Search

No longer offered

Vacations By Rail has withdrawn this trip from sale. We keep the page for reference and comparison. Live alternatives are under Similar journeys below.

Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Ultimate Australia

19-day escorted rail journey Sydney to Cairns via Melbourne, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Uluru

Illustration of Ultimate Australia

Vacations By Rail's Ultimate Australia is a 19-day escorted tour that connects six of Australia's most celebrated destinations, starting in Sydney and concluding in Cairns. A professional tour manager leads the group through four-night stays in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, then two nights each in Alice Springs, Uluru, and Cairns. The journey spans multiple rail experiences: cross-country trains like the NSW Trainlink XPT and The Overland, plus heritage railways including the Katoomba Scenic Railway in the Blue Mountains and the Puffing Billy steam train through the Dandenong Ranges. Days blend guided city tours (Sydney Harbor cruise, Melbourne Docklands), regional excursions (Great Ocean Road, Barossa Valley wine region), natural wonders (Uluru sunrise and sunset, Great Barrier Reef catamaran), and rainforest experiences (Kuranda Scenic Railway in Gold Class, Rainforestation Nature Park). The itinerary suits repeat rail travellers, couples seeking unhurried exploration, and photographers drawn to varied Australian landscapes. Most meals and all internal transport are included; travellers arrange their own international flights.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of USD 8,799 covers the package; international flights to and from Australia are not included.
  • An optional upgrade to an overnight journey on the Ghan (Adelaide to Alice Springs in Gold Service) is available only on March and November departures, reducing hotel nights from 18 to 17.
  • Day 19 is a free morning with no included activities; travellers arrange their own homeward travel.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Sydney

    Welcome to Sydney

    Meet the Tour Manager at the hotel in Sydney's Darling Harbor for the first of a four-night stay; free afternoon to unwind.

  2. Day 2overnight: Sydney

    Sightseeing in Sydney and Bondi Beach

    Free morning, then a guided coach tour through Sydney's eastern suburbs to Bondi Beach, with free time there; visit 'Mrs Macquarie's Chair' viewpoint; group dinner at a local restaurant.

  3. Day 3overnight: Sydney

    Sydney Harbor cruise with lunch on board

    Cruise around Sydney Harbor with buffet lunch on board, passing the Opera House and Harbor Bridge; free afternoon to explore The Rocks and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Sydney

    Blue Mountains and the Katoomba Scenic Railway

    Rail excursion to the Blue Mountains, visiting the Three Sisters at Echo Point and the village of Leura, then a ride on the Katoomba Scenic Railway and the Scenic Skyway.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Melbourne

    Sydney to Melbourne by cross-country rail

    Cross-country train from Sydney to Melbourne in First Class, passing Australian bush, farmland and towns such as Wagga Wagga; check in to a central Melbourne hotel for four nights.

  6. Day 6overnight: Melbourne

    Melbourne sightseeing and Yarra River cruise

    Free morning, then a guided tour of Melbourne's Docklands, Botanic Gardens and Melbourne Cricket Ground, followed by an hour-long Yarra River sightseeing cruise and a visit to the Melbourne Skydeck.

  7. Day 7overnight: Melbourne

    A day trip along the Great Ocean Road

    Coach excursion along the Great Ocean Road via Lorne and Apollo Bay (lunch stop) to the Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, returning to Melbourne in the evening.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Melbourne

    A ride on the 'Puffing Billy' into the Dandenong Ranges

    Heritage Puffing Billy steam train (dating to 1900) through the Dandenong Ranges rainforest to the Lakeside Visitor Centre for lunch, then the return trip and transfer back to the Melbourne hotel.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Adelaide

    Travelling west on the Overland to Adelaide

    Join the Overland train west to Adelaide, with breakfast and lunch served on board through Victoria and South Australia's farmland; check in to a hotel overlooking Victoria Square.

  10. Day 10overnight: Adelaide

    An excursion to the Barossa Valley

    Coach excursion to the Barossa Valley wine region, with tours and tastings at wineries including Lambert Wines and Seppeltsfield Estate, lunch amid the vineyards, and a stop in the historic German settlement of Hahndorf.

  11. Day 11overnight: Adelaide

    Guided tour of Adelaide and afternoon at leisure

    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.

  12. Day 12overnight: Alice Springs

    Entering the Outback in Alice Springs

    Morning flight to Alice Springs; visit Anzac Hill, the Old Telegraph Station, the School of the Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service Museum.

  13. Day 13overnight: Uluru

    Alice Springs to sacred Uluru

    Coach journey through the Red Centre to Uluru, with a lunch stop en route; check in and witness a magical Uluru sunset with drinks and snacks.

  14. Day 14overnight: Uluru

    Sunrise over Uluru and Sounds of Silence dinner

    Sunrise visit to Uluru, then a guided tour of Kata Tjuta National Park (the Olgas); evening 'Sounds of Silence' dinner in the desert with sparkling wine, a bush-inspired barbecue buffet and a stargazing experience.

  15. Day 15overnight: Cairns

    Arrival in tropical Cairns

    Flight to Cairns, arriving early afternoon; transfer to a hotel overlooking Trinity Wharf with the rest of the day at leisure.

  16. Day 16overnight: Cairns

    Exploring the wondrous Great Barrier Reef

    Full-day catamaran excursion into the Great Barrier Reef, stopping at Green Island, then a pontoon for a buffet lunch, underwater observatory viewing, snorkeling and glass-bottom boat viewing.

  17. Day 17railovernight: Cairns

    Rainforestation Nature Park & the Kuranda scenic railway

    Coach transfer to Rainforestation Nature Park for an Army Duck ride and a Dreamtime Walk with a 'pamagirri' dance performance, then Kuranda village and a Gold Class ride on the Kuranda Scenic Railway through the Barron River Gorge.

  18. Day 18overnight: Cairns

    A free day to explore the vibrant city of Cairns

    Full day at leisure in Cairns, with optional activities such as horse riding, scuba diving, the Flecker Botanic Gardens or the Cairns Aquarium; final-night group dinner at the hotel.

  19. Day 19

    Homeward bound

    Final breakfast in Cairns before checking out; the tour concludes and travellers make their own way home or continue exploring independently.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Day 4: Ride the Katoomba Scenic Railway into the Blue Mountains rainforest near the Three Sisters rock formation at Echo Point and the garden village of Leura.
  • Day 8Day 8: Board the Puffing Billy steam train (dating to 1900) through the Dandenong Ranges rainforest to Lakeside Visitor Centre for lunch.
  • Day 14Day 14: Watch the sunrise over Uluru, tour Kata Tjuta National Park, then dine under the stars with sparkling wine, barbecue, and stargazing.
  • Day 16Day 16: Spend a full day on a catamaran into the Great Barrier Reef, stopping at Green Island, snorkeling, and using an underwater observatory.
  • Day 17Day 17: Travel on the Kuranda Scenic Railway in Gold Class through the Barron River Gorge and ancient rainforest near Cairns.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 18 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation (17 if upgrading for an overnight rail journey onboard the Ghan in Gold Service)
  • First Class rail travel on local rail networks
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
  • All internal flights
  • Flights and airport transfers
  • 17 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 3 dinners
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

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

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes First Class rail on the NSW Trainlink XPT (Sydney to Melbourne) and The Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide), as well as heritage railway excursions on the Katoomba Scenic Railway, Puffing Billy steam train, and Kuranda Scenic Railway in Gold Class. Internal flights, coach, and cruise travel are also included.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. A professional tour manager travels with the group from start to finish, coordinating all activities and transport.
What hotels are included?
Vacations By Rail books four-star hotels: ParkRoyal Darling Harbor (Sydney), The Savoy on Little Collins (Melbourne), Hilton Hotel (Adelaide), Crowne Plaza Lasseters Hotel (Alice Springs), Desert Gardens Hotel at Ayers Rock Resort (Uluru), and Pacific Hotel (Cairns).
How many meals are included?
Seventeen breakfasts, six lunches, and three dinners are included. Several meals are at the traveler's own expense.
When does the tour depart?
March and November departures are confirmed. An optional upgrade to the overnight Ghan train is available on these dates only.
How much walking and activity is involved?
The tour has a Mobility Rating 2, which includes guided city walking tours, coach excursions, and visits to museums and gardens. Stairs and standard luggage handling are part of the experience.

Similar journeys