Anderson Vacations · Independent rail journey

23 Day Coast to Coast by Rail

23-day independent rail journey across Australia from Perth to Sydney

23 Day Coast to Coast by Rail, a rail journey with Anderson Vacations

Anderson Vacations runs this 23-day, 22-night independent rail journey across Australia, from Perth to Sydney. The trip opens with three days around Perth, including a guided tour of Rottnest Island and its Wadjemup Lighthouse, before the Indian Pacific carries travelers east in a Gold Cabin across the Nullarbor Plain to Adelaide, stopping briefly at the historic mining town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. From Adelaide, days open up for a Barossa Valley wine tour and a Kangaroo Island excursion by SeaLink ferry, then the Great Southern train continues on to Brisbane with a coach side trip to Canberra. A flight covers Brisbane to Airlie Beach, where a Whitehaven Beach cruise and a rail trip on the Spirit of Queensland lead into Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef and Cape Tribulation, before the trip closes with three nights in Sydney and a Blue Mountains day. The pace is unhurried, with most stops lasting two nights or more, and the operator rates the physical demand as low, suiting travelers who prefer independent, guided sightseeing over a fixed group schedule.

What to know before you look closer

  • The package is offered in three accommodation grades, Moderate, Superior and Deluxe; the specific hotels used are not named and depend on which grade you book.
  • Some standout activities cost extra: holding a koala, snake or crocodile in Port Douglas, and the Jungle Surfing zipline at Cape Tribulation, are both optional extras.
  • Rail travel, the Indian Pacific, Great Southern, and the Airlie Beach to Cairns train, covers roughly a third of the 23 days; the rest of the trip is hotel stays with coach touring, ferries, and a flight between Brisbane and Airlie Beach.
  • No specific departure dates are listed in the evidence; confirm current availability and exact pricing with Anderson Vacations before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Perth

    Arrive in Perth

    Arrive in Perth on the Swan River and transfer to your accommodation; explore the city's skyline and the Darling Ranges.

  2. Day 2overnight: Perth

    Pinnacles, Koalas and Sandboarding

    Visit Caversham Wildlife Park in Swan Valley, a Lobster Shack tour and seafood lunch in Cervantes, the Pinnacle Desert in Nambung National Park, and 4WD sandboarding over Lancelin's dunes, returning via Indian Ocean Drive.

  3. Day 3overnight: Perth

    Rottnest Island

    A guided tour of Rottnest Island including the Wadjemup Lighthouse, Oliver Hill Gun Fortification and Cathedral Rocks, with time at the Rottnest Quokka Arms Pub.

  4. Day 4overnight: Onboard the Indian Pacific

    Perth to Adelaide with Indian Pacific

    Board the Indian Pacific at East Perth Station, dine in the restaurant car, and visit the historic mining town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and its Super Pit.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Onboard the Indian Pacific

    Perth to Adelaide with Indian Pacific

    Cross the Nullarbor Plain, stop briefly at the ghost town of Cook, and relax in the Outback Explorer Lounge as the train crosses the world's longest single stretch of railway.

  6. Day 6overnight: Adelaide

    Arrive in Adelaide

    Arrive in Adelaide for a two-night stay.

  7. Day 7overnight: Adelaide

    Barossa Valley

    A small-group tour through the Barossa Valley wine region, sampling premium wines and gourmet food amid the vineyards.

  8. Day 8overnight: Adelaide

    Kangaroo Island

    SeaLink ferry from Cape Jervis to Penneshaw, visiting Seal Bay Conservation Park, Flinders Chase National Park's Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, and Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park.

  9. Day 9overnight: Onboard the Great Southern

    Adelaide to Brisbane by Great Southern

    Depart Adelaide aboard the Great Southern with fine dining onboard, and in the afternoon explore the Grampians region of regional Victoria.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Onboard the Great Southern

    Adelaide to Brisbane by Great Southern

    A scenic coach excursion to Canberra to visit the National War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House, before rejoining the train for dinner.

  11. Day 11overnight: Onboard the Great Southern

    Coffs Harbour and Surrounds

    Choice of a guided boardwalk stroll through Urunga with an Indigenous guide, or the Coffs Explorer excursion to Sealy Lookout's Forest Sky Pier and the North Coast Regional Botanical Garden.

  12. Day 12overnight: Brisbane

    Brisbane

    Arrive in Brisbane for a three-night stay; explore the city's neighbourhoods and parks.

  13. Day 13overnight: Brisbane

    Australia Zoo

    A day trip to the Sunshine Coast to visit Australia Zoo, founded by Steve Irwin, with over 1200 animals and wildlife shows.

  14. Day 14overnight: Brisbane

    Tangalooma Island

    A glass bottom boat cruise through Moreton Bay's marine park to view marine life.

  15. Day 15overnight: Airlie Beach

    Brisbane to Airlie Beach

    Transfer to the airport for a flight to Airlie Beach.

  16. Day 16overnight: Airlie Beach

    Whitehaven Beach

    A cruise from the southern end of Whitehaven Beach across to Hill Inlet, with a guided walk covering the history of the Ngaro people, and time at Whitehaven Beach.

  17. Day 17railovernight: Cairns

    Airlie Beach to Cairns by Train

    Travel aboard the Spirit of Queensland to Cairns, with transfer to your hotel on arrival.

  18. Day 18overnight: Cairns

    Cape Tribulation

    Drive the Captain Cook Highway to Port Douglas for a wildlife tour including cassowaries, through Daintree National Park's Cape Tribulation Road, with an optional Jungle Surfing zipline experience and a Daintree River cruise.

  19. Day 19overnight: Cairns

    Great Barrier Reef Cruise

    A Quicksilver cruise to Agincourt Reef at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, exploring the ribbon reefs alongside the Coral Sea trench.

  20. Day 20overnight: Sydney

    Cairns to Sydney

    Travel to Sydney for a three-night stay, with transfer to accommodation on arrival.

  21. Day 21overnight: Sydney

    Sydney Sightseeing

    A half-day city sights tour taking in The Rocks, NSW Parliament House, St Mary's Cathedral, Mrs Macquarie's Point, Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte beaches, followed by a two-hour Sydney Harbour lunch cruise past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

  22. Day 22overnight: Sydney

    Blue Mountains Experience

    Visit Calmsley Hill working farm, the Blue Mountains lookout points including Eaglehawk Lookout's Three Sisters view, lunch at the Hydro Majestic in Blackheath, Govetts Leap, and Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens.

  23. Day 23

    Goodbye Australia

    Check out from your hotel, with time to explore the Sydney Opera House or local museums before departure.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Board the Indian Pacific at East Perth Station, dine in the restaurant car, and stop at the historic mining town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and its Super Pit.
  • Day 5Cross the Nullarbor Plain, the world's longest single stretch of railway, with a brief stop at the ghost town of Cook.
  • Day 8Take the SeaLink ferry to Kangaroo Island and visit Seal Bay Conservation Park and the Remarkable Rocks at Flinders Chase National Park.
  • Day 16Cruise from Whitehaven Beach to Hill Inlet with a guided walk covering the history of the Ngaro people.
  • Day 19Take a Quicksilver cruise to Agincourt Reef on the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef.

Included

  • 18 nights of accommodation
  • Indian Pacific in Gold Cabin from Perth to Adelaide
  • All meals on board the Indian Pacific
  • Great Southern Rail from Adelaide to Brisbane
  • Rail from Airlie Beach to Cairns
  • Attractions and sightseeing as listed

Not included

  • Items (attractions and sightseeing & entrance fees) not listed as included in the itinerary
  • Airfare unless specified as included within the itinerary
  • Taxes as applicable
  • Travel Insurance and Cancellation Protection (strongly recommended, ask us for a quote!)
  • Gratuities for Local Guides, Tour Managers, and/or Bus Drivers
  • Meals not specifically mentioned as included in the itinerary

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The Indian Pacific in Gold Cabin from Perth to Adelaide (with all onboard meals), the Great Southern from Adelaide to Brisbane, and rail from Airlie Beach to Cairns are all included.
Is it escorted or independent?
Anderson Vacations lists this as an independent rail journey.
Which trains are used?
The Indian Pacific (Gold Cabin, Perth to Adelaide), the Great Southern (Adelaide to Brisbane), and the Spirit of Queensland (Airlie Beach to Cairns).
What hotels are included?
18 nights of accommodation are included, offered in Moderate, Superior, or Deluxe grades; specific hotel names are not listed in the evidence.
How much walking is involved?
The operator describes a low level of physical demand, though some sightseeing tours require walking short distances.
What is not included?
Attractions and entrance fees not listed as included, unspecified airfare, taxes, travel insurance, gratuities for guides and drivers, and meals not specifically mentioned as included.

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