How much does it cost?

From £6,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $9,454 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Which trains will I travel on?

You will travel on the NSW Trainlink XPT First Class (Sydney to Melbourne), The Overland Red Premium Service (Melbourne to Adelaide), Puffing Billy steam train (Dandenong Ranges), Katoomba Scenic Railway (Blue Mountains), and Kuranda Scenic Railway Gold Class (Cairns return).

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the entire 21-day journey from London Heathrow to the final departure from Cairns.

What meals are included?

Great Rail Journeys includes 16 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 3 dinners. The dinners include a group dinner in Sydney, a Sounds of Silence three-course buffet dinner at Uluru, and a final group dinner in Cairns.

When does the tour depart?

Six departures run in September 2026, November 2026, September 2027, October 2027, November 2027 and February 2027.

What is not included?

Cancellation and travel insurance are not included and must be booked separately.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Ultimate Australia

21-day Australian rail loop from Sydney to Uluru and Cairns

Great Rail Journeys' Ultimate Australia is a 21-day escorted tour combining rail journeys, internal flights and coach travel across Australia's most celebrated regions. The journey begins in London and concludes in Cairns, linking Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Uluru and Cairns with stays of three to four nights in 4-star hotels. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the entire group. The tour centres on five named train experiences: the NSW Trainlink XPT First Class from Sydney to Melbourne, The Overland from Melbourne to Adelaide, the heritage Puffing Billy steam train through the Dandenong Ranges, the Katoomba Scenic Railway into the Blue Mountains rainforest, and the Kuranda Scenic Railway in Gold Class through the tropical gorge near Cairns. Each city stop includes guided sightseeing tours and excursions such as a Sydney Harbour cruise with lunch, the Great Ocean Road day trip, Barossa Valley wine tastings, sunrise and sunset experiences at Uluru with a three-course desert dinner and stargazing, and a full-day Great Barrier Reef catamaran with snorkelling and an underwater observatory. The pace is relaxed, with most stops offering free time to explore at leisure.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £6,999.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

The tour includes long-haul flights (London to Singapore to Sydney, then Cairns to Singapore to London) as part of the journey; this is not a rail-only experience.
Single supplement from GBP 8,899 is substantially higher than half the double price (GBP 6,799 per person); solo travellers should factor in this cost.
Maximum group size is 40 people, which is large for some activities and guided tours.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: In flight
London Heathrow to Sydney
Your Australian adventure begins as we meet the Tour Manager and the rest of our group at London Heathrow and board our daytime flight to Singapore, flying through several time zones before arriving early morning, local time.
Day 2overnight: Sydney
Arrival in coastal Sydney
In Singapore, we join our flight to Sydney and arrive in the evening. After a transfer to our hotel in Darling Harbour and checking in for the next four nights, you are free to unwind.
Day 3overnight: Sydney
Sightseeing in Sydney and Bondi Beach
After a free morning, a guided sightseeing tour takes in Sydney's famous landmarks and eastern suburbs, travelling by coach along the coastline to Bondi Beach, then Mrs Macquarie's Chair. This evening, we mark the first full day with a group dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4overnight: Sydney
Sydney Harbour cruise with lunch on board
A cruise around Sydney Harbour with a buffet lunch on board, passing the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. The rest of the day is free to explore The Rocks, the waterfront and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Day 5railovernight: Sydney
Blue Mountains and the Katoomba Scenic Railway
A rail journey into the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, visiting the Three Sisters rocks at Echo Point and the village of Leura, then riding the world's steepest incline railway, the Katoomba Scenic Railway, and the glass-bottom Scenic Skyway.
Day 6railovernight: Melbourne
Sydney to Melbourne by cross-country rail
A coach journey to Southern Cross rail station to join the cross-country train to Melbourne in First Class, passing open plains and farmland. On arrival this evening, we check in to our central hotel for four nights.
Day 7overnight: Melbourne
Melbourne sightseeing tour and Yarra River cruise
A sightseeing tour of Melbourne taking in the central business district, Docklands, the Botanic Gardens and Melbourne Cricket Ground, followed by a one-hour Yarra River cruise and a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck.
Day 8overnight: Melbourne
A day trip along the Great Ocean Road
An excursion along the Great Ocean Road by coach, stopping at Lorne and Apollo Bay for lunch, then the Loch Ard Gorge and the Twelve Apostles, before returning to Melbourne.
Day 9railovernight: Melbourne
A ride on the Puffing Billy steam train into the Dandenong Ranges
We drive to Belgrave Station to board the nostalgic Puffing Billy steam train through the Dandenong Ranges to the Lakeside Visitor Centre for lunch, then return by train and transfer back to our Melbourne hotel.
Day 10railovernight: Adelaide
Travelling west on the Overland to Adelaide
An early start to join the Overland train west to Adelaide, with breakfast and lunch served on board. On arrival this evening, we check in to our hotel overlooking Victoria Square.
Day 11overnight: Adelaide
An excursion to the Barossa Valley
A coach excursion to the Barossa Valley wine region, with tours and tastings at wineries including Lambert Wines and the historic Seppeltsfield Estate, a relaxed lunch, and a visit to the German settlement of Hahndorf.
Day 12overnight: Adelaide
Guided tour of Adelaide and afternoon at leisure
A guided tour of Adelaide taking in Montefiore Hill, Adelaide Oval and St Peter's Cathedral, followed by a free afternoon to explore the Botanic Garden, museums or Central Market.
Day 13overnight: Alice Springs
Entering the Outback in Alice Springs
An early transfer to the airport for a flight to Alice Springs. On arrival, we check in to our hotel, then visit Anzac Hill, the Old Telegraph Station, the School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum.
Day 14overnight: Uluru (Ayers Rock Resort)
Alice Springs to sacred Uluru
We travel by coach through the Red Centre to Uluru, stopping for lunch en route. We arrive at our hotel late afternoon and this evening experience a magical Uluru sunset with drinks and snacks.
Day 15overnight: Uluru (Ayers Rock Resort)
Sunrise over Uluru and Sounds of Silence dinner
A sunrise visit to Uluru followed by breakfast, then a guided tour of Kata Tjuta National Park (the Olgas). This evening, a Sounds of Silence dinner in the desert with sparkling wine, a barbecue buffet and a stargazing experience.
Day 16overnight: Cairns
Arrival in tropical Cairns
We transfer to the airport to fly to Cairns, arriving in the early afternoon. After a transfer to our hotel overlooking Trinity Wharf, we check in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Day 17overnight: Cairns
Exploring the wondrous Great Barrier Reef
A full-day excursion by catamaran into the Great Barrier Reef, stopping at Green Island then mooring at a pontoon for a reef presentation, buffet lunch, underwater observatory viewing and snorkelling.
Day 18railovernight: Cairns
Rainforestation Nature Park & the Kuranda scenic railway
A trip on an Army Duck amphibious vehicle at Rainforestation Nature Park, a guided Dreamtime Walk and pamagirri dance performance, a barbecue lunch, then Kuranda village and the heritage Kuranda Scenic Railway back through the Barron River Gorge.
Day 19overnight: Cairns
A free day to explore the vibrant city of Cairns
A full day at leisure in Cairns, perhaps visiting the Flecker Botanic Gardens or Cairns Aquarium. This evening, we mark the final night in Australia with a group dinner at the hotel.
Day 20overnight: In flight
Leaving Cairns
A leisurely morning in Cairns for final sightseeing before we transfer to Cairns airport this afternoon for a flight to Singapore as we begin our journey home.
Day 21
Homeward bound
This epic Australian adventure has taken us from the wondrous cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide to the sensational natural wonders of Uluru and the Great Barrier Reef. We touch down in London Heathrow early today and you are free to make your way home.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Cruise around Sydney Harbour, passing the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, with buffet lunch on board.
Day 5Ride the Katoomba Scenic Railway, the world's steepest passenger incline railway, into the Blue Mountains rainforest, then cross the glass-bottom Scenic Skyway.
Day 6Board the NSW Trainlink XPT in First Class for the cross-country rail journey from Sydney to Melbourne through Australian bush and farmland.
Day 15Attend the Sounds of Silence dinner in the desert at Uluru at sunset, featuring a barbecue buffet, sparkling wine, canapés and a stargazing experience with a star talker.
Day 17Spend a full day on the Great Barrier Reef by catamaran, visiting Green Island coral cay, an underwater observatory, snorkelling and a glass-bottom boat.

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
18 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
First Class rail travel
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Flights from London Heathrow to Sydney via Singapore, Cairns to London Heathrow via Singapore
All internal flights
17 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners
All guided tours and excursions

Not included

Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £6,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $9,454 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Which trains will I travel on?: You will travel on the NSW Trainlink XPT First Class (Sydney to Melbourne), The Overland Red Premium Service (Melbourne to Adelaide), Puffing Billy steam train (Dandenong Ranges), Katoomba Scenic Railway (Blue Mountains), and Kuranda Scenic Railway Gold Class (Cairns return).
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes. A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the entire 21-day journey from London Heathrow to the final departure from Cairns.
What meals are included?: Great Rail Journeys includes 16 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 3 dinners. The dinners include a group dinner in Sydney, a Sounds of Silence three-course buffet dinner at Uluru, and a final group dinner in Cairns.
When does the tour depart?: Six departures run in September 2026, November 2026, September 2027, October 2027, November 2027 and February 2027.
What is not included?: Cancellation and travel insurance are not included and must be booked separately.