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Journey Beyond Rail · Rail journey with touring

Barossa & Kangaroo Island Escape 2026

Rail journey from Brisbane to Adelaide, wine and wildlife touring

Illustration of Barossa & Kangaroo Island Escape 2026

Journey Beyond Rail's Barossa & Kangaroo Island Escape combines rail travel, regional touring and wine experiences across 10 days in South Australia. The trip departs Brisbane aboard the Great Southern, a luxury train that includes meals and guided experiences as it winds south through Coffs Harbour, the Hunter Valley wine region and Melbourne before arriving in Adelaide. From Adelaide, the itinerary branches into three distinct experiences: an exclusive tour of Penfolds Magill Estate with underground cellars and Grange tastings, a wildlife and landscape tour of Kangaroo Island featuring koalas, wallabies and sea lions at Seal Bay, and a small-group Barossa Valley wine tour stopping at three historic vineyards. Accommodation includes the four-star Pullman Adelaide and the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge. This tour suits couples seeking wine and food experiences, first-time rail travellers wanting guided comfort, and luxury seekers who appreciate quality accommodation and curated activities across ten days.

What to know before you look closer

  • Single supplement is high: AUD 8415 versus half of the lowest double price (AUD 3830 from AUD 7660 base).
  • Days 6 and 7 on Kangaroo Island may be interchanged; confirm the order of activities when booking.
  • Advance Purchase Holiday fares are subject to availability; prices within six months of travel may differ.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Great Southern (3 nights)

    Board the Great Southern in Brisbane

    Set off from Brisbane on a week-long adventure covering Australia's south-east. Settle into your cabin, savour lunch on board and spend a relaxing afternoon before arriving in Coffs Harbour, where drinks and canapes on the beach at Charlesworth Bay precede a unique outdoor dinner featuring local produce and fresh seafood paired with fine wines, before reboarding for your first night on board.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Great Southern

    Great Southern, Hunter Region

    Breakfast on board before a choice of Off Train Experiences: the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens by land or sea, or Newcastle's mix of old and new. Return to the train for a regionally inspired dinner.

  3. Day 3overnight: Great Southern

    Great Southern, Melbourne or Regional Victoria

    A relaxing morning through Victoria's high country before choosing between Clyde Park in the Moorabool Valley for a long lunch and cool-climate wines, or cosmopolitan Melbourne, taking in the NGV, the MCG or the Old Melbourne Gaol, with lunch at Eureka 89.

  4. Day 4overnight: Pullman Adelaide (2 nights)

    Great Southern, Adelaide

    Arrive into Adelaide and transfer to accommodation. The day is free to explore the city's restaurants, pubs and cafes.

  5. Day 5

    Penfolds Magill Estate

    Make your way to Penfolds Magill Estate for tastings, including Grange, in the Estate's private rooms, before a sumptuous lunch at the Magill Estate Cellar Door.

  6. Day 6overnight: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge (2 nights)

    Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

    Fly to Kangaroo Island for the 'Island Life' tour: a walk through bush and Eucalyptus trees spotting koalas and wallabies, a bush-camp lunch featuring King George whiting, and a private tour among Australian sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park. Note: Day 6 and 7 may be interchanged.

  7. Day 7

    Kangaroo Island

    Explore regenerating landscapes and fire ecology before Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, with an elegant picnic or clifftop lunch along the way.

  8. Day 8overnight: Pullman Adelaide (2 nights)

    Kangaroo Island to Adelaide

    Transfer to the airport for the return flight to Adelaide and back to city accommodation, with the evening free to explore Adelaide's dining and entertainment precincts.

  9. Day 9

    Barossa Valley

    A day of boutique wine and food touring to the historic Barossa Valley, including one of the oldest vineyards in the world (Shiraz vines planted in 1843), with tastings at three wineries and a lunch with wine. Tours run in small groups of up to 8.

  10. Day 10

    Farewell

    Check out of accommodation after breakfast, bringing the epicurean adventure to an end.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Beachside dinner at Charlesworth Bay in Coffs Harbour featuring local produce and fresh seafood paired with fine wines before boarding the Great Southern for your first night.
  • Day 2Choose Off Train Experiences in the Hunter Valley wine region, Port Stephens, or Newcastle before returning to the train for a regionally inspired dinner.
  • Day 5Private tastings of Penfolds Grange in the Estate's private rooms at Magill Estate, followed by a sumptuous lunch at the Cellar Door.
  • Day 6Walk through bush and Eucalyptus trees spotting koalas and wallabies, then visit Australian sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park.
  • Day 9Small-group Barossa Valley wine tour visiting three wineries, including historic vines planted in 1843, with tastings and lunch with wine.

Included

  • 3 nights aboard the Great Southern, Brisbane to Adelaide, including all meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences in Coffs Harbour, the Hunter Valley region and regional Victoria
  • Transfer from Adelaide Parklands Terminal to hotel
  • 4 nights' accommodation in Adelaide, including breakfast daily
  • The Iconic Penfolds Experience tour, including a three-course lunch with matching wines
  • Return flights from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
  • Return hotel to airport transfers in Adelaide to meet the return flight
  • 2-night Kangaroo Island in Style tour, including flights to and from the Island, accommodation, most meals and personalised touring
  • Northern Barossa Valley Voyager tour, including lunch
  • 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Three nights aboard the Great Southern from Brisbane to Adelaide are included with all meals, beverages, and Off Train Experiences. Flights to and from Kangaroo Island are separate inclusions. Coach and local transfers are provided.
Is this an escorted tour?
Mostly. Journey Beyond Rail includes guided experiences such as the Penfolds tour, Kangaroo Island 'Island Life' tour, and Barossa Valley wine tour in groups of up to eight. Days 4 and 8 in Adelaide offer free time to explore independently.
Which train is this?
The Great Southern, which runs from Brisbane to Adelaide over three nights and two days of daytime travel.
What hotels are included?
Four nights at the Pullman Adelaide (days 4 and 8, with one night bookended), and two nights at the Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge on the island tour.
When does this depart?
Departures are scheduled for December 2026, January 2026, and February 2026, with fares starting from AUD 7660 (Gold Twin Advance Purchase).
How much walking is involved?
The trip includes walking through bush to spot wildlife, exploration of national parks and coastal landmarks, and general city and vineyard touring. Most activities are guided; choose your own Off Train Experiences on Days 2 and 3.

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