Is the train travel included in the price?

Yes. The Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs in a Gold Twin Cabin is included, as are all domestic flights (Uluru to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney) and car transfers.

Is this an escorted tour or independent?

Firebird Tours provides a private driver and guide throughout the 11 days. Some excursions (Uluru sunset tour, Great Barrier Reef cruise, Sydney Harbour Cruise) are run by third-party suppliers and may include groups of up to 50 people.

Which hotels are included?

Eos by SkyCity in Adelaide (1 night), Desert Gardens Hotel in Yulara/Uluru (2 nights), Crystalbrook Flynn in Cairns (3 nights), and The Grace Hotel in Sydney (3 nights).

What meals are included?

Hotel breakfasts daily. The Ghan includes all-inclusive meals. The Uluru sunset tour includes wine and nibbles and a BBQ dinner. The Great Barrier Reef cruise includes buffet lunch.

When does this tour run?

Firebird Tours offers 9 departures between July 2026 and May 2027, with pricing from USD 9,540 to USD 11,007 per person.

What is not included?

Optional extras (Cairns City Tour, Rainforest & Waterfalls tour, Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light tour, Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour, Blue Mountains Day Tour) are not included; confirm any add-ons separately.

Firebird Tours · Private tour

Best of Australia: The Ghan Train Edition (2026 departures)

Adelaide to Sydney across Australia via The Ghan train, Uluru, and Great Barrier Reef

Firebird Tours operates this 11-day private tour of Australia, departing Adelaide and ending in Sydney. You travel aboard The Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs in a Gold Twin Cabin, spend time at Uluru with a guided sunset tour and waterhole walk, fly to Cairns for a Great Barrier Reef catamaran cruise, and finish in Sydney with a private sightseeing tour and evening Harbour Cruise. Throughout, a private guide and driver accompany you to hotels, tours, and transport connections, while third-party group excursions handle the reef cruise, Uluru sunset, and Sydney Harbour experiences. The itinerary balances slow travel with activity: two nights in the Red Centre, three in Cairns, and three in Sydney mean unhurried exploration with two free days to rest or pursue optional outings (Blue Mountains, Opera House backstage, rainforest walks). The moderate pace suits travellers seeking Australia's major natural and cultural landmarks without the rush of daily new cities.

What to know before you look closer

The Great Barrier Reef cruise, Uluru sunset tour, and Sydney Harbour Cruise are third-party group tours with up to 50 participants; only the daily sightseeing and transfers are private.
Single supplement is USD 4,659 (from USD 14,310 double), a substantial markup; confirm final pricing for your party size.
Flights between Cairns and Sydney are approx. 3 hours; the Uluru-to-Cairns segment includes a 2.5-hour flight with possible layovers in the off-season.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Eos by SkyCity, Adelaide
Adelaide Arrival
Private transfer to the hotel; the rest of the day is free.
Day 2railovernight: Aboard The Ghan (Gold Twin Cabin)
Departure to Alice Springs Aboard The Ghan Train
Transfer to the train station for a 2-day/1-night, all-inclusive Ghan Train journey (Gold Twin Cabin) from Adelaide to Alice Springs, with an off-train stop in Marla.
Day 3overnight: Desert Gardens Hotel, Yulara
Alice Springs Arrival & Departure to Uluru
Private 6-hour transfer from Alice Springs to Uluru.
Day 4overnight: Desert Gardens Hotel, Yulara
Uluru Sacred Sites & Sunset Tour
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre, guided base walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole, and sunset viewing with wine and nibbles; BBQ dinner included. Group tour up to 50 people, run by a third-party supplier.
Day 5overnight: Crystalbrook Flynn, Cairns
Departure to Cairns
Airport shuttle bus to Uluru airport, then flight to Cairns (approx. 2h30, layovers possible in the off-season). Optional Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light tour beforehand.
Day 6overnight: Crystalbrook Flynn, Cairns
Great Barrier Reef Premium Catamaran Cruise
Full-day luxury catamaran trip to the Great Barrier Reef with snorkelling, diving and a buffet lunch. Group tour up to 50 people, third-party supplier.
Day 7overnight: Crystalbrook Flynn, Cairns
Cairns Day at Leisure
Free day; optional Rainforest & Waterfalls Day Tour in the Atherton Tablelands recommended.
Day 8overnight: The Grace Hotel, Sydney
Departure to Sydney
Private airport transfer and flight from Cairns to Sydney (approx. 3h).
Day 9overnight: The Grace Hotel, Sydney
Sydney Sightseeing Tour & Harbour Cruise
4-hour private tour of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, The Rocks and Paddington, followed by an evening Sydney Harbour Cruise (group tour, third-party supplier).
Day 10overnight: The Grace Hotel, Sydney
Sydney Day at Leisure
Free day; optional Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour or Blue Mountains National Park Day Tour recommended.
Day 11
Departure
Private airport transfer for departure.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Day 2-3: aboard The Ghan in a Gold Twin Cabin, traveling from Adelaide to Alice Springs with an off-train stop in Marla.
Day 4Day 4: guided base walk to Mutitjulu Waterhole at Uluru, then sunset viewing with wine and nibbles at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre.
Day 6Day 6: full-day luxury catamaran cruise to the Great Barrier Reef with snorkelling and buffet lunch.
Day 9Day 9: private 4-hour tour of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, and The Rocks, followed by an evening Sydney Harbour Cruise.

Included

Exceptional downtown hotel accommodations
Guided sightseeing tours with expert English-speaking guides
Delicious breakfasts at your hotels
In-depth exploration of best landmarks
Tickets and intercity transportation as per itinerary
Professional meeting services at the airport
Dedicated support team before and during your trip

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included in the price?: Yes. The Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs in a Gold Twin Cabin is included, as are all domestic flights (Uluru to Cairns, Cairns to Sydney) and car transfers.
Is this an escorted tour or independent?: Firebird Tours provides a private driver and guide throughout the 11 days. Some excursions (Uluru sunset tour, Great Barrier Reef cruise, Sydney Harbour Cruise) are run by third-party suppliers and may include groups of up to 50 people.
Which hotels are included?: Eos by SkyCity in Adelaide (1 night), Desert Gardens Hotel in Yulara/Uluru (2 nights), Crystalbrook Flynn in Cairns (3 nights), and The Grace Hotel in Sydney (3 nights).
What meals are included?: Hotel breakfasts daily. The Ghan includes all-inclusive meals. The Uluru sunset tour includes wine and nibbles and a BBQ dinner. The Great Barrier Reef cruise includes buffet lunch.
When does this tour run?: Firebird Tours offers 9 departures between July 2026 and May 2027, with pricing from USD 9,540 to USD 11,007 per person.
What is not included?: Optional extras (Cairns City Tour, Rainforest & Waterfalls tour, Uluru Sunrise & Field of Light tour, Sydney Opera House Backstage Tour, Blue Mountains Day Tour) are not included; confirm any add-ons separately.