Four of the best Aussie railway journeys

28 Feb 2017

If comfort, beauty and affordability are what you’re after, you can’t go past an authentic Australian rail holiday. Here are four of the best from across the country. 

The Ghan

This breathtaking journey between Adelaide and Darwin takes three or four days – depending on which direction you go – with a break in Katherine and Alice Springs. Its name is said to be inspired by the Afghan camel drivers who came to this great country to forge a path to the desert in the 1800s. 

Nothing beats watching Adelaide’s gorgeous green countryside give way to the dusty Red Centre before disembarking in the lush tropics of Darwin – or the other way round. Whether you choose the luxury of a private sleeper cabin (which includes a daily continental breakfast) or a convertible day/night sleeper, this iconic journey offers panoramic views of the best of Australia. 

Kuranda Scenic Railway

This stunning journey takes you through the magnificent rainforest of tropical north Queensland. Beginning in Cairns, the line travels through Barron Gorge National Park to drop passengers off at Kuranda – a tourist attraction in itself. Kuranda railway station sits amid a tropical garden and was designed in the style of a Swiss chalet.

Clocking in at just under two hours, this journey takes passengers through World Heritage-listed tropical rainforest, a number of jaw-dropping waterfalls and the world-famous Barron Falls lookout. 

Indian Pacific

Stretching over four days, this route takes passengers from the Pacific Ocean in Sydney to the Indian Ocean in Perth. It was the first cross-continental train line built in Australia, and includes the world’s longest stretch of railway track (at 478 kilometres).

The route leaves Sydney and snakes through Broken Hill before crossing into South Australia and stopping in Adelaide. From here it continues west through the famous Nullarbor Plain before stopping in Kalgoorlie and Perth. Your jaw will drop as you watch the landscape change from quiet countryside to arid desert in a matter of hours.

You can choose between a private cabin or reclinable seat, and can even hop on or off in Adelaide if you prefer a shorter journey. 

The Overland

This route is the perfect one-day journey between two of Australia’s most vibrant capitals – Melbourne and Adelaide. The train itself is steeped in history. It started out in 1887 as an overnight luxury passenger train with sleeper cabins and a dining car. After WWII, it became the first train in the world to offer private showers to its passengers.

In the 1950s the steam engines were switched to diesel and The Overland as we know it today was born. A twice-weekly day service offers passengers a comfortable ride, top-notch food service, and the chance to watch two of Australia’s loveliest city-scapes give way to rolling hills, golden fields, and ruddy scrubland.