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Great Rail Journeys · Independent

Grand Tour of Australia Including the Ghan

15-day Australian rail circuit from Sydney through The Ghan to Uluru

Illustration of Grand Tour of Australia Including the Ghan

Great Rail Journeys' Grand Tour of Australia Including the Ghan is a 15-day independent journey that departs from London and spans three of Australia's most celebrated trains and largest cities. You begin in Sydney with two days to explore its beaches and cultural attractions at your own pace. The XPT carries you 600 miles south to Melbourne, where another free day allows you to wander the laneways and markets. The Overland train then takes you to Adelaide through diverse Australian landscapes. The centrepiece is a night aboard The Ghan sleeper train, departing Adelaide and traveling deep into the Outback. You wake early at Marla to watch the sun rise over remote red desert, then continue across the MacDonnell Ranges to Alice Springs. From there, a transfer brings you to Ayers Rock (Uluru) for two days in the Red Centre, including a sunset experience with sparkling wine. Throughout the tour you stay in 4 and 5-star hotels, and The Ghan offers two-course lunch and three-course dinner service in the dining car. The tour suits luxury-seeking repeat rail travellers and couples who value independence: Great Rail Journeys books all transfers and rail seats, but leaves substantial free time for self-directed exploration.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price covers the package including rail fares and London flights; confirm final hotel selection with the operator, as each city lists multiple 4 and 5-star options
  • Days 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, and 13 are entirely free with optional excursions available but no guided activities included

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Sydney

    UK to Sydney

    Your incredible journey begins with your flight from London to Sydney.

  2. Day 2overnight: Sydney

    Arrival in Sydney

    On arrival in Sydney you'll be transferred to your hotel. The sight of the iconic Sydney Opera House welcomes you to this vibrant city by the water. The land of surf and culture gifts you gems like Bondi Beach, alongside an art gallery that boasts Aboriginal and Asian art, and a diverse food scene to delve into.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3overnight: Sydney

    Exploring Sydney

    Enjoy a free day in Sydney today. Take a walk around the city and see the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Go shopping at some of the many busy shopping streets, and relax with a coffee while the bustling city moves around you. Take a walk by the water and watch the surfers catching the waves, or choose one of the optional excursions.

    Meals: Breakfast

  4. Day 4overnight: Sydney

    Exploring Sydney

    Another free day in Sydney to explore at your leisure. Optional excursions available including a panoramic city tour, Sydney Cricket Ground walking tour, Sydney Harbour Discovery Lunch Cruise, and Blue Mountains Deluxe Day Tour.

    Meals: Breakfast

  5. Day 5railovernight: Melbourne

    The XPT Sydney to Melbourne

    This morning you'll leave your hotel and be transferred to Sydney Central Station for your first train journey of the trip. You'll travel 600 miles on this long-distance rail journey from Sydney to Melbourne. Sit back and relax as you pass farmsteads, woods and open plains across Eastern Australia. On arrival in Melbourne, you'll be transferred to your hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast

  6. Day 6overnight: Melbourne

    Exploring Melbourne

    Enjoy a free day in Melbourne. Visit a gallery or two, check out the street art down the lanes off the main streets, discover Melbourne's urban history on AC/DC Lane, head to the Botanic Gardens, or visit St Kilda to lounge on the beach and explore the famous Luna Park. Try local dishes at the city's restaurants or taste street food at Queen Victoria Market. Optional excursions available.

    Meals: Breakfast

  7. Day 7railovernight: Adelaide

    The Overland to Adelaide

    This morning you'll be transferred from your hotel to Southern Cross Station, where you'll board the Overland train for Adelaide. Standard Red Service travel gives you all the romance of a rail journey through Australia, with stunning and diverse landscapes rolling by your window. Visit the licenced Café 828 car for food and drinks. An upgrade to Red Premium is available for more leg room and meals served at your seat. On arrival in Adelaide, you'll be transferred to your hotel.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Adelaide

    Exploring Adelaide

    Enjoy a free day in Adelaide. Go shopping along chic shopping streets, visit boutiques and indie shops, or head to the arcade. Visit fine restaurants and hip bars, or head to the Botanic Gardens. Take a tram to the beach for lazing on the sands or water sports. Optional excursions available including Kangaroo Island and Barossa Valley tours.

    Meals: Breakfast

  9. Day 9railovernight: The Ghan (on board)

    The Ghan

    Today you'll embark on a special journey when you board The Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs. The Ghan takes you back in time to the golden age of travel. Access to the Outback Explorer Lounge gives you a place to get to know your fellow travellers over a drink and to relax while you watch the landscapes roll by. A two-course lunch and a three-course dinner is served in the dining car, accompanied by regional fine wines. Your gold twin cabin provides a quiet oasis of calm by day and converts into twin beds at night.

    Meals: Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10railovernight: Alice Springs

    Marla and the Northern Territory

    Early this morning you'll make a special, short stop at the outback town of Marla. You'll arrive at Marla in the dark, but the sun soon rises, bringing an incredible spectacle to this remote area. You can hop off the train and enjoy the atmosphere as the sun comes up. Brunch is served on the train and soon you are crossing the state border into the Northern Territory. You'll glide through the MacDonnell Ranges and arrive at Alice Springs in the afternoon. On arrival you'll make your own way to your hotel for two nights.

    Meals: Brunch

  11. Day 11overnight: Alice Springs

    Free day in Alice Springs

    Alice Springs is a vibrant outback town in the heart of Australia's Red Centre, known for its striking desert landscapes, rich Aboriginal heritage, and adventurous spirit. Nestled between the rugged MacDonnell Ranges, it serves as a gateway to iconic natural wonders such as Uluru and Kings Canyon. The town blends a relaxed atmosphere with a strong sense of culture and history, evident in its thriving arts scene, local galleries, and cultural centres like the Araluen Arts Centre.

    Meals: Breakfast

  12. Day 12overnight: Ayers Rock (Yulara)

    Ayers Rock

    Following breakfast, you'll be transferred from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock. This incredible sandstone monolith, also known as Uluru, makes the landscape of the 'red centre' even more spectacular. As you make your way to the town of Yulara, you'll see the spectacular colours and altering views of this remote and beautiful area. When you arrive, you'll experience the many moods of Uluru at sunset with an uninterrupted view on a sunset Uluru tour. Relax with a glass of sparkling wine and light refreshments as the sun sets.

    Meals: Breakfast

  13. Day 13overnight: Ayers Rock (Yulara)

    Ayers Rock

    Enjoy a free day in Yulara and take a walk around Ayers Rock at your own pace. There are plaques giving information on the cultural significance of various caves and rocks. Head to the art gallery in town where works of local artists are shown for free. Take a didgeridoo workshop, or a bush food experience. Relax at your resort hotel by the pool. Optional excursions available including Sounds of Silence Dinner and Kata Tjuta tour.

    Meals: Breakfast

  14. Day 14overnight: In flight

    Homeward Bound

    Your adventure of a lifetime comes to its end today when you're transferred from your hotel at Yulara to Ayers Rock Airport. Your overnight flight back to London takes you via Sydney and Dubai.

  15. Day 15

    Arrive back in the UK

    You'll arrive back in the UK with the most incredible memories that will last you forever.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5Day 5: the XPT train travels 600 miles from Sydney to Melbourne, passing farmsteads, woods, and open plains across Eastern Australia
  • Day 9Day 9: you board The Ghan for the journey from Adelaide to Alice Springs, with access to the Outback Explorer Lounge and two-course lunch and three-course dinner in the dining car
  • Day 10Day 10: early morning stop at Marla in the Outback, where you can step off the train to watch the sunrise over the remote landscape before crossing into the Northern Territory
  • Day 12Day 12: transfer from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock (Uluru) with a sunset tour including sparkling wine and light refreshments

Included

  • 11 nights in 4/5-star hotel accommodation
  • 1 night on board The Ghan in a Gold Twin Cabin
  • All rail travel throughout the tour
  • All transfers throughout the tour
  • Flight from London Heathrow to Sydney
  • Flight from Ayers Rock to London Heathrow
  • Sunset Uluru tour with sparkling wine and light refreshments
  • Breakfast (B&B basis) at hotels

Not included

  • Cancellation and travel insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included?
Yes, all rail travel is included: the XPT from Sydney to Melbourne, The Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide, and The Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs in a Gold Twin Cabin.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Great Rail Journeys operates this as an independent tour. You receive transfers between stations and hotels, but days in each city are free to explore on your own; optional excursions are available.
What is included in the price?
Included are 11 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels, one night aboard The Ghan in a Gold Twin Cabin, all rail travel, all transfers, flights from London Heathrow to Sydney and from Ayers Rock to London Heathrow, breakfast daily, a sunset Uluru tour with sparkling wine and light refreshments, access to the Outback Explorer Lounge, and dining in The Ghan restaurant car.
What meals are included?
Breakfast is included at all hotels. On The Ghan, a two-course lunch and three-course dinner are served in the dining car on Day 9, and brunch is served on Day 10.
How much walking is involved?
Most days are free time in cities where you set your own pace. Day 12 includes a self-guided walk around Ayers Rock at your own leisure.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance are not included. Optional excursions, meals outside set times, and any activities beyond the itinerary are at your own expense.

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