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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Australia Coast to Coast Adventure

15-day coast-to-coast rail trip across Australia, Perth to Sydney

Illustration of Australia Coast to Coast Adventure

Railbookers operates this 15-day independent rail vacation across Australia, starting in Perth and ending in Sydney, with stops in Adelaide and Melbourne along the way. The trip is built around free time to explore each city on your own, layered with pre-arranged excursions: a Kings Park and Fremantle tour in Perth, a full day in the Barossa wine region from Adelaide, an evening Penguin Parade tour on Phillip Island from Melbourne, and a full-day, all-inclusive Blue Mountains tour from Sydney. Two of the nights are spent onboard the Indian Pacific in a Gold Service twin cabin with all-inclusive meals, traveling from Perth to Adelaide with a stop in Kalgoorlie and a visit to the outback ghost town of Cook. From Adelaide to Melbourne, travelers ride The Overland in Red Premium Service. This suits travelers who want an independent, rail-based way to see Australia's coasts and outback without driving themselves, with hotels and key excursions arranged in advance.

What to know before you look closer

  • The operator lists 24 hotel options across price tiers and cities; the final hotel in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, or Sydney depends on the tier you choose.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Perth

    Perth

    Welcome to cosmopolitan Perth. Roam around on your own exploring the city's top attractions.

  2. Day 2overnight: Perth

    Perth

    Relaxed morning tour of Kings Park and the Botanical Gardens, Tree Top Walkway, and a drive along Cottesloe beach to Fremantle.

  3. Day 3overnight: Onboard Indian Pacific

    Overnight Onboard Indian Pacific

    Board the Indian Pacific for Adelaide in a Gold Service twin cabin, all-inclusive meals. Evening excursion in Kalgoorlie to Hannan's North tourist mine and the Super Pit gold mine.

  4. Day 4overnight: Onboard Indian Pacific

    Overnight Onboard Indian Pacific

    Explore the ghost town of Cook (population four).

  5. Day 5overnight: Adelaide

    Adelaide

    Welcome to the lively city of Adelaide.

  6. Day 6overnight: Adelaide

    The Barossa Valley

    All-day tour to the Barossa wine region: tasting at Pinarie, lunch at Lambert Estate, and the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company.

  7. Day 7overnight: Adelaide

    Adelaide

    Free time to explore the city: Botanic Gardens, Central Market, or Glenelg beachfront.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Melbourne

    Adelaide to Melbourne

    Board the Overland train from Parklands Terminal to Melbourne Southern Cross station, Red Premium Service with all-inclusive meals.

  9. Day 9overnight: Melbourne

    Melbourne

    Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, St Kilda beach, Melbourne Museum, or a Great Ocean Road day trip to the Twelve Apostles.

  10. Day 10overnight: Melbourne

    Phillip Island Penguin Parade Evening Tour

    Koala Conservation Reserve, then the Phillip Island Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Sydney

    Melbourne to Sydney

    Train from Melbourne Southern Cross to Sydney Central in first class.

  12. Day 12overnight: Sydney

    Sydney

    Sydney Explorer Pass: Taronga Zoo, Sydney Opera House, the Blue Mountains, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Bondi coastal walking tour.

  13. Day 13overnight: Sydney

    Day Trip to The Blue Mountains

    Full-day all-inclusive tour: Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee Dreaming Experience, lunch in Leura, Scenic World, the Three Sisters, and a scenic cruise back to Sydney Harbour.

  14. Day 14overnight: Sydney

    Sydney

    Continue exploring on your own: Pitt Street shopping, the Rocks, Chinatown, Darling Harbour, and Bondi Beach.

  15. Day 15

    Your Journey Ends in Sydney

    Check out of your hotel and continue with your onward travels.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3The Indian Pacific departs for Adelaide in a Gold Service twin cabin with all-inclusive meals, and an evening excursion visits Kalgoorlie's Hannan's North tourist mine and the Super Pit gold mine.
  • Day 4Still onboard the Indian Pacific, the day includes a stop to explore the ghost town of Cook, population four.
  • Day 6A full-day tour of the Barossa wine region includes tasting at Pinarie, lunch at Lambert Estate, and a stop at the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company.
  • Day 10An evening tour visits the Koala Conservation Reserve before the Phillip Island Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach.
  • Day 13A full-day, all-inclusive tour of the Blue Mountains includes Scenic World, the Three Sisters, and a scenic cruise back to Sydney Harbour.

Included

  • Rail travel as per itinerary
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Perth
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Adelaide
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Melbourne
  • 4 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Sydney
  • 2 nights onboard the Indian Pacific in Gold Class
  • All excursions as specified in the itinerary
  • Half day city tour of Perth and Fremantle with scenic river cruise
  • Half day city tour of Adelaide
  • Full day tour of the Barossa wine region from Adelaide
  • Phillip Island Penguin Parade evening tour from Melbourne
  • Sydney Explorer Pass including Priority entry to Taronga Zoo
  • Hop-on, hop-off sightseeing tour of Sydney and Bondi
  • SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
  • The Sydney Tower Eye with 4D cinema experiences, and much more
  • Sightseeing tour of the Blue Mountains

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Railbookers includes rail travel throughout, including the Indian Pacific in Gold Service from Perth to Adelaide and The Overland in Red Premium Service from Adelaide to Melbourne, both with all-inclusive meals onboard.
Is this trip guided or independent?
Railbookers describes it as an independent rail vacation; days in each city are largely free to explore on your own, alongside pre-arranged tours such as the Barossa wine region and Blue Mountains excursions.
Which trains are used?
The Indian Pacific (Perth to Adelaide, Gold Service) and The Overland (Adelaide to Melbourne, Red Premium Service), plus a first-class train from Melbourne to Sydney.
What hotels are included?
Railbookers lists 24 accommodation options across Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney; travelers choose their preferred tier and hotel in each city.
How much walking is involved?
The itinerary includes city walking tours such as Kings Park and Fremantle in Perth, plus a full-day Blue Mountains tour with Scenic World and the Three Sisters.

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