Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and a full morning in Sydney before departing on your cross-country adventure.
This afternoon, your train journey from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean begins. Make your own way to Sydney Central Station, stow your luggage and board your Gold Service cabin from 12.30pm, ready for a 2.20pm departure. As the Indian Pacific sets off, wind past the Blue Mountains and take in its picturesque views.
After settling in, savour your first dinner of modern-Australian fare paired with select fine wine and drinks. After dinner, you may choose to join your fellow travellers for a nightcap in the lounge car or return to your cabin for a restful night’s sleep.
Indian Pacific rail journey
Begin your day in the frontier mining town of Broken Hill, where you can choose your own adventure. Choose to visit the heritage Trades Hall and the towering Miners Memorial to learn about the dangerous business of mining, walk through the sandstone artworks set among the flora and fauna sanctuary of the Living Desert, admire the city’s art collection at the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, join a tour of the town’s main drag with drag queen sensation Shelita Buffet or take a nostalgic trip to the 1950s at Bells Milk Bar.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience (included in fare):
Broken Hill:
- United We Stand and Miners Memorial: In the heart of Broken Hill, the Trades Hall stands as a testament to the city’s labour movement, where the fight for safer working conditions and the 35-hour work week began under the banner “United We Stand”. A live performance by local actors vividly brings the early mining struggles to life. Overlooking the town is the Miners Memorial, a stark and poignant tribute to the more than 800 miners who lost their lives in the depths below. The 54m structure, perched on the Line of Lode, offers not only a sombre reminder of the past but also panoramic views of the surrounding outback. Recommended Fitness Level: Low mobility – coach tour with short walks required. No wheelchair access.
- Living Desert (Available: October – March): On the rugged western edge of New South Wales, Broken Hill’s creative spirit is etched into the landscape at the Living Desert Sculpture site. Perched atop a hill within a 180-hectare reserve, twelve monumental sandstone sculptures tell stories that echo through the vastness of the outback. This self-guided walk offers an artistic journey, with the added benefit of sweeping vistas of the remote, red-dust plains – a perfect spot to capture the stark beauty of the desert and its artistic soul. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate mobility – includes a short approx. 1km walk on sealed pathway and some rocky ground.
- The Regional Art Gallery: The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, New South Wales’ oldest, is housed in a historic emporium that once served the local Sully and Sweetapple families. Today, it showcases a rich tapestry of Australian art, from colonial masters like James Coutts Michie to contemporary icons like Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri. The gallery’s permanent collection is a journey through the nation’s artistic heritage while rotating exhibitions bring in fresh perspectives. Wander through this cultural treasure and immerse yourself in the vibrant history and creativity that define Broken Hill. Recommended Fitness Level: Low mobility – short walks are required to view artwork throughout the Gallery.
- Main Drag Walking Tour with Shelita Buffet: Broken Hill’s fame was cemented in pop culture by ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’, and now you can relive that fabulous flair on a walking tour with local drag queen sensation Shelita Buffet. This isn’t your typical town tour; Shelita blends humour with history as she guides you past iconic buildings, mining relics, and quirky art installations. From the Palace Hotel to the Giant Ant Sculpture, Shelita’s charismatic storytelling brings the city’s eclectic mix of past and present to life, making it a walk to remember. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate mobility – walking tour of approx. 2km.
- Bells Milk Bar: Step into a time capsule at Bells Milk Bar, a beloved Broken Hill institution where the 1950s never ended. This retro milk bar, one of Australia’s last, has been serving up frothy milkshakes and fizzy sodas since the late 1930s. Whether you fancy a vanilla malt or an organic espresso, the nostalgic atmosphere is just as sweet as the drinks. Enjoy a performance by Cindy and Johnny, who will take you back to the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll before you return to the present-day comforts of the Indian Pacific. Recommended Fitness Level: Low mobility – Coach with short walks at Bells.
Rejoin your train and enjoy lunch on the Indian Pacific as you pass by the spectacular Flinders Ranges.
This afternoon, you’ll arrive in Adelaide and have another opportunity to take your pick of activities. Discover the natural history catalogued in the South Australian Museum or see and sample the wares of Adelaide Central Markets after dark. You might also choose to head out of town to either McLaren Vale or the Barossa Valley to sip on South Australia’s regional wines, or take a trip to the gorgeous Adelaide Hills and enjoy culinary delights in Hahndorf.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience (included in fare):
Adelaide:
- Hahndorf – Cheese: Hahndorf, a charming village founded by German settlers in the Adelaide Hills, is now a hub for food lovers. Begin with a cheese flight paired with Grunthal Cider, learning about the history of local producers like Udder Delights. After indulging in these regional flavours, head to The Haus, a restaurant that blends Bavarian tradition with local produce. Enjoy a lively evening of entertainment and a hearty, German-inspired meal before returning to the Indian Pacific. Recommend Fitness Level: Low mobility – coach tour with short walks required throughout.
- Hahndorf – Gin: In the picturesque village of Hahndorf, delve into the world of craft gin at Ambleside Distillers. With an emphasis on locally sourced botanicals from the Adelaide Hills, this guided tasting offers a deep dive into the region’s unique flavours. Following your gin experience, enjoy a Bavarian-inspired dinner at The Haus, where local produce takes centre stage, accompanied by spirited entertainment. Recommended Fitness Level: Low mobility – coach tour with short walks required throughout.
- The South Australian Museum: Discover the wonders of the South Australian Museum, one of the country’s most visited cultural institutions. Your exclusive tour covers everything from the vibrant fossil heritage of the Nullarbor Plain to the museum’s vast collection of opals, meteorites, and ancient sea monster fossils. The tour also includes a look at the world’s most significant collection of Australian Aboriginal cultural artifacts. Cap off your visit with drinks and a gourmet dinner hosted by one of Adelaide’s top scientists, making for an enlightening and memorable evening. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate mobility – short walks required through the exhibits.
- Central Markets After Dark: Experience the vibrant heart of Adelaide at the Central Markets, a culinary hub that has been delighting food lovers for over 140 years. As you explore the market’s colourful aisles, sample a variety of South Australia’s finest produce, from artisanal cheeses to freshly picked truffles. The tour culminates in an exclusive after-hours dining experience, featuring a gourmet wine and cheese pairing, a sumptuous main course, dessert, and freshly brewed coffee, offering a true taste of the region’s rich culinary heritage. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate mobility – a walking tour through the Market aisles and stalls.
- Barossa Valley: Enjoy a scenic coach ride to one of the world’s premier wine regions, where cool summers and rainy winters are perfectly suited to red wine production, with Shiraz and richly flavoured Cabernet the stand-outs. Enjoy an interactive tour of the Jam Factory and the amazing Vasse Virgin at Seppeltsfield Winery before joining an immersive wine and food pairing and sitting down to a sumptuous dinner. Optional Upgrade (surcharges apply): At Seppeltsfield Wines, enjoy the rare opportunity to try your own birth year vintage Tawny direct from the barrel. Please advise your Hospitality Attendant who will make the arrangements and advise you of the cost. Recommended Fitness Level: Low – a coach tour with short walks at Seppeltsfield. Optional upgrade includes set of stairs. This experience is not wheelchair accessible.
- Maclaren Vale Winery Experience: A prolific wine growing region set along 30 kilometres of stunning coastline and ridges, McLaren Vale today brings you a cellar door experience at Coriole Vineyards, founded in 1967 and featuring Shiraz vines planted immediately after the end of the First World War. Sample reserve wines while taking in the lush vistas, accompanied by Coriole’s own olives and a selection of Woodside artisan cow and goat’s milk cheeses. Then head to the Star of Greece restaurant for amazing views of Gulf St Vincent and a meal accompanied by signature McLaren Vale wines. Recommended Fitness Level: Low – coach tour with short walks required.
Please Note: Luxury Escapes will confirm Off-Train Experience preferences by email after booking. Off-Train Experiences are reviewed yearly and subject to change. Optional upgrades will be available to purchase closer to time of travel.
Indian Pacific rail journey
Awake to the sunrise stretching across the Nullarbor Plain, the arid country stretching across South Australia’s coast.
Stop off at the once-thriving community of Cook to catch a glimpse of pioneer times. This township was built to help maintain Australia’s (and the world’s) longest single stretch of train tracks, but today the population size has dwindled to a single digit.
Your Off-Train Experience (included in fare):
- Cook: Deep in the heart of South Australia’s vast interior, the ghost town of Cook stands as a haunting relic of Australia’s pioneering past. Established in 1917 as a vital railway support town, Cook once bustled with activity, maintaining the tracks that linked the nation. As you explore this remote, time-worn settlement, you’ll get a rare and slightly eerie glimpse into a forgotten chapter of Australia’s history.
In the evening, travel further west to visit the remote town of Rawlinna, home to tens of thousands of sheep. Don’t forget to turn your attention to the sky and take in the glittering blanket of stars over the outback before returning to the train for the evening.
Your Off-Train Experience (included in fare):
- Outback Experience at Rawlinna: On the edge of Australia’s largest sheep stations lies Rawlinna, an outpost deep in the Nullarbor Plain that epitomizes the rugged spirit of jackaroo country. With up to 80,000 sheep spread across 2.5 million acres, this remote station is so vast that it takes eight hours to muster just one paddock by plane. During the winter months, disembark for an evening of drinks and canapes around a bonfire beneath the expansive Nullarbor skies. In the warmer months, the experience is elevated with a memorable outback dinner under the stars, offering a true taste of the Australian outback.
Please Note: Luxury Escapes will confirm Off-Train Experience preferences by email after booking. Off-Train Experiences are reviewed yearly and subject to change. Optional upgrades will be available to purchase closer to time of travel.
Indian Pacific rail journey
Breakfast is served as you venture past the Avon Valley on your way to Perth. Savour a farewell lunch aboard the Indian Pacific before the railway leg of your journey comes to an end upon your 1pm arrival.
Meet your Luxury Escapes guide as you’re transferred to accommodation at the stylish QT Perth. Check in around 3pm and take time this afternoon to freshen up. Then, join your guide in the hotel lobby and head off for a delicious dinner to kick-start your Western Australia adventure before turning in for the evening.
Begin the day with breakfast at your hotel before travelling to the port city of Freemantle for guided touring. Here, you’ll have ample time to explore. Head to the Freemantle Markets, South Terrace (better known as ‘Cappuccino Strip’ due to its large number of coffee shops and restaurants) and the historic West End, home to some of Australia’s best-preserved gold-rush era heritage buildings.
Get a glimpse into local life at Cottesloe Beach, where you can walk on sun-kissed sands accompanied by views of the sparkling ocean. Then stop for a stroll around Kings Park, one of the world’s largest inner city parks. Here, visit the Western Australian Botanic Garden, an area overlooking the city skyline and home to over 3,000 species of native flora.
End the day at your own leisure. You may like to indulge in a two-course set menu dinner at C Restaurant in the Sky, a revolving dining room serving upscale modern Australian fare with a side of spectacular city views (surcharges apply).
This morning, catch a ferry to Rottnest Island, just off the coast of Perth. This paradise is famous for its crystalline waters, diverse marine life, and 10,000 adorable inhabitants. Quokkas, dubbed the world’s happiest animals for their cheery-looking smiles, have made the island their home alongside a colony of New Zealand fur seals.
Take the opportunity to swim, snorkel, or simply while away the hours on the sand – though more active travellers may wish to hire bikes to explore this car-free island (surcharges apply).
Following your scenic return ferry to Perth, stop for a casual dinner at The Island at Elizabeth Quay, a harbourside restaurant and microbrewery serving seasonal Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare.
Travel time: Ferry – approx. three hours
After breakfast, begin the journey south toward Margaret River, renowned for its world-class wineries, surf breaks and rugged coastal beauty.
Your first stop today is Busselton. Here lies the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere, stretching 1.8 kilometres into the turquoise Geographe Bay. Take the time to walk along the jetty, relax on the sand or perhaps enjoy a coffee at one of the bayside cafes. Soak up the coastal serenity before stopping at the Wise Wines cellar door for lunch and a wine tasting.
Check in at your luxurious accommodation this afternoon, the Pullman Bunker Bay Resort, set beside crystal-clear waters. Later this evening, sit down with your fellow travellers for a meal at the aptly named Other Side of the Moon restaurant, the perfect spot to watch the moon set across the ocean.
Travel time: Driving – approx. 3.5 hours
Kick-start your morning with breakfast before driving to Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse for insight into the area’s maritime history. This small lighthouse has stood for over a century, once manned by a lightkeeper, prior to electricity. Climb its 59 steps to the top and look out over the Indian Ocean, the Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park and the bay.
Continue south toward Margaret River, where you’ll have ample time to explore. Enjoy lunch among the vineyards of Leeuwin Estate, where you’ll indulge in a gourmet four-course meal, with the option to add their accompanying wine pairings (from A$45 per person). You’ll also partake in an included wine tasting, savouring the nuances of each drop.
In the afternoon, take in views of the river mouth at Surfers Point, famous for its world surfing championship. Then, indulge in more included tastings at another vineyard or two. This evening, watch the sunset at Meelup Beach while indulging in a dinner of local charcuterie and produce, before returning to your hotel.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Wave goodbye to Bunker Bay this morning as you depart for Ngilgi Cave. Head underground for a semi-guided tour of the cave, decorated in stalagmites, stalactites, crystals and columns formed over thousands of years. Above ground, learn of the importance of the structure to the Wardandi People and follow a winding path through native bushland, taking in the vibrant flora and fauna in the area.
Your last stop is the bustling Origin Market, where local farmers, artisans and winemakers share their fare. Indulge in some last-minute shopping and perhaps take home a souvenir. Then continue back to Perth, where your magnificent journey comes to an end around 5pm.
Travel time: Driving – approx. three hours
Departure & Transfers
Checkout on your final day is at 11am. Your transfer back to Perth arrives at approximately 5pm, with drop-off in either the CBD or at Perth Airport (PER). Please book your flights to depart from Perth Airport (PER) after 7.30pm.