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Journey Beyond Rail · Rail & Sail

West Coast Odyssey Cruising 2027 – PONANT

Sydney to Adelaide via Indian Pacific, Le Soleal cruise, and The Ghan Expedition

Illustration of West Coast Odyssey Cruising 2027 – PONANT

Journey Beyond Rail's West Coast Odyssey Cruising combines three legendary Australian rail and cruise experiences over 32 days, beginning in Sydney and concluding in Adelaide. The journey opens aboard the Indian Pacific, travelling four days from Sydney to Perth across Australia's interior, passing through the Blue Mountains and the vast Nullarbor Plain, with curated Off Train Experiences in Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook, and Rawlinna. After one night in Perth, passengers board PONANT's Le Soleal in Fremantle for a 20-night expedition cruise along Australia's remote northwest coast, exploring coral reefs at Ningaloo, ancient rock art on the Burrup Peninsula and Jar Island, the Horizontal Falls in Talbot Bay, and pristine marine parks with First Nations guides. Four days in Darwin offer leisure time and optional tours to national parks and wildlife sites. The journey concludes aboard The Ghan Expedition, travelling three nights from Darwin through the red centre to Adelaide, with Off Train Experiences at Katherine Gorge, Alice Springs (including optional scenic flights over Uluru and Kata Tjuta), and the opal mining town of Coober Pedy. All rail, ship accommodation, meals, and most excursions are included. This itinerary suits luxury seekers, repeat rail travellers, history lovers, and photographers drawn to remote landscapes and Indigenous heritage.

What to know before you look closer

  • The from-price of AUD 42,190 (USD 29,272) per person is for a Prestige Stateroom on twin share; single occupancy begins at AUD 58,290. Deluxe Suites cost from AUD 51,536.
  • Multiple Off Train Experiences are offered as choices on several days; your final itinerary depends on which you select and their availability.
  • Several optional extras carry additional cost: helicopter flights over Mitchell Falls, Uluru and Kata Tjuta, and the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre; tours to Litchfield National Park or Jumping Crocodiles; scenic flights in Alice Springs.
  • No current 2027 departure dates are shown in the evidence; confirm availability with Journey Beyond Rail before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Indian Pacific (3 nights)

    Board the Indian Pacific in Sydney

    Depart Sydney's Central Station through the Blue Mountains. This evening, a regionally inspired dinner is served, paired with fine Australian wines.

  2. Day 2rail

    Indian Pacific, Broken Hill and Adelaide

    Off Train Experience in Broken Hill exploring its mining legacy, before breakfast and lunch on board past the Flinders Ranges. Arrive in Adelaide by late afternoon for a choice of curated dining experiences (McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Icons of Adelaide, or Adelaide Central Market) before rejoining the train.

  3. Day 3rail

    Indian Pacific, Nullarbor Plain

    Cross the Nullarbor Plain on the world's longest stretch of straight railway track, pausing at Cook, before a signature long-table dinner under the stars at Rawlinna (Sept-May) or a bonfire with drinks and canapes in cooler months.

  4. Day 4overnight: Pan Pacific Perth (1 night)

    Indian Pacific, Perth

    Brunch on board over the Avon Valley as the transcontinental crossing concludes into Perth; disembark and transfer to overnight accommodation.

  5. Day 5overnight: Le Soleal (20 nights)

    Board Le Soleal in Fremantle

    A morning at leisure in Perth before transferring to the Port of Fremantle to board Le Soleal for the West Coast Odyssey cruise.

  6. Day 6

    Jurien Bay Marine Park

    Explore the ecologically important islands 150km north of Perth, a major breeding area for Australian sea lions and seabirds.

  7. Day 7

    Abrolhos Islands Marine Park

    Explore East Wallabi Island and its fringing reefs across the Wallabi, Easter and Pelsaert Groups, famous for colourful coral and seabird colonies.

  8. Day 8

    Shark Bay World Heritage Area

    Western Australia's first World Heritage listed area, with the opportunity to sail past Cape Inscription, site of the first recorded European landing on Australia's west coast in 1616.

  9. Day 9

    Cape Peron

    A wild, isolated UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shark Bay with stromatolites, among the oldest known life forms on the planet.

  10. Day 10

    Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area

    Contrast the lush underwater scenery of the Indian Ocean with the rugged, arid landscape of Cape Range National Park.

  11. Day 11

    Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area

    Swim and snorkel the largest fringing coral reef in Australia, an easy snorkel from shore.

  12. Day 12

    Montebello Islands

    Explore by Zodiac the more than 250 low-lying limestone islands of the Montebello Islands Marine Park, site of British atomic tests in 1952 and 1956.

  13. Day 13

    Burrup Peninsula

    Visit Deep Gorge with a traditional custodian guide to view the Murujuga rock engravings, estimated up to 40,000 years old.

  14. Day 14

    Le Soleal at Sea

    A day at sea to enjoy the ship's spa, fitness centre, pool, conferences and shows.

  15. Day 15

    Broome

    Time to explore Broome's Chinatown district and historic Japanese Cemetery, dating to the pearling era, before returning to Le Soleal.

  16. Day 16

    Lacepede Islands

    A guided Zodiac tour of Western Australia's most important Green Turtle breeding habitat and one of the world's largest Brown Booby colonies.

  17. Day 17

    Collier Bay and Horizontal Falls

    Ancient landscapes shaped by tidal movements exceeding 14 metres, including Montgomery Reef, the world's largest inshore reef system.

  18. Day 18

    Collier Bay and Horizontal Falls

    Visit Talbot Bay's Horizontal Falls, described by Sir David Attenborough as 'one of the greatest wonders of the natural world', and nearby ancient rock art galleries.

  19. Day 19

    Careening Bay

    Home to the National Heritage listed boab tree carved with the name of Lieutenant Phillip Parker King's ship, HMC Mermaid, in 1820.

  20. Day 20

    Hunter River

    Explore Prince Frederick Harbour and the Hunter River by Zodiac, past ancient rainforest, mangroves and sandstone cliffs, with a helicopter option to Mitchell Falls (additional cost).

  21. Day 21

    Swift Bay

    A guided walk ashore in the Bonaparte Archipelago to rock shelters bearing Wandjina and Gwion Gwion style rock art.

  22. Day 22

    Vansittart Bay

    A short walk to Jar Island's Gwion Gwion rock art galleries, among the oldest detailed depictions of human figures in the world.

  23. Day 23

    King George River

    Cruise the gorge to the King George twin falls, the highest single-drop falls in the Kimberley.

  24. Day 24

    Le Soleal at Sea

    A leisurely day at sea with an onboard enrichment programme on Australian history, flora and fauna.

  25. Day 25overnight: Hilton Darwin (4 nights)

    Darwin

    Disembark in the Port of Darwin and transfer to your hotel, with the day free to explore the city's tropical architecture.

  26. Day 26

    Darwin

    Explore Darwin's Waterfront Precinct or the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens at your own pace.

  27. Day 27

    Darwin

    Optional tour (additional expense) to Litchfield National Park or a visit to the Jumping Crocodiles.

  28. Day 28

    Darwin

    A last day in Darwin at leisure, with the option to visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service or Crocosaurus Cove.

  29. Day 29railovernight: The Ghan Expedition (3 nights)

    Board The Ghan Expedition in Darwin

    Board The Ghan Expedition with welcome drinks, then an Off Train Experience in Katherine (Nitmiluk Gorge cruise, Katherine Outback Experience, Cutta Cutta Caves, or a helicopter flight upgrade).

  30. Day 30rail

    The Ghan Expedition, Alice Springs

    A choice of Off Train Experiences in Alice Springs (e-bike adventure, A Town Called Alice tour, Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap, Desert Park, or a scenic flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta), followed by dinner under the stars at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

  31. Day 31

    The Ghan Expedition, Coober Pedy

    A morning stop at Manguri before a day exploring the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, including a gourmet lunch served underground, with an optional scenic flight over the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre.

  32. Day 32

    The Ghan Expedition, Adelaide

    A leisurely brunch through the Flinders Ranges as the outback gives way to the green fields of South Australia, arriving into Adelaide.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board the Indian Pacific in Sydney, departing Central Station through the Blue Mountains with regionally inspired dinner paired with Australian wines.
  • Day 3Cross the Nullarbor Plain on the world's longest stretch of straight railway track and attend a signature long-table dinner under the stars at Rawlinna.
  • Day 11Snorkel the largest fringing coral reef in Australia at Ningaloo Coast, accessible easily from shore.
  • Day 18Visit Talbot Bay's Horizontal Falls, described by Sir David Attenborough as one of the greatest wonders of the natural world, and nearby ancient rock art galleries.
  • Day 30Choose an Off Train Experience in Alice Springs: e-bike adventure, scenic flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta, or Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap, followed by dinner under the stars at the Telegraph Station.

Included

  • 3 nights aboard the Indian Pacific, Sydney to Perth, including all meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences in Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook and Rawlinna
  • Transfer from East Perth Rail Terminal to hotel
  • 1 night accommodation in Perth, including breakfast
  • Transfer from Perth hotel to ship
  • 20-night Australia's West Coast Odyssey expedition cruise aboard PONANT's Le Soleal, including all meals, select beverages, excursions and prepaid gratuities
  • Transfer from ship to Darwin hotel
  • 4 nights accommodation in Darwin, including breakfast daily
  • Transfer from Darwin hotel to Darwin Rail Terminal
  • 3 nights aboard The Ghan Expedition, Darwin to Adelaide, including all meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy
  • 31 breakfasts, 24 lunches, 26 dinners

Questions travellers ask

Is all train travel included in the price?
Yes. Three nights aboard the Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth), 20 nights aboard PONANT's Le Soleal, and three nights aboard The Ghan Expedition (Darwin to Adelaide) are all included, along with all meals and beverages on the trains.
What meals and beverages are included?
Journey Beyond Rail includes 31 breakfasts, 24 lunches, and 26 dinners. All meals aboard the Indian Pacific and The Ghan Expedition are included, as are all meals aboard Le Soleal, plus select beverages on the cruise ship.
Are the shore excursions included?
Yes. The cruise package includes all expedition excursions and Off Train Experiences in Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook, Rawlinna, Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy. However, helicopter flights over Mitchell Falls, Uluru and Kata Tjuta, and the Painted Hills carry additional cost.
Do I need to book optional activities in advance?
Optional activities such as helicopter flights and national park tours are available for an additional expense. Some activities in Darwin, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy are presented as choices. Confirm availability and booking procedures with Journey Beyond Rail.
What are the accommodation standards in Perth and Darwin?
One night is at the Pan Pacific Perth; four nights are at the Hilton Darwin. Both include breakfast daily.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
An Expedition Team leads the cruise aboard Le Soleal; Off Train Experience hosts accompany groups on the Indian Pacific and The Ghan Expedition. Darwin accommodation and some activities are at leisure or by optional tour.

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