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Journey Beyond Rail · Rail journey with lodge stay

Monarto Luxury Stay 2026

Six-day rail journey from Brisbane to Monarto Safari Lodge via the Great Southern

Illustration of Monarto Luxury Stay 2026

Journey Beyond Rail combines six days of coastal and regional Australian rail travel with a luxury safari lodge experience. Aboard the Great Southern, you depart Brisbane and travel south along the coast, stopping at Coffs Harbour for a beachside dinner with live music, then the Hunter Valley wine region with a choice of vineyard tours or adventure activities. The train calls at Melbourne, where you can explore museums and the skyline, before arriving in Adelaide. From Adelaide, a private transfer takes you to Monarto Safari Lodge in the Murraylands, where you spend two nights in luxury Safari Tents with exclusive evening access to the Wild Africa area and daytime exploration of the world's largest open-range safari park outside Africa. All meals aboard the train and at the lodge, beverages, and activities are included. This itinerary suits luxury seekers, repeat rail travellers, and wildlife photographers who want comfort and wildlife in one journey.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement is significant: AUD 7,695 versus AUD 6,005 for the base twin share, roughly 28 percent higher than half the double price.
  • Only one departure is currently listed for December 2026; confirm availability well in advance with Journey Beyond Rail.
  • Day 2 and Day 3 offer choice of experiences rather than a single itinerary; your final activity depends on the option selected at the time of booking.

Day by day

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

    Board the Great Southern in Brisbane

    A warm welcome at Hanworth House in East Brisbane before setting off on the Great Southern. Lunch on board, arriving in Coffs Harbour for drinks and canapes on the sand at Charlesworth Bay and a signature outdoor dinner with live band, weather permitting.

  2. Day 2rail

    Great Southern, Hunter Valley, Port Stephens or Newcastle

    A choice of Off Train Experiences: the Hunter Valley's Tulloch and Brokenwood Wines with lunch at Twine Restaurant (helicopter flight upgrade available), Port Stephens by 4WD across the Stockton Bight Sand Dunes or by boat cruise, or a guided walking tour of Newcastle.

  3. Day 3

    Great Southern, Regional Victoria or Melbourne

    A choice between Clyde Park in the Moorabool Valley for a long lunch and cool-climate wines, or cosmopolitan Melbourne taking in the Ian Potter Centre at NGV Australia, the MCG, or the Old Melbourne Gaol, with views from Melbourne Skydeck and lunch at Eureka 89.

  4. Day 4overnight: Monarto Safari Lodge (2 nights)

    Great Southern, Adelaide and Monarto Safari Lodge

    Arrive in Adelaide and transfer by private vehicle to Monarto Safari Lodge, about an hour from the city, nestled in the Murraylands. Settle into a luxurious Safari Tent, with dinner at the Lodge featuring a chef-curated three-course menu.

  5. Day 5

    Monarto Safari Park

    Explore Monarto Safari Park, the largest open-range safari experience in the world outside of Africa, via the guided Zu-Loop bus, with optional Daily Keeper Presentations and behind-the-scenes animal experiences. In the evening, the Sunset Wildlife Safari offers exclusive after-hours access to the Wild Africa area aboard a custom-built Safari Landcruiser.

  6. Day 6

    Farewell

    Check out after breakfast and transfer by private vehicle to Adelaide Airport or a CBD hotel.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Signature outdoor dinner with live band on the sand at Charlesworth Bay, Coffs Harbour, after boarding the Great Southern in Brisbane.
  • Day 2Choice of Hunter Valley wine experiences at Tulloch and Brokenwood Wines with lunch at Twine Restaurant, Port Stephens sand dune 4WD adventure, or Newcastle walking tour.
  • Day 3Choice between Clyde Park in the Moorabool Valley for cool-climate wines and long lunch, or Melbourne's Ian Potter Centre, MCG, Old Melbourne Gaol, and Eureka 89 lunch.
  • Day 5Sunset Wildlife Safari aboard a custom-built Safari Landcruiser offering exclusive after-hours access to Wild Africa and wildlife viewing.

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 Melbourne or regional Victoria
  • Private vehicle transfer from Adelaide Parklands Terminal to Monarto Safari Lodge
  • 2 nights accommodation at Monarto Safari Lodge, including breakfast, alfresco lunch and dinner daily, curated minibar, and all day beverage package
  • Monarto Safari Park general admission ticket
  • Private vehicle transfer from Monarto Safari Lodge to Adelaide Airport or CBD Hotel
  • 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 5 dinners

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included in the price?
Yes. The price includes three nights aboard the Great Southern from Brisbane to Adelaide, with all meals, beverages, and Off Train Experiences included.
What is the accommodation like?
Three nights aboard the Great Southern, then two nights in a luxury Safari Tent at Monarto Safari Lodge in the Murraylands, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, minibar, and beverages included.
What animals will I see?
Monarto Safari Park is home to Southern White Rhinos, Giraffes, Cheetahs, Eland, Ostriches, and Zebras, viewed by guided Zu-Loop bus or during the exclusive Sunset Wildlife Safari.
Is this an escorted tour or independent travel?
The tour is escorted aboard the Great Southern with curated off-train experiences and guided activities at Monarto Safari Lodge, including the Zu-Loop bus and optional behind-the-scenes animal experiences.
When does the tour run?
Journey Beyond Rail currently lists one departure in December 2026. Fares are subject to availability and change; confirm current departures when booking.

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