Search

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Independent rail vacation

Grand Tour of Australia Including The Ghan

13-day independent rail journey from Sydney to Ayers Rock aboard The Ghan

Illustration of Grand Tour of Australia Including The Ghan

Vacations By Rail's Grand Tour of Australia is a 13-day independent rail journey that starts in Sydney and ends at Ayers Rock, traveling through three of Australia's most visited cities and the legendary Red Centre. You depart Sydney on Day 1 and spend three nights exploring the city with an included afternoon panoramic tour of The Rocks, Macquarie Street, and Bondi Beach. Day 4 brings a 600-mile rail journey aboard the XPT to Melbourne, followed by a full-day Great Ocean Road excursion past the Twelve Apostles and through the Otway Ranges. The Overland train carries you from Melbourne to Adelaide on Day 6, where you spend two nights including a full-day Barossa Valley wine tour with tastings at four boutique wineries. The heart of the journey is Day 8, when you board The Ghan sleeper train from Adelaide to Alice Springs, traveling through the MacDonnell Ranges with included meals and drinks. After two nights exploring Alice Springs and the Red Centre, you finish with two nights at Yulara near Uluru, where sunsets and the Sounds of Silence dinner experience complete the tour. Throughout, you stay in 4 and 5-star hotels with breakfast included, and the itinerary balances included tours with free time to explore on your own.

What to know before you look closer

  • The final leg from Yulara to home requires an overnight flight not included in the from-price; confirm timing and cost with Vacations By Rail.
  • Hotel choice on each segment is between two options (Crowne Plaza or Hyatt in Sydney, Hotel Indigo or Grand Hyatt in Melbourne, Grand Chancellor or Eos in Adelaide), so your final accommodation depends on which tier you select.
  • The Ghan cabin upgrade from Gold Twin to Gold Single, Gold Premium, or Platinum carries an additional cost not detailed in the from-price.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Sydney

    Arriving in Sydney, Australia

    Arrive in Sydney and transfer to your preferred hotel (choice of four-star or five-star), B&B basis.

  2. Day 2overnight: Sydney

    Exploring Sydney's culture and sights

    Free day in Sydney with an included afternoon small-group panoramic city tour taking in The Rocks, Macquarie Street, Mrs Macquarie's Point, the Eastern Suburbs and Bondi Beach. Optional excursions available at a supplement.

  3. Day 3overnight: Sydney

    Exploring Sydney's culture and sights

    Second full day in Sydney; continuation of free time and optional excursions.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Melbourne

    The XPT Sydney to Melbourne

    Transfer to Sydney Central Station for a 600-mile rail journey to Melbourne; evening transfer to hotel (choice of four-star or five-star), B&B basis.

  5. Day 5overnight: Melbourne

    Along the famous Great Ocean Road

    Full-day small-group tour along the Great Ocean Road, stopping at Apollo Bay for lunch, walking in the Otway Ranges, and visiting the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge before returning to Melbourne.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Adelaide

    The Overland to Adelaide

    Transfer to Southern Cross Station to board the Overland train (Standard Red Service, upgradeable to Red Premium) for an all-day journey to Adelaide; transfer to hotel (choice of four-star or five-star), B&B basis.

  7. Day 7overnight: Adelaide

    The beautiful Barossa Valley

    Included full-day excursion into the Barossa Valley wine region with tastings at four boutique wineries and a restaurant lunch.

  8. Day 8railovernight: train (The Ghan)

    The Ghan

    Board The Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs; drinks in the Outback Explorer Lounge, two-course lunch and three-course dinner in the dining car. Cabin choice of Gold Twin, Gold Single, Gold Premium or Platinum.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Alice Springs

    Marla and the Northern Territory

    Early morning stop in Marla to view the outback sunrise; brunch onboard as the train crosses into the Northern Territory through the MacDonnell Ranges, arriving Alice Springs in the afternoon for a two-night stay.

  10. Day 10overnight: Alice Springs

    Free day in Alice Springs

    Free day to explore Alice Springs, the Red Centre outback town in the MacDonnell Ranges.

  11. Day 11overnight: Yulara

    Ayers Rock

    Transfer from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock (Uluru) via Yulara; sunset Uluru tour with sparkling wine and light refreshments; transfer to hotel for a two-night stay (choice of four-star or five-star), B&B basis.

  12. Day 12overnight: Yulara

    A free day in Yulara and a starlit dinner experience

    Free day in Yulara to explore Ayers Rock at your own pace; evening Sounds of Silence Dinner experience with canapes, sparkling wine, a bush-tucker-inspired menu and stargazing talk.

  13. Day 13

    Tour conclusion

    Included transfer from Yulara to Ayers Rock Airport for the overnight flight home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Day 4: Board the XPT at Sydney Central Station for a 600-mile rail journey to Melbourne.
  • Day 5Day 5: Full-day Great Ocean Road tour including walks in the Otway Ranges and visits to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.
  • Day 7Day 7: Included full-day Barossa Valley wine excursion with tastings at four boutique wineries and a restaurant lunch.
  • Day 8Day 8: Board The Ghan sleeper train from Adelaide to Alice Springs with drinks in the Outback Explorer Lounge and dining car meals.
  • Day 11Day 11: Sunset tour at Uluru with sparkling wine and light refreshments, followed by a Sounds of Silence dinner experience with stargazing.

Included

  • 11 nights 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour
  • 1 night on board The Ghan in a Gold Twin Cabin

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance is not included in the price of the tour but can be arranged
  • Flights

Questions travellers ask

Is all rail and coach travel included?
Yes. The package includes all rail travel on the XPT, The Overland, and The Ghan, plus coach transfers and included tours. International flights are not included.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Vacations By Rail describes it as an independent rail vacation where you travel on your own following a well-planned itinerary. A small-group city tour is included in Sydney and a full-day Barossa Valley excursion is included; other days are free to explore.
What is included about The Ghan?
One night aboard The Ghan in a Gold Twin Cabin is included from Adelaide to Alice Springs. The cabin class can be upgraded to Gold Single, Gold Premium, or Platinum for an additional cost. Meals and drinks in the Outback Explorer Lounge are included.
How many nights are in hotels and how many on the train?
11 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels; 1 night on board The Ghan sleeper train.
Which hotels are included?
You choose between two hotel options in each city: Sydney (Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour or Hyatt Regency, 3 nights); Melbourne (Hotel Indigo on Flinders or Grand Hyatt, 2 nights); Adelaide (Grand Chancellor or Eos by Skycity, 2 nights); Yulara (4 and 5-star option, 2 nights). All are bed and breakfast basis.
What meals are included?
Hotel breakfasts are included. An included small-group panoramic city tour in Sydney includes the afternoon portion. Day 5 includes lunch on the Great Ocean Road tour. Day 7 includes lunch at a restaurant during the Barossa Valley wine excursion. The Ghan includes two-course lunch and three-course dinner in the dining car. Day 12 includes the Sounds of Silence dinner with canapes, sparkling wine, and a bush-tucker-inspired menu.

Similar journeys