Search

Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

The Best of Queensland from Cairns

7-day one-way rail journey from Cairns to Sydney via Brisbane

Illustration of The Best of Queensland from Cairns

Railbookers operates this 7-day, 6-night independent rail vacation starting in Cairns and ending in Sydney, with an overnight stop in Brisbane along the way. Four nights in Cairns anchor the trip, filled with a Kuranda scenic railway ride and Skyrail cableway over the Wet Tropics Rainforest, a cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef for snorkelling, and a day trip to the Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation with a river cruise and a 4WD drive along the Bloomfield Track. From Cairns, the Spirit of Queensland's RailBed class carries travelers overnight to Brisbane for a day of sightseeing, before a final train south to Sydney. Because it is independent rather than escorted, travelers move between the pre-booked trains, hotels, and excursions on their own. It suits travelers who want a shorter, one-way version of the Queensland rail journey, with the overnight sleeper train and a deep stay in Cairns rather than a return trip to Sydney and back.

What to know before you look closer

  • The Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation day trip runs Wednesdays and Saturdays only, so it may not be available on every departure date.
  • The hotel list gives multiple named hotel options for Cairns and Brisbane rather than one fixed hotel per stop, so the specific hotel booked depends on the tier chosen.
  • The evidence lists no current departure dates for this package.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Cairns

    Your Journey Begins in Cairns

    Welcome to Cairns! On arrival head to your hotel for a 4-night stay.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Cairns

    Kuranda Railway and Sky Rail Day Trip

    2-hour scenic train ride to Kuranda, then a cable-way ride over the Wet Tropics Rainforest.

  3. Day 3overnight: Cairns

    Great Barrier Reef

    2-hour cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef with 4 hours on the reef: snorkelling, semi-submersible coral viewing and fish feeding.

  4. Day 4overnight: Cairns

    Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation

    Day trip with scenic coastal road, 1-hour river cruise, guided boardwalk tour, lunch in a beach house, and 4WD drive along the Bloomfield Track.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Onboard

    The Spirit Of Queensland

    Journey home aboard the Spirit of Queensland train.

  6. Day 6overnight: Brisbane

    Brisbane

    Check into your hotel once you have arrived, then enjoy a full day sightseeing in Brisbane.

  7. Day 7rail

    Your Journey Ends in Sydney

    Enjoy the final leg of your holiday, travelling south by train to Sydney.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2A 2-hour scenic train ride on the Kuranda Railway, followed by a cable-way ride over the Wet Tropics Rainforest.
  • Day 3A cruise out to the Great Barrier Reef with 4 hours on the reef for snorkelling, semi-submersible coral viewing, and fish feeding.
  • Day 4A day trip to the Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation, including a river cruise, a guided boardwalk tour, and a 4WD drive along the Bloomfield Track.
  • Day 5An overnight journey home aboard the Spirit of Queensland train from Cairns to Brisbane.
  • Day 7The final leg of the trip, traveling south by train from Brisbane to Sydney.

Included

  • Rail Travel as per the itinerary
  • Railbed from Cairns to Brisbane on the Spirit of Queensland
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Brisbane
  • 4 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Cairns
  • Great Barrier Reef cruise from Cairns
  • Kuranda railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway day trip
  • Full day tour from Cairns to Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation (Wed and Sat only)

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes, the whole trip is by rail: the Spirit of Queensland's RailBed class from Cairns to Brisbane, then NSW TrainLink on to Sydney.
Is it escorted or independent?
It is an independent, self-guided rail vacation.
Which trains does the trip use?
The Spirit of Queensland (Queensland Rail) from Cairns to Brisbane in RailBed class, NSW TrainLink from Brisbane to Sydney, and the Kuranda scenic railway as a day trip from Cairns.
What hotels are included?
The evidence lists multiple hotel options in Cairns, such as the Hilton Cairns and Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort, and in Brisbane, such as the InterContinental Brisbane The Point.
Where does the trip start and end?
It starts in Cairns and, per the day-by-day itinerary, ends in Sydney after an overnight stop in Brisbane.
How long is the trip and what does it cost?
7 days and 6 nights, priced from $2,399 per person, about $343 a day.

Similar journeys