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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Treasures of Australia & the Indian Pacific

14-day Perth to Melbourne loop on the Indian Pacific and XPT trains

Illustration of Treasures of Australia & the Indian Pacific

Vacations By Rail's 14-day Treasures of Australia and the Indian Pacific tour departs Perth and ends on the Great Ocean Road, combining four-night luxury rail travel with city exploration and regional excursions. The journey centers on the Indian Pacific, traveling from Perth across the Nullarbor Plain to Sydney in Gold Class cabins with all meals, drinks, and on-train excursions included. Days begin and end in five-star and four-star hotels in Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne, with a Tour Manager accompanying the group throughout. The itinerary balances structured activities (a Barossa Valley wine pairing, a Sydney Harbour dinner cruise, a Great Ocean Road coach excursion) with free time and optional experiences such as Blue Mountains exploration and Broken Hill art studio visits. This tour suits luxury-seeking repeat rail travelers, couples seeking a long escorted journey, and food-and-wine enthusiasts drawn to the Indian Pacific's on-train dining and regional tastings.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights and airport transfers are not included in the from-price; international airfare and ground transportation to and from airports must be arranged separately.
  • The tour includes 12 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 5 lunches, and 6 dinners; some meals in hotels and on coach excursions are independent or not included.
  • Several days offer free time and optional excursions (Broken Hill activities, Blue Mountains options, Melbourne leisure day); not all activities or meals are pre-arranged.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Perth

    Arrival in Perth

    Transfer independently to the five-star hotel overlooking the Swan River for a three-night stay. Dine independently.

  2. Day 2overnight: Perth

    Perth and Fremantle sightseeing

    Sightseeing tour of downtown Perth and Kings Park, then Fremantle, a historic port at the mouth of the Swan River, with free time. Evening sail along the Swan River back to Perth for dinner at the hotel.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Perth

    Meeting the quokkas of Rottnest Island

    Sail to Rottnest Island for a tour including the historic Captain Hussey train, Wadjemup Lighthouse, Jeannies Lookout, Oliver Hill Battery and Mabel Cove, meeting the island's quokkas. Return to Perth by ferry.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Overnight train

    Boarding the luxury Indian Pacific

    Morning at leisure, then board the Indian Pacific and check in to Gold Class twin cabins with en suite bathrooms and picture windows. First dinner in the Queen Adelaide restaurant as the train departs Perth.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Overnight train

    Crossing the Nullarbor Plain from Kalgoorlie to Cook

    Optional excursions in the mining town of Kalgoorlie, including the Super Pit mine. Mid-morning brunch, then views of the Nullarbor Plain (the longest straight stretch of railway in the world, 297 miles). Late-night bonfire and nightcap in the ghost town of Cook.

  6. Day 6overnight: Overnight train

    Wine-tasting in the renowned Barossa Valley

    Views of South Australia's pastoral lands and Flinders Ranges before disembarking at Two Wells for an excursion to Seppeltsfield Winery in the Barossa Valley: a 'Firing of the Barrel' display and a food and wine pairing curated by executive chef Owen Andrews. Platinum class guests also receive a tasting of a 100-year-old port.

  7. Day 7railovernight: Overnight train

    The artistic outback town of Broken Hill

    Choice of off-train experiences in Broken Hill: a heritage city tour, a painting lesson at artist Pro Hart's original studio, a visit to the Day Dream Mine near Silverton, a tour with local drag queen Shelita Buffet, or a bushtucker lesson with local chef Lee Cecchin.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Sydney

    Blue Mountains and arrival in Sydney

    Disembark to explore the Blue Mountains (or remain aboard direct to Sydney Central Station), with included excursion options: Scenic World's Skyway and Cableway, a guided walk, high tea, or the Katoomba Scenic Railway. Board a chartered train to Sydney Central Station and transfer to the hotel near Darling Harbor.

  9. Day 9overnight: Sydney

    Sightseeing in Sydney

    Guided sightseeing tour: The Rocks, Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, Bondi Beach. Evening dinner cruise from King Street Wharf past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

  10. Day 10overnight: Sydney

    Sydney at leisure

    Free day; options include a ferry to Circular Quay, a walk to the Royal Botanic Gardens, or a scenic ferry ride to Manly.

  11. Day 11railovernight: Melbourne

    XPT Interstate train to Melbourne

    Coach to the station to join the XPT Interstate to Melbourne in First Class (lunch and dinner purchasable on board), passing Wagga Wagga. Check in to the central Melbourne hotel overlooking the Yarra River for three nights.

  12. Day 12overnight: Melbourne

    Melbourne city tour & Yarra River cruise

    Sightseeing tour past the Old Treasury Building and the MCG, followed by a one-hour Yarra River sightseeing cruise and a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck.

  13. Day 13overnight: Melbourne

    Along the Great Ocean Road

    Coach excursion along the Great Ocean Road, with stops at Lorne and Apollo Bay (lunch), viewing the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.

  14. Day 14

    Traveling home

    After breakfast, travel independently to Melbourne airport for your journey home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5Day 5: Cross the Nullarbor Plain on the Indian Pacific, the world's longest straight stretch of railway at 297 miles, then gather for a bonfire and nightcap under the stars in the ghost town of Cook.
  • Day 6Day 6: Disembark at Two Wells for a food and wine pairing at Seppeltsfield Winery in the Barossa Valley, including the Firing of the Barrel display and a curated menu by executive chef Owen Andrews.
  • Day 8Day 8: Explore the Blue Mountains with options for Scenic World's Skyway and Cableway, a guided walk, or the Katoomba Scenic Railway, the world's steepest passenger railroad.
  • Day 9Day 9: Sydney Harbour dinner cruise from King Street Wharf past the Opera House and Harbour Bridge following a guided city tour of The Rocks and Bondi Beach.
  • Day 13Day 13: Coach excursion along the Great Ocean Road from Melbourne, stopping at Lorne and Apollo Bay to view the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
  • 4 nights in a Gold Class cabin aboard the Indian Pacific
  • First Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise, ferry and coach travel throughout your tour
  • 12 breakfasts, 1 brunch, 5 lunches, 6 dinners
  • Beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks included on the Indian Pacific
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes four nights on the Indian Pacific from Perth to Sydney in Gold Class cabins, one night on the XPT Interstate from Sydney to Melbourne in First Class, ferry to Rottnest Island, and all coach travel throughout the tour.
Is this tour escorted or independent?
Escorted. Vacations By Rail provides a Tour Manager from start to finish who leads a group of like-minded travelers through the itinerary, though some meals and days include free time.
Which trains are used?
The Indian Pacific (Perth to Sydney, 2,704 miles, four nights in Gold Class with meals and drinks included) and the XPT Interstate (Sydney to Melbourne, one night in First Class).
What hotels are included?
Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth (five-star, three nights), ParkRoyal Darling Harbour in Sydney (four-star, three nights), and Pan Pacific Melbourne (three nights).
When does the tour run?
The operator does not list specific departure dates in the available information; contact Vacations By Rail directly to confirm available dates.
How much walking is involved?
The operator rates this tour Mobility Rating 4. It includes city walking tours in Perth, Sydney, and Melbourne, a Rottnest Island tour, and optional excursions such as Blue Mountains walks and mine visits; some days involve luggage handling and urban stairs.

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