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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Australia Coast to Coast Adventure from Sydney

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

Illustration of Australia Coast to Coast Adventure from Sydney

Railbookers operates this 13-day independent rail vacation across Australia, starting in Sydney and ending in Perth, with stops in Melbourne and Adelaide. The trip opens with three nights in Sydney, including the Sydney Explorer Pass and a full-day, all-inclusive Blue Mountains tour with Scenic World and the Three Sisters. From Melbourne, an evening tour takes in the Phillip Island Penguin Parade, before The Overland carries travelers to Adelaide in Red Premium Service. A full day in the Barossa wine region includes tasting, lunch, and a stop at a chocolate company. From Adelaide, two nights are spent onboard the Indian Pacific in a Gold Class cabin, crossing the Nullarbor Plain with stops at the ghost town of Cook and Rawlinna. The trip ends with two nights in Perth, including a day trip to Rottnest Island. This suits travelers who want an independent, rail-based way to see Australia coast to coast, with hotels and 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 Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, or Perth depends on the tier you choose.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Sydney

    Sydney

    Welcome to one of the world's most beautiful and exciting cities.

  2. Day 2overnight: Sydney

    Sydney

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

  3. Day 3overnight: Sydney

    Sydney/The Blue Mountains

    Full-day all-inclusive tour: Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee Dreaming Experience, Scenic World, the Three Sisters, and a scenic cruise back via the Parramatta River.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Melbourne

    Melbourne

    Train through New South Wales and Victoria to Melbourne in first class, three-night stay.

  5. Day 5overnight: Melbourne

    Melbourne

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

  6. Day 6overnight: Melbourne

    Phillip Island Penguin Parade Evening Tour

    Explore Victorian architecture and the Queen Victoria Market, then the Phillip Island Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Adelaide

    The Overlander Train to Adelaide

    Overland train from Melbourne Southern Cross to Parklands Terminal Adelaide, Red Premium Service.

  8. Day 8overnight: Adelaide

    Adelaide

    Explore Adelaide; optional Cleland Wildlife Park, McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley wine tasting, or Kangaroo Island.

  9. Day 9overnight: 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.

  10. Day 10overnight: Onboard Indian Pacific

    Adelaide/The Indian Pacific

    Central Market, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide Oval, or Adelaide Zoo, then board the Indian Pacific Gold Class cabin overnight to Perth.

  11. Day 11overnight: Onboard Indian Pacific

    The Indian Pacific

    Explore the ghost town of Cook, then Rawlinna for an evening under the stars on the Nullarbor Plain.

  12. Day 12overnight: Perth

    Perth

    Relax onboard before arriving into Perth in the afternoon, two-night stay.

  13. Day 13overnight: Perth

    Rottnest Island

    Scenic cruise along the Swan River to Fremantle, then to Rottnest Island, including the Wadjemup Lighthouse and lunch at Karma Rottnest.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 3A full-day, all-inclusive tour of the Blue Mountains includes Sydney Zoo, the Bungarribee Dreaming Experience, Scenic World, the Three Sisters, and a scenic cruise back via the Parramatta River.
  • Day 6An evening tour explores Victorian architecture and the Queen Victoria Market before the Phillip Island Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach.
  • Day 9A 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 11Aboard the Indian Pacific, the day includes a stop at the ghost town of Cook, then Rawlinna for an evening under the stars on the Nullarbor Plain.
  • Day 13A day trip to Rottnest Island includes a scenic cruise along the Swan River to Fremantle, a visit to the Wadjemup Lighthouse, and lunch at Karma Rottnest.

Included

  • Rail Travel as per itinerary
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Sydney
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Melbourne
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Adelaide
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Perth
  • 2 nights onboard the Indian Pacific in Gold Class
  • All excursions as specified in the itinerary
  • Sydney Explorer Pass including Priority entry to Taronga Zoo, hop-on hop-off tour, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, and the Sydney Tower Eye
  • Sightseeing tour of the Blue Mountains
  • Phillip Island Penguin Parade evening tour from Melbourne
  • Half day City Tour of Adelaide
  • Full Day Tour of the Barossa wine region from Adelaide
  • Full day Tour of Rottnest Island from Perth

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The Overland in Red Premium Service carries travelers from Melbourne to Adelaide, and the Indian Pacific in a Gold Class cabin runs overnight from Adelaide to Perth.
Is this trip guided or independent?
It's an independent rail vacation; several days include optional activities travelers arrange themselves, such as Cleland Wildlife Park, McLaren Vale, Barossa wine tasting, or Kangaroo Island on day 8 in Adelaide.
Which trains are used?
The Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide, Red Premium Service) and the Indian Pacific (Adelaide to Perth, Gold Class).
What hotels are included?
Railbookers lists 24 accommodation options across Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Perth.
What happens on the Indian Pacific crossing?
Two nights onboard in a Gold Class cabin, with a stop at the ghost town of Cook and an evening under the stars at Rawlinna on the Nullarbor Plain.

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