The Overland offers a comfortable and relaxed onboard experience, with spacious seating and a dining car serving meals and beverages throughout the journey. While it does not offer private cabin accommodation (it is a day service), it provides a generous, unhurried travel experience with attentive service.
The dining car menu celebrates Australian produce and regional flavours, and the generous windows make the most of the ever-changing countryside. It is, as Journey Beyond describe it, a chance to experience the comfort and romance of rail in a single day.
Practical Advice for the Discerning Rail Traveller
Train journeys aren’t for everyone but for those who embrace slow travel and a unique take on a destination, Australia’s luxury trains can’t be beat. Here’s what to know before you go.
When to Book
Australia’s luxury trains — particularly The Ghan and the Indian Pacific in Platinum and suite categories — sell out months or even years in advance. The new Australis and Aurora Suites are extraordinarily limited. If you have a specific departure in mind, early booking is essential, and an Advance Purchase fare (booked at least six months out) offers a ten per cent saving.
Where to Travel
Consider the direction. Each of these journeys reads differently depending on the direction of travel. The Ghan northbound from Adelaide begins in temperate wine country and builds toward the tropical drama of the Top End; southbound from Darwin, the experience begins with lush jungle and ends in the Flinders Ranges.
The Indian Pacific westbound closes with the magical descent into Perth; eastbound, it arrives at Sydney Harbour. Choose the direction that gives you the arrival moment you want.
Thing to Do
Lean into the off-train experiences. The curated excursions are the beating heart of these journeys. They transform a very comfortable long-distance train ride into a genuine encounter with some of Australia’s most extraordinary places. The helicopter flight over Nitmiluk Gorge, the evening at Uluru, the beachside lunch at Coffs Harbour — these are the moments that will define the trip in memory.
What to Pack
Pack light, but pack well. Cabin storage is elegantly designed but finite. A soft-sided bag is recommended. Dress codes lean toward smart-casual in the evening, particularly in Platinum dining carriages, where guests tend to rise to the occasion. A light jacket is useful even in summer — desert nights can be surprisingly cool.
The greatest luxury these trains offer is not the champagne or the private ensuite, but time itself — unhurried, uncommitted, utterly your own. The wisest travellers spend at least some hours in the observation lounge, watching the continent move past in silence. Australia, seen like this, reveals a beauty that no airport or motorway can offer. Let it.
