After setting off from Brisbane, enjoy lunch on board and a relaxing afternoon settling into your private cabin before arriving at the coastal town of Coffs Harbour. As the sun dips beneath the horizon, enjoy a unique outdoor dinner where you’ll feast on local produce and fresh seafood matched with fine wines, while the waves lap at the shore nearby. After a few leisurely hours, you’ll reboard the train and set off for the night.

Start the day with a hearty breakfast on board before setting
off for a full day of Off Train Experiences. Today you get to choose your own adventure with experiences in the Hunter Valley, Newcastle or Port Stephens. In the evening, return to the train to enjoy a regionally-inspired meal and relaxing time on board before retiring for the night.

After enjoying breakfast on board as you travel through Victoria’s high country, you’ll have a choice of Off Train Experiences. Discover regional Victoria with options including wine touring and gourmet delights, visits to natural sights and charming towns. Or opt to visit cosmopolitan Melbourne and take in the soaring views from Melbourne Skydeck and a tour of the National Gallery of Victoria or free time to explore the city yourself.

Sit back and savour breakfast on board before arriving into your final destination of Adelaide.

Coffs Harbour Dinner

After crossing from Queensland into northern New South Wales, enjoy a unique dining experience on the beach at the sublime coastal town of Coffs Harbour.

On arrival at Coffs Harbour Station in the early evening, you’ll be met by coaches to transport you to your dinner location just a short drive away. As the sun dips beneath the horizon, enjoy a unique beachside dinner where you’ll feast on local produce and fresh seafood matched with fine wines. After a few leisurely hours, you’ll reboard the train and set off for the night. Tour duration is approximately 3.5 hours.

Hunter Valley Wine Region

Known for superior semillon and shiraz, the Hunter Valley is around 50kms inland from the New South Wales coast. After breakfast on board, you’ll disembark and spend the day visiting cellar doors in Australia’s oldest wine region.

From historic Maitland Station (1880), you’ll take a relaxing coach ride into this fertile valley, home to around 150 wineries ranging from slick big-name producers to small-scale boutique bottlers.

Your day amongst the vines will take you to some of the region’s finest wineries, from stylish and contemporary to marvellously historic, and relaxed and fun. Generous tasting times will allow you to savour the full range of Hunter Valley offerings. In between wine tastings, you’ll also sit down for a lovely long-table lunch.

Suitably wined and dined, you’ll return to the coach to make the leisurely journey to Broadmeadow Station, meeting the Great Southern to continue your journey southwards. Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Port Stephens by Land

Port Stephens’ sun-soaked beaches, dunes and beautiful waterways are essential east coast highlights.

After breakfast on board, the Great Southern pulls into old-time Maitland Station, from where it’s a relaxed one-hour coach ride to Anna Bay, home to the impressive Stockton Sand Dunes.

Soaring to an improbable 30m high and 1km wide in some places, these colossal sand hills are the largest mobile dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. A guided 4WD excursion is the best way to experience the beaches and dunes. After the 4WD tour, you’ll be coached to lunch to savour fresh local produce.

Back on the coach, it’s a short drive back to meet the Great Southern at Broadmeadow Station. Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Port Stephens by Sea

Port Stephens is a natural world stage, encompassing beautiful beaches, stunning sand dunes and clear waterways a true highlight of the east coast.

After breakfast on board, the Great Southern pulls into old-time Maitland Station, from where it’s a relaxed one-hour coach ride to the marina at Nelson Bay, just east of Port Stephens. Here you’ll enjoy a relaxed cruise on the Bay, spotting playful bottlenose dolphins in their glorious natural habitat.

Following a pleasant morning on board the 54ft catamaran, you will be coached to lunch to savour fresh local produce.

Back on the coach, it’s a short drive back to meet the Great Southern at Broadmeadow Station. Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Newcastle Explorer

Newcastle is a city on the rise, where creative energy and heritage architecture collide with surf beaches and a hard-edged industrial legacy. Take a day to discover the many charms of Australia’s third-oldest city.

After breakfast on board, the train will pull into Maitland Station, from where you’ll travel by coach to Queens Wharf on the waterfront in ‘Newy’. There’s enough here to keep you busy all day: an observation tower, marina, ferry dock, cafes, restaurants, pub, brewery… But an easy-going two-hour Newcastle Afoot walking tour will give you a broader sense of the city, finishing with lunch with a view.

In the afternoon, choose between an hour of free time to explore the city or relaxing by the beach.

Back on the coach, you’ll transfer to Broadmeadow Station, where you’ll reboard the Great Southern. Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

As the train leaves Adelaide, take your time to settle in and get familiar with your cabin. Enjoy morning tea and then savour a relaxed lunch on board while watching the ever-changing landscape glide by. In the afternoon, the train will arrive in regional Victoria where you’ll have a chance to experience the spectacular wilderness of the Grampians region. Choose from a range of Off Train Experiences.

Today is yours to spend in Australia’s political and cultural capital, Canberra. After breakfast on board, enjoy a coach ride to Canberra to experience a truly memorable lunch and immersive touring at your pick of cultural institutions, including the National War Memorial and Parliament House, before returning to the train in time for dinner. Enjoy another sumptuous dinner on board before retiring to the lounge for a nightcap.

Enjoy breakfast on board before a relaxed morning taking in the views, walks and beachside markets of Coffs Harbour and surrounds with a choice of experiences. After lunch back on board, sit back and relax for the afternoon as you travel through the stunning scenery of northern New South Wales towards your final destination of Brisbane.

Grampians

View for Miles

After settling into life on the train, it’s time to alight for your first Off Train Experience. Enjoy a guided coach tour through the scenic town of Halls Gap, positioned in the Grampians National Park and a great base from which to explore this spectacular corner of Australia. From Halls Gap, continue to Boroka Lookout to gaze across panoramic vistas over the east of the Grampians and over the town of Halls Gap.

It’s a short five-minute walk to two viewing platforms and from here, you’ll also be able to spot nearby Lake Bellfield.

Take in the breathtaking views in the late afternoon sunlight before returning to the train for a late supper. This experience is ideal for guests who would like a leisurely taste of the Grampians’ beauty and delightful Halls Gap.

Tour duration (including travel time) is approximately 2.5 hours.

 

Grampians

Venus Baths Walk

After a leisurely day on the train and a sumptuous meal, now is the time to stretch your legs. This Off Train Experience takes you into the Grampians town of Halls Gap, where you’ll meet an experienced guide, ready to impart their knowledge of this spectacular region.

From here, set out on the Venus Baths Loop Walk – a relaxed 2.5 kilometre walk that crosses over Stony Creek and immerses walkers in the peace and tranquillity of Mother Nature. Even in the summer months, there is water in the deeper rock pools.

Invigorated from your time in this magnificent landscape, return to the train for a well-deserved late supper.

Tour duration (including travel time) is approximately 2.5 hours.

 

Grampians

Great Western Wine Experience

Having enjoyed a delectable lunch on board the Great Southern, your culinary adventure is set to continue. Disembark at Stawell station and take a 15-minute coach transfer to the beautiful Seppelt Winery.

Seppelt Winery showcases wine from four different wineries across three different Victorian grape-growing regions. This ensures an immersive wine experience, where you’ll enjoy a private wine tasting followed by a historical tour through ‘The Drives’ – the property’s underground tunnels and cellars.

After spending time in Seppelt Winery’s famous Barrel Hall, guests will return to the train for a late supper with a specially branded wine glass as a memento of your experience.

Tour duration (including travel time) is approximately 2.5 hours.

Canberra

Canberra Icons – Parliament House & Politics

Disembarking the train in Yass Junction, you’ll be transferred by coach to Canberra and the nation’s political hotseat – Parliament House. Dining in the Great Hall is quite an experience and you’ll be treated to a lavish lunch before embarking on an extended tour of Parliament House. Get lost in the history, the people and the scandals that make Parliament House a fascinating place to visit.

Learn more about the building’s architecture and arts and the intricacies of working in such a dynamic building. Chances are you’ll leave with a greater appreciation for this cultural icon and historical institute.

Tour duration is approximately 8 hours.

Canberra

Canberra Icons – Lest We Forget

After a sumptuous lunch in the Great Hall of Parliament House, you’ll be transferred to one of the country’s most significant and sacred cultural institutions – the Australian War Memorial. With so many collections and important stories to hear, you’d be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed, but our guide will ensure you make the most of your time here on our private tour.

A sombre experience but also a testament to the sacrifice and resilience of Australia’s men and women who contributed to the war effort. After transferring to Goulburn Station, you’ll re-board the train in time for dinner and to compare the day’s events with your fellow train guests.

Tour duration is approximately 8 hours.

Canberra

Canberra Icons – Historical Brushstrokes

Set yourself up for the day with a delectable lunch in the Great Hall of Parliament House with fellow train guests before setting off for an afternoon of culture. Visiting both Old Parliament House and the National Portrait Gallery, you’ll experience two of Canberra’s premier cultural institutions.

Step back in time to when this heritage-listed building was Australia’s seat of democracy and learn about some of the major events to take place including Australia’s declaration of war on Japan and Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s dismissal. At the National Portrait Gallery, be captivated by the talent that has captured some of Australia’s most prominent leaders, celebrities and historical figures in portrait. After an action-packed day, you’ll transfer back to Goulbourn Station ready to board the train for dinner.

Tour duration is approximately 8 hours.

Greater Melbourne

Melbourne Explorer

Get to know Melbourne city like a local with a 90-minute guided laneway walking tour, taking in the impressive street art and the stories behind it. Finish the tour on the banks of the Yarra River at Melbourne Skydeck – the Southern Hemisphere’s highest public observation tower.

From here, you’ll have panoramic views of Melbourne and beyond, including the Melbourne Cricket Ground, historic Flinders Street Station and Port Phillip Bay. Your visit culminates in lunch at Eureka 89, where you’ll enjoy a sumptuous meal featuring seasonal produce, accompanied by wine from around the state.

Board the coach with a full belly for the 1.5 hour transfer to Inverleigh Station, where you’ll re-board the Great Southern to continue your journey south.

Tour duration (including travel time) is approximately 7 hours.

Greater Melbourne

MCG Tour

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is not only an iconic sporting institution, but also an impressive landmark solidified in Melbourne’s skyline. On this Off Train Experience, guests will take a tour of the MCG with the insight and knowledge of a Melbourne Cricket Club member. Be regaled with the highs and lows of sporting history and take away some useful trivia for your next quiz night.

Having worked up an appetite, transfer to Eureka 89 for lunch. Eureka 89 is within Eureka Tower on Melbourne’s Southbank, which is also home to the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest public observation deck. Here, you’ll dine on a crafted menu showcasing local and seasonal produce while taking in the views of Melbourne and beyond. After lunch, you’ll make your way back to the train to continue your journey south.

Tour duration (including tour time) is approximately 7 hours.

Greater Melbourne

Old Melbourne Gaol

Head to the Old Melbourne Gaol, which from 1842 until is closure in 1929 was the scene of 133 hangings, including Australia’s most infamous citizen, Bushranger Ned Kelly. Enjoy a private tour through the building and cells, seeing firsthand what life was like for all those men and women who lived and died here so many years ago.

Having worked up an appetite, transfer to Eureka 89 for lunch. Eureka 89 is within Eureka Tower on Melbourne’s Southbank, which is also home to the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest public observation deck. Here, you’ll dine on a crafted menu showcasing local and seasonal produce while taking in the views of Melbourne and beyond. After lunch, you’ll make your way back to the train to continue your Journey South.

Tour duration (including travel time) is approximately 7 hours.

Greater Melbourne

Moorabool Valley

Victoria is well-known for its excellent food and wine scene and this is certainly on display at Clyde Park in the Moorabool Valley. A little over an hour from Melbourne, Clyde Park is a beautiful vineyard, cellar door and bistro set among rolling hills. Here, you’ll enjoy a sumptuous lunch and cool climate wines while being entertained on the glorious lawns.

A short 15 minute coach ride back to Inverleigh Station will see you rejoin with fellow guests, boarding the train in time for a delectable dinner while en-route to Adelaide.

Tour duration (including travel time) is approximately 5 Hours.