Anderson Vacations · Escorted tour

Coast to Coast by Rail including the Indian Pacific

23-day fully escorted rail tour across Australia, Perth to Sydney

Coast to Coast by Rail including the Indian Pacific, a rail journey with Anderson Vacations

Anderson Vacations runs this 23-day fully escorted rail tour across Australia, from Perth to Sydney. After three days exploring Perth, including Rottnest Island and the Pinnacles, the Indian Pacific carries travellers in a Gold Cabin across the Nullarbor Plain to Adelaide, with meals included in the restaurant carriage. Three nights in Adelaide bring a Barossa Valley wine tour and a day trip to Kangaroo Island, before the Great Southern continues the rail journey to Brisbane, with off-train excursions in Canberra and Coffs Harbour along the way. From Brisbane the tour includes Australia Zoo, a Tangalooma Island cruise, and a full-day Whitehaven Beach cruise, before the Spirit of Queensland train reaches Cairns for Cape Tribulation and a Great Barrier Reef cruise to Agincourt Reef. The tour ends with three nights in Sydney, including a harbour lunch cruise and a Blue Mountains day trip. It suits travellers who want a long, fully guided introduction to Australia that combines three named trains with wine regions, wildlife encounters and the Great Barrier Reef.

What to know before you look closer

  • The quoted from-price of CAD $11,399 is for Moderate Accommodation; Superior (from CAD $12,399) and Deluxe (from CAD $15,499) accommodation tiers are also offered.
  • The evidence does not describe days 15 and 16 of the itinerary, between Brisbane and the Airlie Beach to Cairns train; confirm these days with Anderson Vacations.
  • Some excursions include optional extras at additional cost, such as a lobster upgrade on day 2 and photos holding a koala, snake or crocodile at Kangaroo Island and Cape Tribulation.
  • Tips and gratuities, government taxes, and meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary are not included in the price, and the evidence does not list current departure dates.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Perth

    Perth

    Welcome to Perth, Located on the banks of the Swan River in Southern Western Australia. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your accommodation and you can take the rest of the day to explore the city and it is stunning views of the cityscape and the panorama of the Darling Ranges.

  2. Day 2overnight: Perth

    Pinnacles Koalas and Sandboarding

    Stop off at Caversham Wildlife Park in the Swan Valley to view and take pictures with koalas and wombats as well as having the opportunity to hand feed the kangaroos. Travel along quiet back roads to the lobster fishing town of Cervantes for a behind-the-scenes factory tour on the processing of Western Australia Rock Lobster, followed by an included fish and chip lunch or half a grilled lobster upgraded option (supplement applied). Onwards to Nambung National Park to see the Pinnacle Desert on an easy paced walk. The highlight of the tour involves 4-wheel driving over the sand dunes of Lancelin in custom built vehicles, followed by downhill sandboarding over the dunes. Return to Perth down the Indian Ocean Drive stopping to view wildflowers en route (seasonal), arriving at approximately 7.30pm.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Perth

    Rottnest Island

    Visit spectacular Rottnest Island, only 19 kilometres off the mainland coast, on the most comprehensive guided tour of the island in air-conditioned comfort, commencing with a historic train ride. This 4-hour all-inclusive island tour takes in Rottnest's must-see locations featuring the Wadjemup Lighthouse, Henrietta Rocks, Oliver Hill Gun Fortification and Tunnels and the look-out point at Cathedral Rocks and Cape Vlamingh. Finish the day exploring the island settlement or at the Rottnest Quokka Arms Pub.

  4. Day 4rail

    Indian Pacific Perth to Adelaide

    Step from the platform at East Perth Station onto the Indian Pacific. Your Great Southern Rail attendant guides you to your comfortable private cabin. Enjoy a delicious meal in the elegant restaurant carriage, all food included in your fare (including rack of lamb, paired with wine), as you watch the suburbs of Perth and the Avon Valley roll past. First off-train excursion is the wild west town of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, home to the 3.6km wide Super Pit open-cut gold mine.

  5. Day 5rail

    Indian Pacific Perth to Adelaide

    Wake on the edges of the Nullarbor Plain. After a leisurely breakfast, step off the train for a short stop in Cook, once a bustling railway community, now effectively a ghost town. Back onboard, relax in the Outback Explorer Lounge as the train continues across the longest single stretch of railway in the world.

  6. Day 6overnight: Adelaide

    Arrive in Adelaide

    Make your way to your accommodation for the next 3 nights in Adelaide.

  7. Day 7overnight: Adelaide

    Barossa Valley

    The Barossa Valley is Australia's most internationally acclaimed wine region, known for excellent Shiraz. Enjoy a gourmet food & wine experience touring in a small group amid premium wineries and magnificent stone architecture.

  8. Day 8overnight: Adelaide

    Kangaroo Island

    Scenic coach transfer to Cape Jervis via the Fleurieu Peninsula, then a 45-minute SeaLink ferry crossing to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. Visit Seal Bay Conservation Park for a guided beach walk among Australian sea lions, followed by a two-course lunch. Spend the afternoon in Flinders Chase National Park (regenerating since the January 2020 fire), seeing echidnas, wallabies, reptiles and koalas, plus Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Finish at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park to feed kangaroos and see koalas (photo holding a koala at additional cost).

  9. Day 9rail

    Adelaide to Brisbane by Great Southern

    The train departs Adelaide with everything taken care of onboard including fine dining, premium wines and hospitality. Enjoy morning tea and a relaxed lunch while watching the landscape glide by; in the afternoon the train reaches regional Victoria for the Grampians region, with a choice of Off Train Experiences.

  10. Day 10rail

    Adelaide to Brisbane by Great Southern

    A day in Canberra: after breakfast onboard, a scenic coach ride into the city for lunch and touring at cultural institutions including the National War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House, before returning to the train for dinner.

  11. Day 11

    Coffs Harbour and Surrounds

    Choose your own adventure: the Urunga Boardwalk excursion with a local Indigenous guide covering local wildlife and bush tucker, or the Coffs Explorer experience to Sealy Lookout and the North Coast Regional Botanical Garden. A final lunch is served onboard before arriving into Brisbane.

  12. Day 12overnight: Brisbane

    Brisbane

    Arrive in Brisbane and have the day to enjoy the city.

  13. Day 13overnight: Brisbane

    Australia Zoo

    A scenic trip to the Sunshine Coast to visit Australia Zoo, home of the Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin, with more than 1200 animals, daily wildlife shows and the busiest wildlife hospital in the world.

  14. Day 14overnight: Brisbane

    Tangalooma Island

    A cruise along the Moreton Bay Region's protected marine park; a Glass Bottom Boat lets you see marine life beneath the surface, with knowledgeable guides describing the island and surrounds.

  15. Day 17railovernight: Cairns

    Airlie Beach to Cairns by Train

    The Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment with long-distance rail travel. Upon arrival in Cairns you are transferred to your hotel.

  16. Day 18

    Cape Tribulation

    Travel to Port Douglas via the Captain Cook Highway, one of Australia's most scenic coastal drives. Join a guided tour to see the endangered cassowary and other wildlife (photo holding a koala, snake or crocodile at extra cost). Travel the rainforest-fringed Cape Tribulation Road through Daintree National Park, then Jungle Surfing on ziplines through the canopy. Return via Alexandra Lookout and a Daintree River Cruise spotting crocodiles and birds.

  17. Day 19

    Great Barrier Reef Cruise

    Quicksilver takes you to Agincourt Reef at the outer edge of the Barrier Reef, where ribbon reefs run parallel to the Continental Shelf, recognised as among the most pristine ecosystems in the reef's environment.

  18. Day 20overnight: Sydney

    Cairns to Sydney

    Arrive in Sydney and transfer to your accommodation for the next 3 nights.

  19. Day 21overnight: Sydney

    Sydney Sightseeing

    A half-day Panoramic Sydney city sights tour through the Rocks, the CBD and Macquarie Street, past Mrs Macquarie's Point, the Eastern Suburbs, Watsons Bay and Bondi Beach (30-minute stop), then Tamarama and Bronte beaches, Centennial Park and Paddington. Concludes with a Sydney Harbour lunch cruise from Circular Quay's Eastern Pontoon, taking in the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Botanical Gardens with live commentary.

  20. Day 22overnight: Sydney

    Blue Mountains Experience

    Visit Calmsley Hill working farm (Kangaroos, Emus, Wombats, Koalas), then ascend the Blue Mountains for views of the Jamison Valley and Eaglehawk Lookout (the Three Sisters). Lunch at the Hydro Majestic in Blackheath (2-course, all diets catered for excluding Kosher), then Govetts Leap waterfall and a stop at Mt Tomah Botanic Gardens for a glass of sparkling wine or orange juice before returning via Bells Line of Road.

  21. Day 23

    Goodbye Australia

    Trip concludes upon check out of your hotel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4The Indian Pacific departs East Perth Station in a private Gold Cabin, with a restaurant carriage meal, rack of lamb paired with wine, included in the fare.
  • Day 5The train crosses the Nullarbor Plain, the longest single stretch of railway in the world, with a stop at the near-ghost town of Cook.
  • Day 8A guided beach walk at Seal Bay Conservation Park on Kangaroo Island passes among Australian sea lions, followed by an afternoon in Flinders Chase National Park.
  • Day 19A Quicksilver cruise reaches Agincourt Reef at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, where ribbon reefs run parallel to the Continental Shelf.
  • Day 22The Blue Mountains day trip climbs to Eaglehawk Lookout for views of the Three Sisters and the Jamison Valley, with lunch at the Hydro Majestic in Blackheath.

Included

  • 18 nights of accommodation in your selected category
  • Full Day Pinnacles Tour
  • Full Day Rottnest Island
  • Indian Pacific in Gold Cabin from Perth to Adelaide
  • All Meals on Board the Indian Pacific
  • Off Train Excursions
  • Barossa Valley Wine Tour
  • Kangaroo Island Experience
  • Great Southern Rail from Adelaide to Brisbane
  • Full Day Australia Zoo Experience
  • Full Day Tangalooma Island Experience
  • Full Day Whitehaven Beach Cruise
  • Rail from Airlie Beach to Cairns
  • Full Day Great Barrier Reef
  • Full Day Cape Tribulation Excursion
  • Half Day Sydney Tour
  • Sydney Harbour Lunch Cruise
  • Blue Mountains Day Tour

Not included

  • Tips and gratuities
  • Applicable government taxes
  • Meals unless specifically mentioned in the itinerary

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The price includes the Indian Pacific in Gold Cabin from Perth to Adelaide with all meals onboard, the Great Southern from Adelaide to Brisbane, and the Spirit of Queensland from Airlie Beach to Cairns.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It's a fully escorted tour, per the operator.
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 used?
The evidence lists three accommodation tiers, Moderate, Superior and Deluxe, without naming specific hotels.
What is not included?
Tips and gratuities, applicable government taxes, and meals not specifically mentioned in the itinerary.
How much walking is involved?
The operator rates the tour as having a low level of physical demand; activities include a guided beach walk at Seal Bay Conservation Park and Jungle Surfing ziplines at Cape Tribulation.

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