How much does it cost?

From £8,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $12,156 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Which trains are included?

The tour includes two nights aboard the Ghan in Gold Service (Adelaide to Alice Springs), First Class travel on the NSW Trainlink XPT (Sydney to Melbourne), Red Premium Service on the Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide), and scenic heritage railway rides: the Katoomba Scenic Railway, Puffing Billy steam train, and Kuranda Scenic Railway in Gold Class.

Is the tour escorted?

Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 21 days.

What is the accommodation standard?

The tour includes 17 nights in 4-star hotels: ParkRoyal Darling Harbour (Sydney, 4 nights), The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins (Melbourne, 4 nights), Hilton Hotel (Adelaide, 1 night), Crowne Plaza Lasseters Hotel (Alice Springs, 1 night), Desert Gardens Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort (Uluru, 2 nights), and Pacific Hotel (Cairns, 4 nights). Two nights are spent aboard the Ghan in Gold Service.

What meals are included?

The package includes 17 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 3 dinners. Meals are specified in the itinerary; unscheduled meals are not included. Beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks are included aboard the Ghan.

When does the tour depart?

Great Rail Journeys operates three departures: March 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Ultimate Australia & the Ghan

21-day Australia loop from Sydney to Cairns aboard the Ghan

Great Rail Journeys operates this 21-day escorted tour of Australia, departing London Heathrow in March, September, or October and returning 21 days later. The itinerary spans from coastal Sydney to tropical Cairns, combining famous rail journeys with guided exploration of Australia's natural and cultural landmarks. Day 3 includes a guided sightseeing tour of Sydney and a visit to Bondi Beach; Day 5 takes the group by rail into the Blue Mountains to ride the Katoomba Scenic Railway, the world's steepest incline railway, into the rainforest. Days 11 and 12 are spent aboard the Ghan, the legendary trans-continental train, in Gold Service cabins crossing the Red Centre from Adelaide to Alice Springs with all meals and drinks included. Days 14 and 15 centre on Uluru, the world's largest monolith, with a sunrise visit and a Sounds of Silence dinner in the desert featuring stargazing. The final days in Cairns include a full-day Great Barrier Reef catamaran visit and a journey on the Kuranda Scenic Railway through World Heritage rainforest. Throughout, the group stays in 4-star hotels, travels First Class on regional trains, and enjoys guided tours, harbour cruises, wine-tasting, and curated experiences. This tour suits couples, repeat rail travellers, and those seeking premium comfort and structured guidance across Australia's diverse regions.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen £200 since 4 Jul, to £8,999.

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 itinerary involves multiple flights (London to Singapore, Singapore to Sydney, Cairns to Singapore, Singapore to London, plus Alice Springs to Cairns); rail comprises roughly one-third of travel days.
High single supplement: the from-price for a single traveller is GBP 10,899 against GBP 8,799 per person (double), a difference of about 24 percent.
Meals not listed in the day-by-day itinerary are not included; several dinners and lunches require independent bookings or payment.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Overnight flight
London Heathrow to Sydney
Meet the Tour Manager and the rest of the group at London Heathrow, boarding an overnight flight to Australia via Singapore.
Day 2overnight: Sydney
Arrival in coastal Sydney
Join the connecting flight to Sydney, arriving in the evening. Transfer to the hotel in Darling Harbour and check in for four nights. (Departure 17th March stays at the Novotel Darling Square hotel instead.)
Day 3overnight: Sydney
Sightseeing in Sydney & Bondi Beach
Free morning at leisure, then a guided sightseeing tour through The Rocks, Mrs Macquarie's Chair and Bondi Beach. Group dinner at a local restaurant in the evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Sydney
Sydney Harbour cruise with lunch on board
Free time before a Sydney Harbour cruise with buffet lunch on board, taking in the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Free afternoon and evening to explore the city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5railovernight: Sydney
Blue Mountains and the Katoomba Scenic Railway
Rail journey into the Blue Mountains, visiting the Three Sisters at Echo Point and the village of Leura, followed by a ride on the Katoomba Scenic Railway, the world's steepest incline railway, and the glass-bottom Scenic Skyway. Return to Sydney by coach.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6railovernight: Melbourne
Sydney to Melbourne by cross-country rail
Coach to the station to join the cross-country train to Melbourne in First Class (lunch/dinner available to buy on board), passing farmland and towns such as Wagga Wagga. Check in to a central Melbourne hotel for four nights.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7overnight: Melbourne
Melbourne city tour & Yarra River cruise
Free morning, then an afternoon sightseeing tour of Melbourne including the Old Treasury Building and the MCG, followed by a one-hour Yarra River cruise and a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8overnight: Melbourne
A day trip along the Great Ocean Road
Coach excursion along the Great Ocean Road via Lorne and Apollo Bay for lunch, visiting the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge before returning to Melbourne.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 9railovernight: Melbourne
Puffing Billy & wine-tasting in the Yarra Valley
Board the heritage Puffing Billy steam train from Belgrave through the Dandenong Ranges, then continue by coach into the Yarra Valley for lunch at Rochford Wines and a wine-tasting at Coombe Yarra Estate.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10railovernight: Adelaide
Travelling west on the Overland to Adelaide
Early start to join the Overland train west to Adelaide, with breakfast and lunch served on board, passing Victorian and South Australian farmland. Check in to a central Adelaide hotel overlooking Victoria Square.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 11railovernight: Aboard the Ghan
Guided tour of Adelaide and boarding the Ghan
Guided tour of Adelaide including Montefiore Hill, Adelaide Oval and St Peter's Cathedral, before boarding the iconic Ghan train in Gold Service, with all meals and drinks included in the Art Deco Queen Adelaide Restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12overnight: Aboard the Ghan
A day aboard the iconic Ghan
A full day aboard the Ghan as it travels north through desert landscapes into the Red Centre of Australia, with lunch and dinner in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13overnight: Alice Springs
Arrival in the outback town of Alice Springs
Breakfast aboard as the Ghan arrives in Alice Springs. Check in to the hotel, then visit the Old Telegraph Station, the School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum. Free evening to dine independently.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14overnight: Uluru / Ayers Rock Resort
Alice Springs to sacred Uluru
Coach journey through the Red Centre to Uluru, the world's largest monolith, with a lunch stop en route. Check in at Ayers Rock Resort, then witness a magical Uluru sunset with drinks and snacks.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 15overnight: Uluru / Ayers Rock Resort
Sunrise over Uluru & Sounds of Silence dinner
Sunrise visit to Uluru followed by breakfast, then a guided tour of Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). Free afternoon, followed by a Sounds of Silence dinner in the desert with a stargazing 'star talker' experience.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 16overnight: Cairns
Arrival in tropical Cairns
Transfer to Alice Springs airport and fly to Cairns, arriving in the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel overlooking Trinity Wharf, with the rest of the day at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 17overnight: Cairns
Exploring the wondrous Great Barrier Reef
Full-day catamaran cruise to the Great Barrier Reef, stopping at Green Island and a pontoon for a reef presentation, buffet lunch, underwater observatory viewing, snorkelling and glass-bottom boat views.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 18railovernight: Cairns
Rainforestation Nature Park & the Kuranda scenic railway
Army Duck ride and a Dreamtime Walk with a pamagirri dance performance at Rainforestation Nature Park, then Kuranda village before boarding the Kuranda Scenic Railway in Gold Class heritage carriages through the Barron River Gorge back to Cairns.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 19overnight: Cairns
A free day to explore the vibrant city of Cairns
A full day at leisure in Cairns, with options including the Flecker Botanic Gardens and Cairns Aquarium. Group dinner at the hotel marking the final night in Australia.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 20overnight: Overnight flight
Leaving Cairns
Leisurely morning for final sightseeing before transferring to Cairns airport for the overnight flight home via Singapore.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 21
Homeward bound
Touch down at London Heathrow early this morning and make your way home.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Sydney Harbour cruise passes the Opera House and Harbour Bridge with buffet lunch on board.
Day 5Katoomba Scenic Railway descends the world's steepest incline railway into the Blue Mountains rainforest; glass-bottom Scenic Skyway offers canopy views.
Day 11Board the Ghan in Gold Service at Adelaide station for a two-night journey through the Red Centre to Alice Springs.
Day 15Sounds of Silence dinner in the desert near Uluru includes sparkling wine, canapés, barbecue buffet, and a stargazing experience with a star talker.
Day 18Kuranda Scenic Railway travels through the Barron River Gorge and World Heritage rainforest in refurbished Gold Class heritage carriages returning to Cairns.

Included

Escorted throughout by an experienced Tour Manager/Cruise Director team
17 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
2 nights' in Gold Service aboard the Ghan
First Class rail travel; Gold Service rail travel aboard the Ghan; all rail, cruise and coach travel throughout
Flights from London Heathrow to Sydney via Singapore, Cairns to London Heathrow via Singapore; all internal flights
17 Breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
Beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks included on the Ghan
All guided tours and excursions

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £8,999 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $12,156 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Which trains are included?: The tour includes two nights aboard the Ghan in Gold Service (Adelaide to Alice Springs), First Class travel on the NSW Trainlink XPT (Sydney to Melbourne), Red Premium Service on the Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide), and scenic heritage railway rides: the Katoomba Scenic Railway, Puffing Billy steam train, and Kuranda Scenic Railway in Gold Class.
Is the tour escorted?: Yes. Great Rail Journeys provides an experienced Tour Manager and Cruise Director team throughout the 21 days.
What is the accommodation standard?: The tour includes 17 nights in 4-star hotels: ParkRoyal Darling Harbour (Sydney, 4 nights), The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins (Melbourne, 4 nights), Hilton Hotel (Adelaide, 1 night), Crowne Plaza Lasseters Hotel (Alice Springs, 1 night), Desert Gardens Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort (Uluru, 2 nights), and Pacific Hotel (Cairns, 4 nights). Two nights are spent aboard the Ghan in Gold Service.
What meals are included?: The package includes 17 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 3 dinners. Meals are specified in the itinerary; unscheduled meals are not included. Beer, wine, spirits, and soft drinks are included aboard the Ghan.
When does the tour depart?: Great Rail Journeys operates three departures: March 2027, September 2027, and October 2027.