longest train journey in australia

‘The Indian Pacific – Australia’s Longest Train Journey’ is a trip worth taking

Travel through australia’s unique cultural, social and political history on the railway track that united a continent..

All aboard ‘The Indian Pacific’. Source: SBS

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Over 11,000 hours

The Ghan Train, Australia – Adelaide to Darwin

Post author By railwaytraveller123
Post date 18th June 2020
No Comments on The Ghan Train, Australia – Adelaide to Darwin

The Ghan, Austraia

A trip on the Ghan is one of the world’s great train journeys. This legendary train travels for 1,850 miles, linking Adelaide in the south and Darwin in the north by rail (and vice versa). The Ghan Train is the best way to see Australia’s famous Red Centre, one of the most celebrated wildernesses in the world.

On the classic two-night, three-day journey you can travel from either Darwin or Adelaide, passing through Alice Springs on the way. On board you’ll find comfortable cabins, great Aussie food and some funny new friends. This all-inclusive journey takes you right to the centre of this incredible country. As well as the scheduled stops, you can also add on some great off-train experiences included a visit to world famous Uluru. The train is operated by Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions, the company behind the India Pacific and Great Southern.

Prices from: Aus $2,349 Passengers: 348 Carriages: up to 37 Departing from: Adelaide and Darwin stations Journey length: 1 to 3 nights

The Ghan train Australia Katherine gorge

The Ghan journey

The classic two-night journey on The Ghan takes about 54 hours with a midday northbound departure arriving in Darwin late afternoon and a southbound departure at 10am, arriving in Adelaide at lunchtime. There are usually two trains a week in each direction and the journey can be broken in Alice Springs so passengers can disembark to visit nearby Uluru and Kings Canyon.

On the northbound journey, guests get to travel through Manguri (the stop for opal-rich Coober Pedy where the locals live in caves because of the searing heat) then stops in Alice Springs for a tour of the town including visits to the Flying Doctor Service Museum and the Telegraph Station. Heading on northwards the train pauses at Tennant Creek before heading to the tropical city of Darwin.

As well as the two-night journey travellers can also enjoy a southbound-only trip – the Ghan Expedition. This adds another night on to your journey, taking 73 hours in all. On the trip you’ll enjoy off-train adventures in Katherine and Coober Pedy plus an unforgettable dinner under the stars at the historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs. If time or money is tight, you can also experience the Ghan on a one-night journey too – on the ‘Top End Discovery’, travelling between Alice Springs and Darwin or the ‘Red Centre Explorer’ from Adelaide to Alice Springs.

The Ghan train

The size of the train depends on the season. In the summer season it consists of 44 carriages and two locomotives. For a 9-week period this makes the Ghan Australia’s longest passenger train at 1.1km in length. Its distinctive pillar box red livery makes it one of the most photographed trains in the world.

The Ghan Cabins

There are four levels of service on the Ghan: Gold Service Single, Gold Service Twin, Gold Superior and Platinum.

Gold Service Single – this compact sleeper cabin features a bed that converts to a seat by day. Shared shower/WC facilities are located at the end of the carriage. Your luggage allowance is 60kg per guest.

Gold Service Twin – this has three seats which convert into sleeping berths; twin cabins have an ensuite WC and shower. Your luggage allowance is 60kg per guest.

Gold Superior – this gives you a 3/4-size double bed, ensuite bathroom and a TV. Your luggage allowance is 60k per guest

Platinum – these cabins are almost twice the size of Gold with a double bed or twin beds, lounge chairs, a table and full-size ensuite bathroom. In the carriage you’ll enjoy large window views from both sides of the carriage as well as Bollinger champagne, Australian Appelles Apothecary toiletries, Haigh’s chocolates and a complimentary nightcap at turndown.

The Ghan train Australia platinum service

Food and drink

The food on this train is of the same high standard you will find across Australia so expect great local steaks and salads and some tasty desserts. You’ll also get to taste some great Australian wines with your dinner. On board you will also find a lively lounge car – the perfect spot for an after-dinner nightcap. Vegetarian and special dietary meals are available when you make your booking.

Ghan dress code

The Ghan has a smart casual dress code on board but it’s pretty laid back so you don’t really need to dress up. Because you’re travelling to the centre of Australia it is really important to take a SPF30 sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes and a wide-brimmed hat. You should also pack plenty of mosquito repellent.

Fellow passengers

As one of the wold’s most famous train journeys, the Ghan attracts visitors from around the world, both young and old. You’ll also find lots of friendly Aussies on board too – it’s surprising how many of them are visiting the centre of Australia for the first time.

What’s included

All accommodation, drinks and meals are included in the price as well as off-train excursions. Platinum guests are also given private transfers to the train at the start and beginning of their journeys, within a 60-kilometre radius of the terminal.

Pros and cons

You will be filling your travel bucket list with a trip on the Ghan where the food and accommodation are very good. The only disappointment is that a two-night journey can feel a bit too rushed. Book the three-night trip instead so you can get off and really explore the Outback.

Dates and Prices 2025 Ghan Expedition

The calendar has every date listed. The Ghan does not operate mid December to mid January

2025: GHAN EXPEDITION: Wednesday, April to October depart Darwin 10:00hrs/arrive Adelaide 10:50hrs. Saturday, April to September depart Darwin 09:00hrs/arrive Adelaide 11:35hrs. Subject to change

High Season 2025: May - August

Shoulder Season 2025: April, September, October

Prices quoted are per person and ex Club Discount.

Adelaide to Darwin, or Darwin to Adelaide

For three days and two nights, The Ghan travels between Adelaide and Darwin on one of the most fascinating luxury train journeys of the world. Darwin to Adelaide is much the same journey in reverse.

Pre- or post-Ghan journeys - The Great Southern , linking Adelaide and Brisbane.

Day 1. Adelaide – Alice Springs. What a way to travel from Adelaide into wine country, desert and scrubs. The comfort of the train allows one the luxury to gaze at the panorama whilst enjoying a delicious lunch. Marvel as the spectacular Flinders Ranges disappear into the horizon. Wander to the lounge car for afternoon tea whilst passing rustic railway towns and vast tracts of Aboriginal land, where communities have maintained their connection with the land for thousands of years. As darkness descends, partake of dinner.

Day 2. Alice Springs – Katherine. Before arriving in Alice Springs, wake up with a coffee or juice and witness an unforgettable outback sunrise at Marla. Back onboard, brunch is served. Explore Alice Springs on one of the many whistle stop tours. Included options in Alice Springs are a Simpson’s Gap walk, a guided coach tour of Alice Springs or a guided walk around the Alice Springs Desert Park. Visit a working camel farm or see the region's birds and wildlife at Alice Springs Desert Park.

Optional extra: Spirit of Mt. Gillen Helicopter Flight. Take a helicopter flight up and over Alice Springs to experience amazing views of Simpson's Gap, one of the most prominent water holes in the region, along with Mt. Gillen Ridgeline and the Larapinta Trail. Fare payable on board. Please note weight restrictions of 130kgs per person do apply. If you choose this excursion, you will not be able to participate in the included Off Train Excursions.

Day 3. Katherine to Darwin. In the morning we pass through gold-mining town of Tennant Creek and into the historic pioneering township of Katherine. After breakfast we go on one of the many half-day tours. One can cruise down Katherine Gorge past magnificent sandstone cliffs or fly over its interconnecting gorges on a helicopter. As we depart Katherine we pass through the old gold mining town of Pine Creek and Adelaide River, once a World War II military headquarters when the Japanese were bombing Darwin. The options in Katherine are a guided cruise on Nitmiluk Gorge or a Katherine Outback Experience (April-Oct only). A late lunch is served. By late afternoon we arrive in tropical Darwin, where the journey ends.

Dates and Prices 2024 The Ghan

2024. THE GHAN ADELAIDE: Departures - Sunday, March - November, Adelaide 12:15hrs/arrive Darwin 17:30hrs. Wednesday April - September, Adelaide 12:10hrs/arrive Darwin 19:50hrs

2024. THE GHAN DARWIN: Departures - Wednesday, March & November, Darwin 10:00hrs/arrive Adelaide 13:00hrs

High Season 2024:

Adelaide to Darwin: May to August

Shoulder Season 2024:

Adelaide to Darwin: March to April and September to November

Darwin to Adelaide: March & November

*Advance Purchase fares are subject to availability. Prices are subject to change. Further conditions apply.

Dates and Prices 2025 The Ghan

2025. THE GHAN ADELAIDE: Departures - Sunday, March - November, Adelaide 12:15hrs/arrive Darwin 17:30hrs. Wednesday April - September, Adelaide 12:10hrs/arrive Darwin 19:50hrs

2025. THE GHAN DARWIN: Departures - Wednesday, March & November, Darwin 10:00hrs/arrive Adelaide 13:00hrs

High Season 2025:

Shoulder Season 2025:

General Information About The Ghan

* *Advance Purchase fares must be booked a minimum of 6 months in advance and are only valid for Gold Twin and Gold Single.

Pre-Departure Information

Here is useful pre-departure information .

Details of The Ghan luggage allowances here.

Platinum. Various off-train excursions. Personalised cabin steward service. Generous luggage limit (3x30kgs). All on-board meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast served in your cabin if you choose. Turn-down service with chocolates. Wide choice of wines, beers, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks, tea and coffee, night-caps and welcome bottle of Bollinger. Chauffeur driven transfers to and from your hotel to the station (up to 60kms). Exception is Darwin where a bus is used to hotels.

Gold. Various off -train excursions. All on-board meals including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wide choice of wines, beers, spirits, cocktails, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Turn-down service with chocolates. Coach transfers to and from selected hotels to the station.

Travel Documents. Travel documents are emailed which outline when and where to board as well as luggage arrangements. The document is an itinerary which represents the tickets for the train and any other arrangements. All times are local time and may be subject to change. Guests must be at the terminal at least one hour before train departs.

PLEASE NOTE that your final Travel Documents are sent 14 days before departure. The Travel Documents are only issued if full payment has been received. Please have a printed or digital copy of your Travel Documents for check-in and throughout your journey.

PLATINUM Guests: The Travel Documents are only issued if full payment has been received and your transfer details from hotel to train and train to hotel have been provided.

Stations. Adelaide Parklands Terminal (Keswick Terminal), Richmond, Off Sir Donald Bradman Drive, South Australia. View Map . Darwin Train Station, Berrimah Road, East Arm, Northern Territory. View Map . Guests must be at the terminal at least one hour before train departs.

Transfers. Complimentary transfers to and from your Platinum Service and Gold Service* Ghan rail journey are bookable online.

Click here for a step-by-step guide to arranging your transfer via the train's online booking engine at journeybeyondrail.com.au . Platinum Service: Complimentary transfer to / from Adelaide Station to selected hotels (up to 60kms). Exception is Darwin where a bus is used to hotels. Gold Service: Complimentary coach transfers to / from Darwin Rail Terminal for guests at selected Darwin hotels. Central hotel drop off is the Mantra on the esplanade. Also Adelaide Station to selected hotels.

Excursions. Off Train excursions are booked by the guests on board. These excursions cannot be pre-booked. TBA is added to the ticket vouchers as this lets the train staff know to ask for the guests choice.

Unforeseen events/changes. Itineraries, routes and times may change at any time for reasons outside the control of the train company. Every effort will be made by train staff to minimise any impact; the Luxury Train Club cannot accept any responsibility for any changes. The Club aims to keep itineraries as up to date as possible.

Coronavirus Notice: Go here for general travel and health advice from governments, WHO and other organisations. Go here for information about the Ghan JourneySafe protocols.

Dress Code. The dress code on board is a smart casual.

Booking & Reservations

All prices are at publicly-quoted rates. Club Members get discount and the guarantee of any special offer valid at time of booking.

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The Ghan Expedition

Darwin to adelaide.

A unique and epic experience, explore the wonders of Australia’s vast interior with one of the world’s most renowned rail journeys – The Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide.

Adelaide to Darwin or Vice Versa

A legendary train. An unforgettable Australian adventure. Travel aboard The Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin on an all-inclusive journey through the heart of Australia.

Adelaide to Alice Springs or vice versa

Travel aboard The Ghan from Adelaide to Alice Springs on the Red Centre Explorer. An all-inclusive, one night, two day journey to remember.

Darwin to Alice Springs or vice versa

Step aboard The Ghan for an unforgettable train journey through the Northern Territory. An all-inclusive rail holiday, Top End Discovery travels between Alice Springs and Darwin on a one-of-a-kind adventure.

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Home Travel Transcontinental grandeur: Australia’s iconic Indian Pacific rail journey

Transcontinental grandeur: Australia’s iconic Indian Pacific rail journey

There’s a whole lot of nothing that amounts to something exceptional… That’s the conclusion I drew after crossing the Nullarbor aboard the Indian Pacific recently. It’s a sentiment shared by the iconic train’s Service Operations Manager, Renae Walter, who has run the rails between Sydney and Perth, and back, for nine years now. In her R.M. Williams striped shirt and moleskins, she beams as we watch the saltbush-dotted plain rush by outside, bathed in the golden beams of a waning sun. “It never gets old,” she says. “This time of day, the colours of the Nullarbor. No matter how many times I make the journey, and that’s a lot – we get a week’s R&R between trips – it’s always breathtaking.”

Renae and I have ventured to the last pod on the caterpillar of carriages to watch the day’s end unfold and snatch a glimpse of the train in its entirety (27 carriages) out the window. En route we passed through the gold-class passenger quarters and then the staff digs, where signs remind us to go quietly because off-duty crew “are catching their zzzzs”.

It’s March and the outside temp sits around 30 degrees – a crisp dry heat that made for desiccated conversations when we stopped in Cook earlier in the day (but more about that later).

“After school, I was looking for a job that combined my love of travel and people,” Renae says. “I’d have been a flight attendant if I hadn’t come aboard the IP [the affectionate abbreviation used by the train’s 35 staff]. After a few years riding these rails she enjoyed the ex-pat life in the United Kingdom, a right of passage for many young, adventurous Aussies, before returning home and re-boarding the IP. “It’s a particular lifestyle,” she says. “The crew is your family – you have set rosters and routines with them. You’re happy to see one another after you’ve had a break, and you’re also happy to wave each other goodbye, and into the arms of your ‘other’ families, when you’re done.”

This IP journey is particularly significant for Renae and her family, on-board and otherwise. Since the pandemic began in 2020, only 15 return journeys out of the 100 scheduled have run – and this is the first trip into Western Australia after the state government reopened its borders on 3 March this year.

On the platform in Adelaide the air is electric with anticipation, guests intoxicated by the welcoming champagne, canapes, live music and ear-to-ear smiles of the crew. Outside the Adelaide terminal on the platform, two long tables are elegantly set – white tablecloths, fine china, native flowers – a warm welcome to the 161 guests who will soon climb aboard the silver rail cars that stretch along the track beside us. We sit and before long the conversation is flowing, much like the wine, and we’re serving each other roast vegetables and succulent steak from communal platters.

Sitting to my left is Paul O’Neill. It’s his first time on the IP. A former Northern Territory national parks ranger he has the easy manner of a man you want to know more about. He’s spent three decades caring for country in the Top End and retired a few years ago with his partner, Mignon, to the coastal hamlet of Encounter Bay, SA.

“We spend the summer there and head north, back to Darwin, for the winters,” he says. “Like migratory birds chasing the warmth. We mostly drive, sometimes through the heart of the country, and other times we head west, through WA. And we’ve taken The Ghan too.”

Paul shares tales of his adventures, from tangoing with saltwater crocs and dancing with brolgas to working alongside the Traditional Owners. He’s a natural raconteur, so adept at spinning a yarn that everyone within earshot is mesmerised. And then there’s his three-month stint on a remote island off the nortwest WA coast. “We were driving back from SA to Darwin and stopped at Cadney Roadhouse, where we met a couple and got talking. They were caretakers at Troughton Island and were looking for someone to replace them for a bit. It’s just you out there, so you need to be self-contained, handy and resourceful. We thought, yes, why not.”

The island is a service port for the oil rigs further west in the Indian Ocean and it’s only other inhabitants are crocs, turtles, snakes and seabirds aplenty. “It was an extraordinary time,” he says. “I’ve seen my share of sunsets but nothing quite like out there. Sublime.”

After the three-course dinner is done and dusted we board the train, directed to our cabins, with beds already turned down for the evening. I’m in a Gold Cabin – the second of four categories, topped by Platinum – and turn in for the evening in my bunk bed (I try the top bunk the first night and the bottom the following), which is dressed with crispy white sheets and a doona. There’s an en-suite that’s surprisingly spacious and a picture window that allows me to watch the rising sun from my bed each morning as we shoot through the landscape – ochre sand, salt pans, blue-grey mulga and early rising ‘roos; quintessential outback Australia.

Cook connection

There are only two stops on our cross country sojourn, and Cook is the first. Established in 1917, it’s a blink-of-the-eye settlement on the Nullarbor with a collection of historic buildings – general store, bush hospital and jail cells – as well as a functioning phone booth, just in case you’re in need of one when alighting the locomotive that rides the rails of the longest straight stretch of railway anywhere on Earth, 487 kilometres to be exact.

Once a bustling little hub, Cook is now largely deserted aside from three couples who work a rotating roster – two weeks on, one week off – to service the IP.

I meet Taryn and her partner as they’re collecting linen from the train. “We’ll launder it and make sure it’s ready for collection when the IP makes its return journey from Perth,” she says.

Surrounded by desert, buzzed by blowies and with temperatures that top 50-plus degrees in the summer, Cook would lack appeal for most, I muse to Taryn.

“I grew up here,” she says. “I went to school here when it was a town, my dad worked on the railway – it holds a special place for me.”

So much so that pair have worked here for two years now, and the other two couples seven and five years respectively.

“It’s a really relaxed lifestyle and you know, we’re doing something that not a lot of people do. Here you never know what’s going to happen.”

And when they’re not in Cook, the duo head ‘home’ to the Yorke Peninsula. “It’s a 1000km drive – 13 hours; we do it in a day – but it’s worth it. If the weather’s nice we get five days of fishing.”

Another ‘local’ of Cook is train driver Brett Smart; it’s his home away from home when working the IP. He’s engaged by Pacific National to “hook and pull” the IP and The Ghan carriages.

“IP owns the carriages and Pacific National provides the locomotion,” he explains as we stand in the shade of the engine car in Cook, swatting flies.

Limited to 12 hours of driving in any one shift, Brett is stopping over here after joining the IP in Port Augusta in the early hours of this morning. “I reckon most people think driving [the train] across the Nullarbor is pretty simple, it’s flat and straight, but before you get to there, there’s a lot of curves, uphill and downhill – there’s actually a lot more to it than just pushing the big red button.

“We have to do it all manually, there’s no autopilot, although they’re working on one, but that doesn’t see camels in front of you – every year there’s a heap of camels and roos and cattle that get cleaned up. And then there’s the freight trains; about five on average a day pass the IP, and more on weekends. It’s a bloody good job, but it keeps you on your toes.”

Back on board the IP and we’re hurtling towards early evening and the highly anticipated trackside dinner at Australia’s largest sheep station, Rawlinna.

I head to the Outback Explorer Lounge for a sundowner and find it teeming with guests and chatter. The social hub of the train, it’s where we gather before breakfast, lunch and dinner to wait for a table in the supremely elegant Queen Victoria Restaurant car, which harks back to the golden age of train travel with its ornate fixtures and fittings. The food philosophy here, however, is all Australian and reflects the regions we pass through, like anise myrtle, which was used by Traditional Owners as a vitalising medicinal tonic, and bush tomatoes (katjerra), which grow wild across the desert centre of Australia.

We arrive at Rawlinna just after dusk, the sky a bruised mauve save for the last vestiges of orange on the western horizon. Lanterns line the railway track, the light reflected off the silver carriages, as we pour out of the train and make our way to long, rustic wooden tables and bench seats. Firepits blaze, music tumbles from speakers, wine glasses clink and laughter rises to bounce off the infinite blanket of stars above.

Nicole Gray organises the shindig here for the IP, ably assisted by her husband Greg Campbell. The duo own Kybo Station, 200 clicks down the dusty road from Rawlinna. “It’s the middle of nowhere, but it’s our nowhere and we love it,” says Nicole, explaining “we” includes their horse, a camel, three sheep and a ’roo shooter “who lives out the back”.

To say Nicole and her merry band have missed the IP is an understatement as vast as the Nullarbor itself. “The staff that come through on it are like family,” she says. “We look forward to seeing them each week and meeting the guests. It’s been a very lonely stretch without them.”

Service Operations Manager Renae Walter couldn’t agree more. “The IP has a bit of a soul that burrows into your own,” she says. “We’re all so happy she’s back.”

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Traveling Across Australia? Take An Epic Trip On The Indian Pacific Train

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The Indian Pacific train journey in Australia is one of the longest in the world, spanning 2,700 miles from Sydney to Perth.
The train offers a unique way to see the country, with off-train experiences at various destinations along the way.
Travelers should plan ahead as tickets can book up quickly, but the all-inclusive meals and comfortable accommodations make it worth it.

A trip to Australia will always be iconic for travelers. From climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge to sunning or surfing on gorgeous beaches , there's always something to see. But when it comes to getting around by train, Australia has a noteworthy distinction: the longest train service in the Southern Hemisphere.

Australia's famous railroad is the Indian Pacific, which runs from Sydney on the Pacific coast of Australia to Perth on the Indian Ocean. Here's what to know about the Indian Pacific, a 65-hour train trip full of epic views.

The Indian Pacific: The Longest Train Journey In Australia

A train trip from sydney to perth spans nearly 3,000 miles.

The Indian Pacific is one of the longest train journeys in the world and the longest in the Southern Hemisphere. The train journey covers some 4,352 kilometers or 2,700 miles.

This is only marginally shorter than the longest train journeys in Canada (Toronto to Vancouver 4,466 kilometers or 2,775 miles) and the United States (Chicago to Los Angeles 4,390 kilometers or 2,727 miles).

Distance: 4,352 kilometers or 2,700 miles
Route: Sydney to Perth via Adelaide

The Indian Pacific is not a typical passenger train; Australians almost always drive or fly across the continent. Instead, it is an experiential tourist passenger train offering a unique way to see the Red Continent.

The Indian Pacific is one of only a very few truly transcontinental trains in the world (e.g. the Texas Eagle operated by Amtrak from Los Angeles ends in Chicago and not on the Atlantic coast).

The Indian Pacific is actually one of two transcontinental trains in Australia. The Ghan cuts north and south through Australia from Adelaide to Darwin.

The Indian Pacific also has the longest straight stretch of railway track in the world; a 478-kilometer or 297-mile-long stretch of track across the vast Nullarbor Plain.

Before Australia was a united country and when it was still a series of colonies, each colony (later state) had its own train gauge. It wasn't until 1970 that the train gauges were converted into a unified standard gauge and the trains were able to run unhindered from coast to coast.

Related: 10 Perth To Sydney Road Trip Stops That Unveil The Ultimate Cross-Country Adventure Of A Lifetime

How Long The Indian Pacific Train Journey Takes

Traveling from sydney to perth via train will take about four days.

A one-way journey on the Indian Pacific takes between 70 and 75 hours or around four days and three nights. It offers a train journey in comfort and style and is an all-inclusive rail experience.

Duration: From 4 Days / 3 Nights
States: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales

Along the way, there are off-train experiences at Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook, Rawlinna, and Perth. While Adelaide and Perth are major cities in Australia, other destinations such as Cook are very remote in the Outback.

These experiences discover some of the remote attractions of Australia, including its pioneering and gold rush days. Discover the beautiful Blue Mountains of the Great Dividing Range just outside of Sydney and the renowned Barossa Valley wine-growing region outside of Adelaide.

The journey can be taken from Sydney to Perth or Perth to Sydney. Alternatively, travelers can choose to take only a part of it from or end in Adelaide.

The Sydney to Adelaide journey takes 3 to 4 days and 1 to 2 nights.

Related: 10 Things To Do In Perth: Complete Guide To A Place Where City Meets Scenic Nature

What To Know About Booking The Indian Pacific Train Journey

The indian pacific train offers an exclusive travel experience.

The ticket on the Indian Pacific comes with all-inclusive meals, fine wines, and other beverages. There are a number of available packages with a number of class options (including Platinum, Gold Platinum, Gold, and Gold Single).

Travelers should plan ahead as the train can be booked out. This is a truly Australian experience and one of the best ways to explore the vast Outback and the unending Nullarbor Plains.

The Gold class includes breakfasts, two-course lunches, and three-course dinners. Passengers can also select from a range of selected premium wines and other beverages (including the train fare). The cabins are converted into sleeping berths at night.

Cost: From AUD $2,730 (approx. $1,870 USD)
Classes: Platinum, Gold Platinum, Gold, and Gold Single

The length of the journey depends on the package selected. The shortest journey from Sydney to Perth is four days and three nights while the Discovery Sydney to Perth is six days and five nights long.

Traveling Elsewhere In Australia?

While in Australia, go to Melbourne and ride the Puffing Billy, the oldest steam railway in Australia through lush forests.

Besides long train journeys, Australia is also a great place for long road trips. Australia famously has the world's longest 'shortcut,' the Outback Way , which runs 1,700 miles from nowhere to nowhere. Australia also has the world's longest highway; the 'Big Lap' spans the southern continent.

The longest rail platforms in Australia

Through a mixture of necessity, hope for the future, and in some cases pure accident, Australia has ended up with more than its share of long railway platforms. Many of these have since been eclipsed in the world rankings; India takes the majority of the global top-ten , while China’s widespread HSR rollout has adopted a standard platform length of 500m on many lines (able to comfortably accommodate the longest 16-car double sets). However this article is far more than just a top-ten list. The story of these platforms – when, how, and most importantly why they came to be as long as they are – is the story of rail in Australia. I hope you find it as interesting to read as I found it to write!

These are the rules I’ve adopted for selecting and ranking the list:

Google Earth is definitive; published sources are confirmatory only (and some of these are dead wrong!)
“End” means the physical end of the level trafficable surface, or the junction with a concourse
If applicable, measurement is curved along the front face of the platform
End ramps are not included
Administrative restrictions (fences, dwell zones etc) are ignored
Only the longest platform at each station is included – additional long platforms are noted but do not earn a separate ranking.

10 – Brisbane Roma Street, Platform 10 – 409m

Railway. Roma Street Railway Station, from right to left showing Platform 10, 9, 8, 7 and 6, western view. The large DHL building in the background will soon be demolished to make way for the Crossover Rail Project.

While Roma Street Station was originally opened in 1875, it was not until 1995 that it gained its notably-long Platform 10. The station had been given a major expansion in 1986, with platforms 2 & 3 converted to dual-gauge to accommodate XPT services to Sydney. This left the two platforms with little spare capacity, so when Queensland’s North Coast Line was quadruplicated in the early 1990s, a new and dedicated platform was added on the north side of the complex (on the site of the former rail yards) for long-distance narrow-gauge Tilt Train services. The long platform now allows Queensland to run the longest regularly-scheduled passenger services in Australia, though with the subsequent residential development of the old railyards, the single platform is not easily conducive to further expansion; Brisbane is now faced with only difficult and expensive options if they ever want to increase the frequency of regional and interstate trains.

As for the existing interstate services, the Sydney-Brisbane XPT still uses the dual-gauge Platforms 3 (384m) or Platform 2 (355m). The seasonal Great Southern tourist train from Adelaide via Melbourne and Sydney is far too long to utilise these platforms, even if the consist could be split; it terminates at the Acacia Ridge freight terminal in the outer suburbs, with passengers transferred by bus to the Brisbane Customs House.

9 – Southern Cross, Platform 2 – 440m

Melbourne’s Southern Cross, formerly Spencer Street Station, is the youngest platform on the list, having been extended to its current length only in the most recent, 2008 redevelopment for the Regional Fast Rail project. The platform itself is much older, of course; the station’s trackplan has undergone significant changes over the years. Originally, the vast majority of the yards were dedicated to freight operations, with only a handful of small passenger platforms parallel to Spencer Street; an 1874 plan shows that the longest of these was no more than around 150m long. When the Flinders Street Viaduct was built in 1894, the passenger tracks were realigned at an angle to Spencer Street itself; this plan from 1919 shows the longest country platform stretching from Collins Street almost to Lonsdale Street, about 375m. In a 1920s redevelopment , the rest of the tracks were realigned parallel to these oblique platforms, with new platforms added to both the country and suburban lines. The tracks were now in approximately the layout that persists to the present day.

With the arrival of the standard gauge in 1962, a major redevelopment of the station building was completed ( before and after plans courtesy of Marcus Wong) – Platform 3 was extended at this time, becoming the station’s longest platform at 395m. The flagship intercity trains that used the reconfigured standard gauge platform 1 were the Southern Aurora and the Spirit of Progress (and, from 1995, The Overland ). Both the Aurora and Spirit used the same NSW-built carriages , and were typically built up to a 14-car, 328m set – the extra length allowed sufficient room for locomotives to switch ends.

While the 2005 redevelopment into Southern Cross station completely changed the station building, the platforms were only slightly modified . Platform 1 was realigned parallel to Platform 2 but with its end foreshortened, and both platforms were dual-gauged. Why then was Platform 2 extended further in 2008? There’s a clue in the platform numbering; prior to 2008, it was designated simply “Platform 2” , but subsequently the signage was changed to “2A” and “2B” , to allow two trains to use the near and far ends of the platform at the same time (or at any rate, make the wayfinding for this system clearer). Thus the extension was really an extension of Platform 2B, to make it the same length as 2A and therefore increase the operational flexibility of this dual platform.

Today, the longest train to regularly use the station is The Overland , which in its current incarnation is only built to a maximum of 10 cars (about 260m including locomotive).

*Update* – Several people have asked me about Platform 8, which if you include Platform 8 South, reaches 595m and would rank 4th. I disallowed Platform 8 due to the discontinuity between 8A/B and 8 South; Marcus Wong has a whole article of images and discussion about the present operational difficulties that even running trains between 8 and 8 South entails. It’s certainly conceivable that a future redevelopment could create a continuous, curved platform to resolve these complications (similar to Flinders Street Platform 1) – if that ever happens, I’ll be sure to update the scoreboard!

8 – Cronulla – 442m

Sydney Trains - T4 The Cronulla Branch - Cronulla Station showing the yard layout

Surprisingly, the longest platform in Sydney isn’t at Central, whose Platform 1 is only 370m. That title goes to Cronulla, with its distinctive inter-war Art Deco main building, opened in 1939. It owes its length to its unusual platform configuration, with its “two” platforms being arranged end to end instead of the usual “split” or “island” arrangement, supposedly so-designed to cope with large holiday crowds by allowing easy access directly from the train to the adjacent beachfront. While it is therefore impossible due to track layout for a single train to span the entirety of the long platform, it is nevertheless a contiguous level boarding surface.

=6 – Albury, Platform 1 – 454m

Albury is arguably the most famous of Australia’s long platforms, due to its former status as the break-of-gauge between Australia’s two largest cities. The midnight train change across the platform from the Victorian broad-gauge on the west (341m long) to “New South Wales Narrow” on the east, was an iconically absurd feature of Australian rail heritage for 79 years.

The railway between Melbourne and Albury was duplicated in standard gauge in 1962, for the first time allowing both the Spirit of Progress (based in Melbourne) and the Southern Aurora (in Sydney) to run right through between both capitals. Regional broad gauge services continued to run to Platform 2 on the original track until it too was converted to standard gauge in 2008. Today, Platform 1 sees two southbound and two northbound XPT services each day, while Platform 2 sees 6 daily VLocity services departing to Melbourne (and the same number arriving).

Now comes a singular thing: the oddest thing, the strangest thing, the most baffling and unaccountable marvel that Australasia can show. At the frontier between New South Wales and Victoria our multitude of passengers were routed out of their snug beds by lantern-light in the morning in the biting-cold of a high altitude to change cars on a road that has no break in it from Sydney to Melbourne! Think of the paralysis of intellect that gave that idea birth; imagine the boulder it emerged from on some petrified legislator’s shoulders. (…) All passengers fret at the double-gauge; all shippers of freight must of course fret at it; unnecessary expense, delay, and annoyance are imposed upon everybody concerned, and no one is benefitted. Mark Twain, “Following the Equator”, 1897

=6 – Port Augusta – 454m

Halfway across the continent, Port Augusta’s main platform is the exact same length as Albury’s, and is similarly associated with the gauge muddle problem. In 1917, the modest first station on nearby Commercial road was replaced with a new and grand structure for the eastern terminus of the Trans Australian Railway. Built in the classical revival style and comprising two stories and forty rooms , it reflects the importance attached to the transcontinental line.

At this time, the railway to Adelaide was narrow gauge, via a circuitous route through the Flinders Ranges. The station was therefore built with two platforms: a western facing standard gauge platform of 1,000 feet (304m), and an eastern facing narrow gauge platform of 720 feet (219m) – this photograph circa 1920 shows the platform ending just north of the station building. It’s not clear exactly when it was extended to its present 455m length, but there is some evidence it was post-1957 when the new standard gauge railway was built between Port Augusta and Marree via the Leigh Creek coalfields. This supports the broader narrative evident in Australia’s long platforms, of a move towards very long interstate consists in the second half of the 20th Century.

Today, no passenger trains call at Port Augusta – both The Ghan and Indian Pacific roll right on by, twice a week. The grand station building is now used as an art gallery featuring local artists.

5 – Adelaide Parklands Terminal – 495m

Boarding the Indian Pacific at Parklands

In the early 1980s, capacity constraints at Adelaide Railway Station, as well as the expense that would be involved in converting the complicated station approach to dual-gauge, necessitated a new, dedicated terminus for regional and interstate trains. Keswick Terminal, later renamed Adelaide Parklands Terminal , was opened in 1984 to serve this need. Its three dual-gauge platforms, all 495m long excluding end ramps, clearly reflect an expectation of significant capacity requirements for these regional services. It initially served a multitude of interstate trains to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Alice Springs, as well as regional services to Whyalla, Broken Hill, and Mount Gambier.

Sadly, its usefulness was short-lived. Decades of underinvestment had left the regional railways slow and uncompetitive with driving, and the inconvenient location of Keswick Terminal did not help. By 1990, no regional rail services remained in the state. The interstate services too were declining in importance; the Indian Pacific / Trans Australian was reduced from 7 services per week to 5 in 1982, and to 2 in 1992. The last broad gauge service was The Overland in March 1995, prior to the standardisation of the Adelaide-Melbourne railway. South Australia gifted the nation a transcontinental unified gauge at the cost of its entire regional network, and even the consolation prize of Keswick Terminal was largely mothballed after little more than a decade of use.

Today, Adelaide Parklands Terminal operates at a quiet pace, a shadow of its once hoped-for promise. It hosts just 8 train movements per week – one departure/arrival for The Ghan , one eastbound and one westbound Indian Pacific , and two Overland s. But even at this low capacity, the long platforms are essential for the operation of those long consists; both the Indian Pacific and The Ghan generally require at least two, and sometimes all three platforms to simultaneously board all their carriages. Despite ultimately being misconceived, Adelaide Parklands Terminal is perhaps most emblematic of the hope for the future which Australian rail had in the late 20th century.

4 – Kalgoorlie Platform 1 – 512m

Kalgoorlie Station was once the centrepiece of a bustling local and regional train network serving the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia. Built in 1896, the handsome station building of local Ashlar stone has four bay platforms in addition to the very long side Platform 1. The eastern platforms took miners to their jobs at the numerous nearby mine sites, or to more distant regional destinations like the mining town of Leonora to the north, or the port town of Esperance to the south.

From 1917, Kalgoorlie was also the western terminus of the standard gauge Trans Australian Railway, the nation’s first transcontinental railway (albeit with no less than three breaks-of-gauge between Sydney and Perth). An interesting observation in John Kirk’s photo above is that, at least until 1976, the Trans Australian Railway terminated not at one of the platforms of Kalgoorlie Station, but rather at a hardstand to the northwest of the platform (Platform 1 remains narrow gauge – and evidently disused). This is an interesting contrast to the TAR’s eastern terminus, at which no expense was spared for the grand Port Augusta Station.

Sometime before 1981, the tracks were realigned to bring Platform 1 back into use (Phil Melling captured this photo of the Indian Pacific finally using the platform in November 1981). Today, Platform 2 at the western end is still used by the once-daily Prospector to Perth, while Platfroms 3, 4 and 5 at the eastern end are all long-disused (they were formerly used by the Trans Australian and Boulder Loop services).

3 – East Perth Terminal – 620m

Perth holds a romantic position in Australian rail history as the terminus of one of the longest rail services in the world: the Indian-Pacific , which takes three days to travel the 4,352km across the continent, from Sydney, via Adelaide, and across the Nullarbor Plain. Unfortunately, passengers are no longer welcomed to Perth by any equally romantic architecture. Transcontinental services were relocated from the grand Perth Central in the north of the CBD to East Perth upon the standardisation of the Goldfields line in 1969; the brutalist nightmare that is the Public Transport Centre and its adjacent East Perth Terminal came a few years later, in 1976. The long platform was necessitated by the extremely long consists being run by the Indian Pacific , which was in those days a daily service, and well patronised due to its competitiveness against expensive air travel.

Today, the Indian Pacific comes only once per week, but regional Prospector , MerredinLink and AvonLink services still utilise the platform a few times daily.

East Perth Terminal is often falsely credited with being Australia’s longest platform, at a supposed 762m in length ( apparently sourced to the 1985 Guinness World Records ), with other sources claiming 670m or “about 650m”, but I was unable to find evidence that it was ever remotely this long.

2 – Port Pirie (Mary Elie Street) Platform 1 – 701m

Port Pirie’s high ranking on this list might be unexpected – why does a small rural port town boast one of the longest rail platforms not just in Australia, but the world? The answer lies in its strategic location near the head of Spencer Gulf, as well as South Australia’s uniquely muddled gauge problem. South Australia, along with Victoria, initially selected broad gauge for its mainline railways. However, due to financial difficulties and engineering constraints, many rural branch lines were built to narrow gauge. Furthermore, when the Commonwealth fulfilled its federal obligation of a rail connection to Western Australia, it built this line to the 1435mm standard gauge then used only in New South Wales, thus forcing a break-of-gauge at both ends of the new line (Kalgoorlie, and Port Augusta). In 1937, the TAR’s eastern terminus was extended 90km south to Port Pirie, joining the narrow gauge lines to the rural hinterland, and the new broad gauge to Adelaide, completed in the same year (avoiding the circuitous route via Peterborough and Burra, and another narrow/broad break-of-gauge at Terowie). Port Pirie was thus established as a major interchange for intercontinental rail travel.

The town’s geography however was not well-suited to this role. Its location near the head of an estuarine peninsula necessitated a short spur from the mainline, which was several kilometres east of town. While this was not such a problem during the gauge-muddle era (as passengers needed to change trains in any case), after standardisation of the line to Broken Hill (1967) and especially Adelaide (1982), the requirement for through-trains to make a long reversal out of the station was conspicuously absurd. By 1989, the only remaining trains were the long interstates which bypassed the town completely (stopping, if at all, at Coonamia on the town outskirts); Port Pirie station was reduced to a relic of a bygone era.

This history gave Port Pirie a uniquely numerous succession of railway stations. It has had no fewer than six completely different stations over the years:

Port Pirie (1876), subsequently renamed Port Pirie South , was a modest station for a town then under 1000 people; it was located near the current site of Mary Elie St Station.
Port Pirie (Ellen Street) was opened in 1902, in the wake of the discovery of silver-lead-zinc at Broken Hill and the construction of a railway connecting it to Port Pirie; the grand, domed station building reflected the subsequently enhanced importance of the town as an export hub.
Solomontown (1911) was added as an additional passenger stop on the narrow gauge line to serve the rapidly expanding township;
Port Pirie Junction (1937) was built opposite Solomontown Station with both broad and standard gauge platforms, and together with the previous station operated as a triple-gauge station for 30 years;
Port Pirie (Mary Elie Street) replaced Port Pirie Junction upon the widening of the Broken Hill line to standard gauge in 1967, and operated until the withdrawal of regular passenger services in 1989. The very long platform was necessitated by increasing consist lengths of the daily Trans Australian service to Kalgoorlie, which the shorter platform at Junction was no longer able to handle.
Coonamia (1989) really stretched the definition of “station” – facilities were limited to an ATCO hut, public telephone and a small car park – no platform at all! It served as a flag-stop for the Ghan and Indian Pacific until those services withdrew the stop altogether in the early 2010s.

1 – Flinders Street Platform 1 – 708m

Flinders Street Station was completed in more-or-less its current form in 1909, though the current platform configuration was completed somewhat earlier. Platform 1 was initially around 300m long – not exceptional, but commensurate with its status as a major terminal station of a great city. It was extended to its current length in two stages. First, in 1910, the “Milk Dock” was added to the west of the main building, allowing freight to be loaded without interfering with regular passenger operations. This added about 130m. Secondly, in 1966, the eastern end of the platform was joined up with the nearby Princes Bridge station as part of the Princes Gate Towers redevelopment (on the site of what is now Federation Square, just across Swanston Street from Flinders Street Station). In 1980, Princes Bridge was officially amalgamated with Flinders Street, with the added section of platform being designated “Platform 14”; since 2022 it has been unused and is off-limits to the public (apparently due to insufficient dimensions for modern safety standards), and only a narrow walkway links it to “Platform 1”. Nevertheless it does count as a contiguous level boarding surface, making it the longest in Australia.

I do have to give Flinders Street the win here, but make no mistake, it’s a highly technical win: the platform has always been configured as two separate platforms, there is now no public access to the majority of its length, the two halves are connected by a narrow, curving walkway, and it has never hosted long, interstate trains that would utilise its length (it is currently used by the Hurstbridge and Mernda Lines , both commuter trains to the northeastern suburbs of Melbourne). There has never been any need for Flinders Street to have a platform as long as this, and it ended up this way essentially by accident – yet there it is!

Honourable Mention – Darwin Berrimah Terminal – 1,150m hardstand

The longest dedicated passenger loading facility in Australia is Darwin’s Berrimah Passenger Terminal , opened in 2004 upon the completion of the Alice Springs to Darwin Railway , and located at the intermodal freight handling facility at East Arm Wharf , about a 20km drive to the town centre. While there’s no raised platform at all, the 1,150m hardstand is well suited to the very long consists run by this famous train, avoiding the need to break up the train for boarding.

It’s honestly a bit of a shame that such a celebrated travel experience begins with a 20-minute bus transfer from the Darwin Convention Centre. It could easily have been otherwise; Darwin’s original railway station was only a few hundred metres away from the Convention Centre, and was operational for almost a century, from 1889 to 1973. The easement for the narrow-gauge North Australia Railway is still there (partially converted to a bike track), running alongside the Stuart Highway right down to the docks. The new railway was and is primarily a freight railway, and it no doubt made sense to relocate the major port facilities to East Arm with the arrival of the new railway. Nevertheless, the abandonment of the old alignment does seem rather a missed opportunity. Perhaps one day both Darwin’s and Adelaide’s rail terminals will be returned to their rightful, central positions in their respective cities, and finally give a worthy conclusion to Australia’s most famous train journey.

“Hot Rail” – A section of rail over which the passing of a train is imminent.

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Day 1: Sydney to outback New South Wales

Queen Adelaide Restaurant, Indian Pacific © Journey Beyond

Afternoon Board at Sydney 's Central Station and settle into your cabin, where you'll spend the afternoon taking in the scenery as it transforms from skyscrapers and traffic lights to the forested valleys and sandstone cliffs of the stunning Blue Mountains . Your on-board radio includes an audio commentary option.

The journey's eastbound service (Perth to Sydney) includes an off-train excursion in the majestic Blue Mountains , which includes visits to the majestic Three Sisters at Echo Point and the spectacular Jamison Valley.

Evening As the sun sets behind mountain ranges you will begin to enter the more arid regions of New South Wales , characterised by hardy mulga (a small native Australian tree) and vast plains. After dinner in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant , meet fellow guests in the Outback Explorer Lounge for a welcome drink.

Day 2: Broken Hill to Adelaide

Indian Pacific, outback SA © Journey Beyond

Indian Pacific, outback South Australia © Journey Beyond

Morning The day begins in Broken Hill , formerly a booming mining town, which has inspired an array of artists over the years with its distinctive desert landscape. On a one-hour walking tour, explore the city's iconic Living Desert Sculptures then visit the Pro Hart Gallery, where you'll learn all about one of Australia's most celebrated artists, whose works capture the spirit of the outback.

Afternoon After an onboard lunch, the journey continues into the green and golden fields of South Australia 's food bowl. You have a choice between several off-train excursions. You can opt to spend the afternoon and evening in the picturesque Barossa Valley or McLaren Vale wine region, the charming heritage town of Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills or a private guided tour of the South Australian Museum . All tours include drinks and dinner. Afterwards, all guests rejoin the train in Adelaide to begin the journey across the Nullarbor Plain.

On the eastbound service, which includes a morning stop in Adelaide , your excursion options include an Adelaide city sights coach tour, a progressive breakfast at the famous Adelaide Central Markets , a guided tour of Adelaide Oval or a city and river precinct walking tour.

Day 3: Nullarbor Plain to Rawlinna

Off-train dinner at Rawlinna, Indian Pacific, WA © Journey Beyond

Off-train dinner at Rawlinna, Indian Pacific, Western Australia © Journey Beyond

Morning You’ll be greeted at sunrise by the striking, raw beauty of the Nullarbor. Taking its name from the Latin for "no trees", this vast outback plain has bewildered and inspired generations of Australians and visitors alike. A seemingly endless expanse of rusty earth and hardy outback shrubs, the Nullarbor covers 200,000 square kilometres (77,000 square miles) of South Australia and Western Australia and is considered a "bucket list"' experience.

Afternoon Having entered Western Australia , celebrate crossing Australia's most famous plain with a special dinner in the remote outpost of Rawlinna. Here, guests are invited to disembark and partake in a traditional long-table dinner under the bright stars of the outback sky (seasonal). Surrounded by nothing but vast sheep stations (the nearest town, Kalgoorlie , is more than 400 kilometres, or 250 miles away), this is one alfresco dining experience to remember.

The Indian Pacific eastbound service (Perth to Sydney) offers an additional excursion in the wild west gold rush town of Kalgoorlie.

Day 4: Outback Western Australia to Perth

Indian Pacific, Adelaide, SA © Journey Beyond

Indian Pacific, Adelaide, South Australia © Journey Beyond

Morning The scenery transforms again as the Indian Pacific continues through the picturesque Avon Valley , a patchwork of rolling hills and winding streams. After passing fertile farmland and the occasional hot air balloon, the journey nears the end as Perth's outer city limits come into view.

Afternoon When the Indian Pacific arrives in the west after its epic transcontinental crossing, you have the choice to be transferred directly to your accommodation or to take an optional upgrade tour to explore Perth . On the Perth tour, you'll admire magnificent city views from Kings Park , travel along the Swan River and picturesque foreshore parklands, see Subiaco with its trendy boutiques and restaurants, and Claremont with its upmarket shopping and famous 'Millionaire's Row.' You'll also enjoy city landmarks like the WACA Cricket Ground , Town Hall, Perth Mint , Parliament House, Crown Casino and Barracks Arch .

Perth provides seamless transport options to access beautiful Rottnest Island and its adorable quokkas, the groovy culture and art scene of portside Fremantle , the vineyards of the Swan Valley and charming Cottesloe Beach where you can enjoy a swim in the Indian Ocean. To enjoy the rich heritage of Perth, visit Barrack Square to see The Bell Tower, Perth Mint, the WA Maritime Museum and roam the winding streets of Fremantle before touring its World Heritage-listed prison .

Explore more nearby

Aerial view of the Sea Cliff Bridge suspended over the ocean in Clifton, New South Wales © Destination NSW

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Australia's top 10 epic train journeys

Taylah Darnell

Editorial Assistant

23 February 2023

From vintage sleepers to steam locomotives, see more of Australia by train with these epic rail adventures.

Forget packed flights where you don’t see anything between points A and B. Don’t even consider the drawn-out car journeys with too much traffic and not enough detours. Long gone are the days of long security lines and not enough room in the boot.

The best way to see Australia is by train, with a jam-packed itinerary and everything you need taken care of. Spread across carriages that traverse Australia’s most diverse landscapes, guests can wine and dine, rest and relax and discover somewhere new. Find 10 of the best (in no particular order) below.

1. The Ghan

Known as one of the most legendary rail journeys Australia has to offer, The Ghan traverses some of the country’s most awe-inspiring landscapes. Those choosing to travel on the tracks can pick between Darwin to Adelaide , Adelaide to Alice Springs and Darwin to Alice Springs, each trip being reversible. Both on- and off-train experiences are designed to heighten your experience, from your spacious cabin and onboard restaurant and lounge to the stops you make along the way.

The Ghan is one of the best railway journeys on offer in Australia. (Image: Tourism NT/Steve Strike)

2. Indian Pacific

Go coast to coast on this transformative, transcontinental journey from Sydney to Perth via Adelaide or vice versa. Named after the two oceans it connects, the Indian Pacific charts 4352 kilometres across 65 hours. Enjoy a range of luxe experiences both onboard and off , from Barossa Valley wineries and The Nullabor to Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains.

Witness some of Australia’s most jaw-dropping landscapes onboard the Indian Pacific. (Image: Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions)

3. Great Southern

The Great Southern takes guests from one underrated capital city to another in sleek style and comfort. Travel from Brisbane to Adelaide and uncover some of Australia’s best-kept secrets along the way; the Grampians, Hunter Valley and Coffs Harbour . Along the way, indulge in fine dining, premium wines and cosy accommodation onboard as you travel through Australia’s diverse landscape.

Uncover some of Australia’s best-kept secrets on the Great Southern.

4. The Overland

If you’re down for a shorter trip, The Overland is perfect for you. This daylight service travels between two very vibrant but very different cities, Adelaide and Melbourne. Throughout the trip, enjoy visits to small yet mighty Aussie towns like Murray Bridge, Horsham and Geelong . Guests will still enjoy a range of dining options, with semi-reclining seats for your comfort along the way.

The Overland is a daytime service perfect for families. (Image: Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions)

5. Spirit of Queensland

Take in Queensland’s distinctive landscape on the Spirit of Queensland railway journey, running between Brisbane and Cairns. Enjoy seat service, in-transit entertainment, a galley car, showers and convertible chairs into beds, you’ll arrive at your destination relaxed and refreshed. Along the way, discover the delights of the Whitsundays , Townsville , Bundaberg , and the Fraser and Sunshine Coasts.

The Spirit of Queensland traverses the landscape between Brisbane and Cairns.

6. Vintage Rail Journeys

Vintage Rail Journeys’ three rail tours showcase the diversity of Australia in vintage style. Get comfy on a restored 1960s Aurora Australis sleeping train to explore everywhere from Orange to the Blue Mountains in the Golden West; the Riverina , where you’ll get a taste of Australia’s food bowl; and the North Coast , which serves up a mix of coastal and inland beauty from Port Macquarie to the Northern Rivers.

Take in the verdant views of the Blue Mountains onboard with Vintage Railway Journeys. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Scott Mcgregor’s Railway Adventures

Join Aussie presenter, producer and writer Scott McGregor and his experienced guides on fully escorted train tours across the continent . Head down to Tassie for an 11-night circumnavigation of the island state, relive the golden age of rail and river transport in Victoria on Puffing Billy or ride the Savannahlander and other historic railways in outback Queensland.

the legendary steam train Puffing Billy passing through a mountain track

Travel onboard the legendary steam train Puffing Billy with Scott McGregor’s Railway Adventures.

8. Kuranda Scenic Railway

Immerse yourself in the heritage-listed rainforest of Tropical North Queensland’s Wet Tropics , beginning at sea level in Cairns and winding up to the pretty mountain village of Kuranda , at 328 metres. Enjoy locally sourced refreshments as you zoom through one of the world’s oldest rainforests and past waterfalls plunging into deep ravines.

a train passing through the Kuranda Railway

Journey over the scenic Robbs Monument at the Kuranda railway. (Image: Journey Beyond)

9. Puffing Billy

With four epic adventures to choose from, Puffing Billy is the perfect option for families. Whether you pick Belgrave to Lakeside, Belgrave to Menzies Creek, Lakeside to Gembrook or Belgrave to Gembrook, you’re in for a treat. Puffing Billy, known as Australia’s favourite steam train, was built in 1900 and is based in the stunning Dandenong Ranges.

The Puffing Billy train in the Dandenong Ranges

Puffing Billy is known as Australia’s favourite steam train.

10. Spirit of the Outback

The Spirit of the Outback traverses the heartland of Queensland’s outback from Brisbane to Longreach. Delve into the history and culture of the state via towns like Bundaberg and Emerald. All customers onboard can enjoy a variety of amenities. Single- and twin-cabin guests have access to the Shearers Rest lounge.

Delve into the history and culture of Queensland.

Taylah has been passionate about writing since she learnt to read, spending many hours either lost in the pages of a book or attempting to write her own. When she's not immersed in the world of words, she enjoys spending time amongst nature, hunting for second-hand treasures and watching/playing a good game of soccer.

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Comments (3)

I would love to go on anyone of these rail trips.

Very informative. Please let us know more about sightseeing of Australia’s nature.

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8 of the World's Longest Train Rides

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The Trans-Siberian Express

Distance: 5,772 miles

Duration: More than six days

The longest rail journey in the world (and getting longer ) is the stuff of legend—a train ride that starts in Moscow and ends, more than six days later, in Vladivostok. Over the course of the journey, the train crosses time zone after time zone and the landscape changes constantly, from the Ural Mountains to Lake Baikal and all the steppes one could want in between. Trains depart every two days.

Image may contain Transportation Train Track Railway Rail Vehicle and Train

Eastern & Oriental Express

Distance: About 1,200 miles

Duration: Three to four days

This classic journey aboard the Belmond Eastern & Oriental Express winds through Southeast Asia from Singapore to Bangkok (and vice versa), with stops at River Kwai and the Malaysian district of Kuala Kangsar. You can choose from routes lasting either three or four days, usually stretching over the weekends. Accommodations are private and richly decorated but compact, making the trip a great option for solo travelers .

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The Canadian

Distance: 2,775 miles

Duration: Three days

There’s no Wi-Fi on VIA Rail's transcontinental jaunt, so be prepared for hours of watching the scenery. Luckily, what you'll see—snow-capped Rocky Mountains, the forest of the Canadian Shield, and the rest of Canada ’s strikingly empty landscape—is breathtaking. Beginning in Toronto and ending in Vancouver , the ride is made even better by comfortable sleeper cars and the chances of seeing moose, deer, and even bears from the windows.

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California Zephyr

Distance: 2,438 miles

Duration: 51 hours, 20 minutes

With each trip taking a little more than two days, this Chicago -to- San Francisco journey is the longest in the U.S. It covers 2,438 miles along the trail of the pioneers, taking in the Rockies, the canyons of Colorado’s Western Slope, and the Sierra Nevadas, but you can also jump off at Reno if you're ready to trade nature for neon.

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The Indian Pacific

Distance: 2,704 miles

Duration: Four days

Over the course of four days and three nights, the Indian Pacific traverses the width of Australia , from Perth to Sydney . It stops in Adelaide, the ghost town of Cook, and Broken Hill (an artist colony that was once a mining town). From the comfort of your seat, you'll see the Australian outback as well as the forests and waterfalls of the Blue Mountains; meanwhile, off-train excursions have been added for travelers headed east.

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Vivek Express

Distance: Around 2,650 miles

Duration: Approximately four days

This 80-plus-hour trip on the Vivek Express is the longest train journey in India and one of the world’s longest as well, clocking in at approximately 2,650 miles. It takes between three and four days aboard the train to arrive, traveling the length of the country at an average speed of 32 miles an hour. There are 57 stops in total, beginning in the far north at Dibrugarh and ending in Kanyakumari, at India’s southern tip (pictured).

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Beijing-Guangzhou Bullet Train

Distance: 1,200 miles

Duration: Eight hours

At roughly 1,200 miles, this isn’t a competitor for the longest journey, but it takes the prize for the fastest long-distance train. This high-speed train service launched in 2012, and has cut the 21-hour trip down to eight, reaching speeds of 186 miles per hour. At this pace the scenery flies by, but there are 35 stops, most in major cities like Wuhan.

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The Blue Train

Distance: 994 miles

Duration: 27 hours

Spot wild game on the savannah from the windows of South Africa ’s famously decadent Blue Train, which crosses the country in just over a day. Traveling from Pretoria to Cape Town , the train is more like a fast-moving luxury hotel, with butler service, Cuban cigars, and gourmet dinners. But the main attraction is the view of the country’s spectacular farmlands, forests and vineyards.

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The Man in Seat 61

A beginner's guide to

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Australia is a huge country. And the best way to appreciate its vastness is to cross it at ground level by train, in comfort. The famous Indian Pacific links Sydney, Adelaide & Perth in 3 days, crossing the great Nullarbor Plain in the process. Don't miss out on a visit to the 'red centre' of Australia around Alice Springs, and there's no better way to reach Alice Springs or Darwin than by the equally famous Ghan from Adelaide. In the East, comfortable XPT trains link Sydney with Melbourne & Brisbane at affordable prices, and Queensland Railways links Brisbane with Townsville & Cairns. On this page you'll find train times, fares, how to buy tickets, and advice on what the train & the journey are like for all the main Australian train routes.

Train route map

Interactive map: Click a route for information

Useful country information

Sydney - adelaide - perth, across australia on the indian pacific.

Australia's biggest train journey, in every sense of the word. This is a fabulous train ride right across Australia from Sydney or Adelaide to Perth, giving you a real sense of Australia's vastness which flying simply cannot deliver. With a cosy bed at night in your own room, a restaurant for your meals and a lounge in which to relax during the day, it's a rolling hotel. Now run by a private company called Journey Beyond Rail ( journeybeyondrail.com.au , known as Great Southern Rail until 2019), the Indian Pacific links Sydney, Adelaide & Perth once a week all year round. The Indian Pacific has only existed since the 1970s, when a standard gauge line was finally completed across the continent from Sydney to Perth, some 4,343km or 2,698 miles. Today, both the Indian Pacific and its sister train the Ghan use the original stainless-steel coaches built by the American Budd company for the first Indian Pacific trains when they started running in 1973. Suitably modernised, of course. This train is well worth including in your grand Australian tour!

What's it like on board the Indian Pacific? What's the journey like?

Check times & departure dates at journeybeyondrail.com.au . Passengers can take their cars between Adelaide & Perth on the Indian Pacific, see journeybeyondrail.com.au . The station in Adelaide is Adelaide Parklands, formerly known as Adelaide Keswick.

Children under 4 go free, under 16s reduced rate. Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

Gold & Platinum fares include all meals and soft drinks, beer & wine.

Note that the Pensioner fares shown on the GSR website are for Australian senior citizens only.

How to buy tickets

You can check fares & book a journey on the Indian Pacific online at journeybeyondrail.com.au .

Or you can use the contact & booking form of reliable Australian-based train ticketing specialist www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange Indian Pacific tickets for you, wherever you live in the world. You'll normally get a quote within 24 hours. International Rail can also sort tickets for other Australian train services, such as NSW TrainLink from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane.

To buy Australian train tickets in the UK by phone, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3 , lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.

Railpass options

The Rail Explorer Pass was discontinued in August 2015. You need to buy regular tickets to use the IP or Ghan.

Vacations & tours by rail

Railbookers are train travel specialists with offices in the UK, Australia & United States. They offer customisable tour packages around Australia with travel on some or all of Australia's great trains, with train tickets, stopovers, hotels, transfers and (if necessary) flights sorted for you.

What's a journey on the Indian Pacific like ?

The 'IP' leaves Sydney Central Station in downtown Sydney in late afternoon and threads its way through Sydney's suburban commuterland. As night falls it climbs up through the scenic Blue Mountains passing through Katoomba, and next morning you'll wake up in arid outback country around Broken Hill. Look out for kangaroo and emu over breakfast in the train's restaurant car! The train arrives in Adelaide in the afternoon, with time for a city tour even if you're not stopping off, and leaves again for Perth in the early evening. The day after leaving Adelaide the Indian Pacific crosses the hot, dusty emptiness of the famous Nullarbor Plain on the longest stretch of straight railway line in the world, 478 km or 297 miles, 'nullarbor' being Latin for 'no trees'. The train stops long enough for you to visit the tiny community of Cook. If you've ever wondered what the Middle of Nowhere looks like, this is it! Once off the Nullarbor you can play 'spot the koala' over dinner as the beautiful evening sun plays over the leafy eucalyptus trees. After dinner that evening the train used to stop at the gold rush town of Kalgoorlie for 3½ hours, long enough for a walkabout, but is passes through at 3am in its latest timetable. Next day the train rolls into the pleasant and modern city of Perth, capital of Western Australia. Congratulations, you've just crossed a continent!

What's it like on the Indian Pacific & Ghan ?

The Indian Pacific & the Ghan use similar equipment. They both have two classes of accommodation, Gold Service sleepers & Platinum Service sleepers. Both classes offer proper beds in private rooms with meals included in the restaurant car. Platinum Service gets you a bigger room with (if you want one) a double bed, with an exclusive Platinum Service restaurant car with small lounge area. Unfortunately, Red Service sleepers were discontinued in 2015 and Red Service reclining seats the year after, there is now no budget option. What was originally a mode of transport with aspirations to cruise service at the top end is now an all-cruise train with prices to match.

Gold Service (formerly first class)

Gold Service passengers travel in private sleepers, either 2-berth twinettes for passengers travelling in twos or single-berth roomettes for passengers travelling alone, see the photos below. The price per person is the same. There's a restaurant car and a lounge car.

Queen Adelaide restaurant

The fare includes excellent 3-course meals served in the Queen Adelaide restaurant car. Beer and standard wines are complimentary in Gold service. Photos courtesy of DiscoverByRail.com .

Outback Explorer lounge car

During the day Gold Service passengers can use the Outback Explorer lounge (sometimes two of them) with bar & armchairs, complimentary tea & coffee always available. The bar in the Outback Explorer lounge serves cocktails, beer & wine. Since 2013, beer and standard wines are complimentary in Gold service. Photos courtesy of Oliver Mann & DiscoverByRail.com

Twinette sleepers

If there's two of you, you'll get a relatively spacious 2-berth sleeper called a Twinette. The twinette sleeping-cars have a conventional layout with a corridor along one side of the car, with compartments opening off it. Each twinette compartment has an upper & lower bed which fold away to reveal a sofa for daytime use. Twinettes have a tiny private bathroom with hot shower, toilet & washbasin. Your twinette comes with comfortable freshly made-up beds, towels and a complimentary toiletries pack with soap, shampoo, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste. The photos pretty accurately show the size of the room, with the compact shower & toilet opening off the wall to the left of shot. Photos courtesy of James Chuang & Oliver Mann.

If you're travelling alone in Gold Service, you'll get a cosy private roomette. Roomette sleeping-cars have a corridor snaking through the centre of the car in a series of gentle 's' curves with doors to the roomettes opening off both sides of it (the curves in the corridor maximise the space in each roomette, by making it wider at the head end). Each roomette is only about 7 feet long by 4 feet wide, big enough for a comfy armchair, a table, and a drop-down sink in one corner, though the drop-down flush toilet originally fitted underneath each sink is now boarded up out of use. At night, the bed folds down from behind the seat and takes up most of the room. There's an excellent hot shower & toilets at the end of the corridor. Roomettes come with a comfortable freshly made-up beds, towels and a complimentary toiletries pack with soap, shampoo, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste.

Platinum Service

The Ghan and Indian Pacific now feature an ultra-luxurious (and expensive!) Platinum Service, with a choice of double-bed or twin-bed sleeper compartments with private shower and toilet and extra space even compared to Gold Service. As with Gold Service, meals are included in the fare, served in a Platinum Service restaurant car, which has a lounge area at one end.

Adelaide - Alice Springs - Darwin

The ghan, to australia's red centre.

The lenendary Ghan is undoubtedly the best way to reach Australia's fabulous Red centre and the iconic Uluru (Ayer's Rock). Australia's second most famous train, the Ghan links Adelaide, Alice Springs & (since 2004) Darwin, once a week all year round, twice a week from April to October. By using the train you get a real feel for the scale of the Australian outback, which you simply don't on a plane. Like the Indian Pacific, the Ghan is now run by Journeys Beyond Rail (formerly Great Southern Rail ), and has the same classes of accommodation & facilities: Gold class sleepers, lounge & restaurant, see the section above . Most departures of the Ghan now have an additional class of accommodation, the new super-deluxe Platinum Class complete with double (or twin lower) beds.

The Ghan gets its name from the (supposedly) Afghan camels and camel drivers who used to carry supplies up to Alice Springs before the railway came. The first railway was narrow gauge, and the old Ghan was notoriously slow, taking 48 hours from Adelaide to Alice. Only in the early 1980s was this new standard-gauge line opened taking a more direct route. The journey time has been cut to an afternoon and a night, and the service doubled to twice weekly for much of the year. Connections are available to/from Sydney and Melbourne using the Indian Pacific or Overland , see the Indian Pacific and Overland sections below. The railway onwards to Darwin was completed in January 2004, and in February that year the Ghan was extended to Darwin once a week, doubled to twice-weekly in 2006. Book early, as there has been huge interest in the service to Darwin and bookings have exceeded even the operator's own expectations.

The Ghan Timetable

IMPORTANT: The Ghan does not run from mid-Dec to mid-Jan.

Off-train excursions happen at the longer stops.

Passengers can take their cars between Adelaide & Darwin on the Ghan, see journeybeyondrail.com.au . What's it like on board The Ghan?

Children under 4 go free, under 16s reduced rate. Return fares are twice the one-way fare.

See journeybeyondrail.com.au for full details of fares.

Apex 6m+ = discounted advance purchase fare, bought at least 6 months in advance.

Gold & Platinum fares include all meals and (from April 2013), soft drinks, beer & wine. Meals are extra in Red Service.

You can check fares & book a journey on the Indian Pacific online at journeybeyondrail.com.au .

Or you can use the contact & booking form of Australian-based train ticketing specialist www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange tickets for the Ghan for you wherever you live in the world. You'll normally get a quote within 24 hours. International Rail can also sort tickets for other Australian train services, such as NSW TrainLink from Sydney to Melbourne or Brisbane.

To buy Australian train tickets by phone in the UK, call International Rail on 0844 248 248 3 , lines open 09:00-17:00 Monday-Friday.

The Rail Explorer Pass was discontinued in August 2015. You need to buy regular tickets to use the Indian Pacific or Ghan.

What's it like on board the Ghan?

The train has similar classes, sleepers, lounges and restaurants as the Indian Pacific , see the accommodation guide above .

A trip on the Ghan from Adelaide to Australia's Red Centre

Alice springs.

The Alice, as it's usually known, still has a frontier feel to it. Originally called Stuart and only officially renamed Alice Springs in 1933, it grew up around a telegraph station on the overland telegraph linking southern Australia with London. The site for the telegraph station was chosen because there was water, a spring which was named after the wife of Charles Todd, superintendent of telegraphs in Adelaide. You can still see the telegraph station, now a museum, at the North end of the town. Next to it (pictured above, at the base of the white rock) is the very birthplace of the town - the original, dried up 'Alice spring'. Telegraph station museum website . Northern Territories official visitor website .

Ayer's Rock (Uluru)

You'll want to explore the outback whilst in Alice Springs, including Uluru, the world's largest sandstone monolith. It's some 275 miles southwest of Alice - the outback is a big place! It's a fabulous area with lots to see besides Uluru, including the Olgas (Kata Tjuta) & King's Canyon. You can see Uluru & Kata Tjuta as a 17 hour day trip from Alice (which includes a 5 hour drive each way), but it's far better to book a 2, 3 or 4-day 4-wheel drive camping safari to see more in less of a hurry. Try www.wayoutback.com.au . You're no longer allowed to climb Uluru as from October 2019 - it used to be a steep scramble along the tourist track up the least perpendicular part of its sandstone sides. The website for Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park is www.environment.gov.au/parks/uluru .

Melbourne - Adelaide

The most civilised and pleasant way to travel between central Melbourne and central Adelaide is aboard the twice-a-week Overland , no need to use domestic flights. It's the third of the 3 trains run by journeybeyondrail.com.au .

No service on 25 or 26 December.

The cheaper fare = advance purchase, limited availability. The most expensive fare = full-flex rate.

Option 2, buy tickets at 12go.com .

12go is a reliable agency, the process is easy, overseas phone credit cards & phone numbers no problem. Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

What's it like on the Overland?

Sydney to melbourne, canberra & brisbane.

Comfortable air-conditioned trains link Sydney with Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra, city centre to city centre, with no need to fly! These trains are run by NSW TrainLink, formerly CountryLink, formerly the State Rail Authority of New South Wales. NSW TrainLink runs two comfortable XPT trains every day from Sydney to Melbourne, one by day and the other a time-effective overnight train with sleeping-car. A similar daytime and overnight XPT service links Sydney to Brisbane, although as trains alternate between Brisbane and Casino, a bus connection is needed to Brisbane on one of the two. Equally comfortable XPLORER trains link Sydney with Canberra several times a day. More info & online booking at transportnsw.info/regional .

Option 1, buy tickets at transportnsw.info/regional .

Tickets bought online are sent by e-mail.

12go.com is a reliable booking agency, the process is easy, overseas phone numbers accepted. Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

Sleepers cannot be booked online , so for sleeper berths either call NSW TrainLink on +61 2 3814 0210 or use the contact & booking form of Melbourne-based agency www.internationalrail.com.au who can arrange sleeper tickets for you wherever you live in the world - you'll normally get a reply with a quote within 24 hours.

On board an XPT train

XPT trains might look familiar. That's because they're based on the UK's InterCity 125, but re-geared to 100mph and with (you'll be pleased to learn) beefed-up air-conditioning. XPTs have first and economy class reclining seats. First and economy class seating is virtually identical - if you look really closely and get your tape measure out, you'll find there's 2" more legroom in first and the 1st class seats recline to 40 degrees rather than 28. But that's the only difference, elbow room and the seats themselves are exactly the same. So there is little point in paying for first class unless economy is full - or you want that extra recline on the overnight run. XPTs have a buffet car selling food and drink, including wine. XPLORERs have similar seating to XPTs and a buffet-bar.

XPT sleeping-cars

The overnight Sydney-Melbourne & Sydney-Brisbane XPT trains have one sleeping-car with 2-berth compartments. A sofa converts to a lower berth and an upper berth folds out from the wall, with mattress and all necessary bedding. There's a hot shower & toilet shared between each pair of adjacent compartments, just outside your compartment door. Book early, as there's only one sleeping-car per train and it gets booked up fast.

Unfortunately sleepers cannot be booked online, so you need to book at the station or by phone - from outside Australia call NSW TrainLink on +61 2 4907 7501.

2-berth sleeper on a CountryLink XPT train from Sydney to Melbourne or from Sydney to Brisbane

Brisbane - Townsville - Cairns

Queensland Railways (QR) operates excellent passenger trains linking Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns, branded Traveltrain. The trains operate on narrow gauge 3' 6" tracks, which explains why you need to change at Brisbane onto NSW TrainLink's standard gauge (4' 8½") trains to and from Sydney . For more info & online tickets see www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au .

The SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND is a new 100mph tilt train with Railbed Class flat-bed seats, Premium Economy Class seats and a lounge car. Introduced in October 2013, this is a brand-new 100mph tilting train, see the photos below . For more info see www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au .

The old Sunlander was discontinued in December 2014, replaced by the Spirit of Queensland 100mph tilt train.

BRISBANE-ROCKHAMPTON: There are additional trains between Brisbane and Rockhampton, including a 100mph tilting daytime train.

BRISBANE-LONGREACH: A train called the SPIRIT OF THE OUTBACK runs twice a week Brisbane - Rockhampton - Longreach, with 1st & economy sleepers, economy seats, and restaurant car. 1st class fares now include meals. See www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au for details.

CAIRNS-FORSAYTH: A little 1963-tainless-steel railcar works the Savannahlander train from Cairns to Forsayth at 06:30 every Wednesday with an overnight hotel stop in Almaden, arriving in Forsayth on Thursday evening. It returns from Forsayth at 08:30 on Fridays, also with an overnight hotel stop in Almaden, arriving Cairns 18:40 on Saturdays. A 4-day outback rail experience! It runs March until December, no service in late Dec, Jan or Feb or first few days of March. See www.savannahlander.com.au for timetable, fares & booking.

Children 15 years and under pay half the adult fare, children 3 years and under go free.

A-Choice fare = fully flexible, refundable. U-Save fare = advance-purchase limited availability, no refunds. B-Quick = another advance-purchase fare.

Option 1, buy at www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au

You can check train times & fares and book online at www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au . This can book economy and railbed class.

12go.com is a reliable booking agency, the process is easy, overseas credit cards no problem. 12go can book economy seats but may not be able to book railbed class. Your ticket will be confirmed within 24h and sent by email.

The Spirit of Queensland tilt train

The train has two classes, Railbed class & Premium Economy class. All seats have power sockets and airline-style seat-back TV entertainment systems. All passengers can use the lounge-cafe car, in Railbed class meals are served at your seat.

The Spirit of the Outback

Kalgoorlie - perth, transwa's prospector.

Transwa (formerly known as Westrail) introduced new express diesel trains on the Perth to Kalgoorlie Prospector services in September 2003, running at up to 100mph. Within a few years, track will be upgraded to 125mph (200km/h), making these trains the fastest in Australia. For more info, visit www.transwa.wa.gov.au .

Things to see & do

Sydney is a fantastic city. Take a tour of the opera house ( www.sydneyoperahouse.com ). Wander through the botanic gardens . Visit the observation deck of the Centrepoint Tower ( www.sydneytowereye.com.au ). Take a ferry from Circular Quay to Watson's Bay for fish and chips at Doyle's famous refreshment rooms ( www.doyles.com.au , look for 'Doyles on the beach', for Sydney ferry information see transportnsw.info/travel-info/ways-to-get-around/ferry ). For general city tourist information see www.sydney.com .

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Why not do the incredible Sydney Harbour Bridge climb ? From A$344, you are briefed and equipped for a walk up the girders of Sydney Harbour Bridge, for some fantastic views across the city, from the Pacific Ocean in the East to the Blue Mountains in the West. The bridge climb tour has been operating since October 1998. Book your climb online here or visit www.bridgeclimb.com for more information.

The Blue Mountains

Don't forget to visit the museum in Melbourne's old gaol , www.oldmelbournegaol.com.au . Ned Kelly, Australia's most infamous outlaw, was imprisoned and hanged in Melbourne gaol, and his unique armour was originally displayed there.

Great Ocean Road

Named after the wife of King William IV, Adelaide is a much smaller city than Sydney or Melbourne, and much more relaxed. Admirably well laid-out by its founder, Colonel William Light, the city centre is surrounded by parkland. On Montefiore Hill to the north of the centre, you can see 'Light's vision', where Colonel Light stood to map out his plan for the city. For city visit information see www.cityofadelaide.com.au .

Barossa Valley wine region

Great ocean road by train+bus, every monday, wednesday, friday for just au$ 10.

The Great Ocean Road along the coast from Melbourne is one of the great scenic drives of Australia. You can hire a car and drive it, or there are various 1-day bus tours from Melbourne. But rather than endure a bus for the whole day, just AU$ 10 gets you a 1-day tour on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays run by V/Line, the regional train & bus operator, using comfortable trains from Melbourne's Southern Cross station, as follows:

You take the daily 09:10 V/Line train from Melbourne's main Southern Cross railway station to Geelong, arriving 10:07. The train is comfortable and air-conditioned. Economy seats only, no reservation required.

At Geelong, the train connects with a daily air-conditioned V/Line coach leaving from outside Geelong railway station at 10:20 and running via Anglesea and Lorne to Apollo Bay arriving 12:53. No reservation required.

At Apollo Bay, you switch buses and join a V/Line Great Ocean Road air-conditioned sightseeing coach. This runs on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays leaving Apollo Bay at 13:25 and running all along the Great Ocean Road via the Twelve Apostles (30 minute stop), Loch-Ard Gorge (15 minute stop), London Bridge (10 minute stop) and Bay of Islands (10 min stop) to Warrnambool railway station, arriving 16:55. No reservation is required for this bus.

At Warrnambool, the bus connects with the 17:36 V/Line train back to Melbourne Southern Cross, arriving Melbourne at 21:15. This comfortable air-conditioned train has first class as well as economy seats, refreshments are available on board. However, on this train a seat reservation is required.

How much does it cost?

Since 2023, a return ticket from Melbourne to Warrnambool, out via the Great Ocean Road sightseeing bus and back on the direct train now costs an amazingly cheap Aus$ 10 (£5 or US$6), after an election pledge to cap transport fares across Victoria (it used to cost around Aus$87, about £50 or US$62). Children 0-3 (inclusive) go free, children aged 4 to 16 go at the concession rate, Aus$5.

You can easily book this trip online at www.vline.com.au . Simply click Plan trip/buy tickets and use the journey planner to book a return ticket from Melbourne Southern Cross to Warrnambool Station, making sure it's on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Make sure you select the 09:10 departure from Melbourne to Warrnambool by train+coach+coach via Geelong & Apollo Bay on the outward leg, and the 17:36 direct train from Warrnambool to Melbourne on the return leg. You pay by Visa or MasterCard and collect your tickets at any V/Line sales outlet, including at Melbourne Southern Cross station. If you have any issues booking this, call V/Line on +61 3 9662 2505.

For general tourist information about the Great Ocean Road, see www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au .

Buy at Amazon.co.uk (UK) or Amazon.com (US)

Alternatively, you can download just the chapters you need in .PDF format from the Lonely Planet Website , from around £2.99 or US$4.95 a chapter.

Australia by Rail from Trailblazer Guides

Accommodation in australia, tripadvisor hotel reviews.

www.tripadvisor.com is a good place to find independent travellers' reviews of the main hotels. It also has the low-down on all the sights & attractions too.

Backpacker hostels in Australia: www.hostelworld.com

www.hostelworld.com : If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in many places in Australia, at rock-bottom prices.

Flights to Australia

1) check flight prices at opodo, www.opodo.com, 2) use skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines....

3) Lounge passes

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think! See www.loungepass.com

Travel to Australia without flying

For information on how to travel from Europe to Australia without flying, either overland by Trans-Siberian Railway to the Far East then by freighter, or by sea all the way, see the Australia overland page .

Travel insurance & other tips

Always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list . Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android . 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing. W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained . ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from buy from Amazon.com .

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Longest train platform in australia, the albury historical train station.

When you are planning a road trip from Sydney and Melbourne ( the total duration is 9 hrs drive), Canberra and Albury are two cities that are suitable for a stopover to break your long journey.

Albury is a small town between Canberra and Melbourne, it makes a great stop to break in between these two cities. Just about 3.5 hours from Canberra and 3.5 hours more to Melbourne. Albury is still located in NSW Australia and if you were driving from Sydney, it will take 6 hours.

There are not many things to do in Albury, to be frank, but since we were here before we left for Melbourne, we visited the old train station which was built in 1880s. The front facade is under minor maintenance so you see blue plastic covered and make it a little ugly but I am sure without the blue plastic cover, it looks stunning.

This is a heritage listing building in Australia which attracts admirers of architecture all over the place. There is a grand symmetrical Victorian Italianate style building with a tall central tower topped with a decorative cupola.

Even if you are not traveling by train, you can walk in the train station platform to admire the intricate metal lace decorating the sidewalk of the station.

Bus Stop Next Door

The bus stop is just next to the station. There are several big coaches early in the morning at just 9 am.

Walking over to the train platform.

Longest Train Platform in Australia

The train station has the longest covered platform (455 metres) in Australia. The trains run from New South Wales States (Sydney) and Victoria (Melbourne). Wheelchair friendly and easy to access for everyone. Not crowded at all.

Tracks at Albury Station

Albury station master’s residence.

Nearby there is the station master’s house, which has been converted into a visitor information center.

Final thoughts:

Albury is a lovely town and the train station is one of the landmarks in this city. It is a beautiful and historical monument to check it out when you here.

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Places of Australia that I would never have known without you

See? That’s the kind of thing I love to read about when it comes to travel. I love it when people show me the things that aren’t necessarily on the tourist radar.

What a beautiful place. I love that this is in Australia. I often see the symphony hall, but look at this beauty! Love it.

Thanks for highlighting this. I had no idea about this beautiful landmark.

I love reading your blog posts. I learn about so many places that I may never get to experience in person.

How incredible! It looks like such a lovely little town and place to visit.

You always let me know the best lesser-known hidden gems of Australia! This looks like a really cool place! Trains always intrigue me.

This looks like a great place to visit! My son especially would love this because he really enjoys trains! I’ll have to as my Australian pals if they’ve heard of this!

What a gorgeous train station! I don’t know what it is, but I always love seeing old train stuff.

Thank you for sharing this with us with so much attention to detail and love.

Australia is one of my dream country to visit and hoping to live there someday. You never fails us to give an information about the beautiful places to visit in Australia.

We only stayed in Sydney when we visited last May. That’s an interesting train station. I hope I get the chance to see and try the train when we visit next time.

That train ride looks that it will take forever wow! If you want a really long ride on a train, better try this one. Looks great

Have You Tried Australia’s Most Scenic Train Journeys?

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The longest train in the world is about to be loaded with iron ore
The Indian Pacific: Australia's Longest Train Journey (2019)
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