Kangaroo Island & Indian Pacific Sydney Rail Vacation

Day 1 Sydney | Arrival Welcome to Sydney! Upon arrival you’ll be transferred to your hotel in the heart of downtown, set within walking distance to major attractions like the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour and the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Day 2 Sydney | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 7 Excursions Personalize your stay in Sydney by choosing one of the following carefully selected excursions, each offering a different way to experience this spectacular harbour city and its surrounding landscapes. Option 1. Panoramic Sydney & Bondi Beach Tour with Harbour Lunch Cruise Discover Sydney’s iconic highlights on a stylish tour taking in The Rocks, Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Bondi Beach, Watsons Bay and the Eastern Suburbs. Afterwards, enjoy a relaxing harbour lunch cruise with views of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, making this a wonderful way to experience both the city and the water. Option 2. Blue Mountains Full Day Tour Venture beyond the city to the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, where dramatic valleys, waterfalls and sweeping lookouts create one of New South Wales’ most memorable landscapes. With visits to key viewpoints, a two-course lunch at the Hydro Majestic and time at Mt Tomah Botanic Garden, this is an excellent choice for nature lovers. Option 3. Northern Wilderness & Coastal Beach Adventure Explore Sydney’s spectacular north on a full-day journey through Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and the Northern Beaches. With Aboriginal rock engravings, beautiful coastal lookouts, seaside lunch and time in Manly and Shelley Beach, this excursion combines bushland, beaches and local character in one memorable day. Option 4. Hunter Valley Full Day Wine Tour Escape Sydney for a day in the Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine region, where boutique cellar doors and vineyard scenery set the tone for a relaxed gourmet experience. Private tastings, a cheese tasting and a light café lunch with wine make this a rewarding choice for food and wine lovers. Option 5. Sydney Harbour Bridge Summit Climb Take on one of Sydney’s most iconic experiences with a guided climb to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. From the top, sweeping 360-degree views across the Opera House, harbour and city skyline make this an exhilarating and unforgettable way to see Sydney. Option 6. Iconic Wildlife, Waterfalls & Wine Enjoy a wonderfully varied day south of Sydney, combining native wildlife, coastal scenery and boutique wine tasting. From koalas and kangaroos to the Sea Cliff Bridge, a waterfall walk and the Southern Highlands, this excursion showcases a beautiful mix of Australian landscapes and experiences. Option 7. Personalized Tailor-Made Excursion For a more tailored experience, speak with one of our local specialists to design a day in Sydney around your interests. Options may include guided walks, food tours, scenic bike rides, the Coogee to Bondi coastal walk or a behind-the-scenes Sydney Opera House experience.

Day 3 Sydney to Melbourne | XPT Intercity Train | First Class Cabin Today, travel south aboard the scheduled NSW TrainLink XPT service, a classic long-distance rail journey linking two of Australia’s great cities. Departing Sydney Central Station, the train passes through the city’s outer suburbs before the scenery softens into bushland, sandstone cuttings and the rolling green hills of the Southern Highlands. From the comfort of your First Class cabin, wide windows reveal an ever-changing landscape of open farmland, grazing country, gum trees and quiet regional towns. As the journey continues, the scenery broadens into the expansive plains of the Riverina before crossing into Victoria, where rural paddocks, distant hills and country stations create a relaxed and distinctly Australian backdrop on the approach to Melbourne.

Day 4 Melbourne | Freedom of Choice - Choose 1 of 7 Excursions Personalize your stay in Melbourne by choosing one of the following carefully selected excursions, each offering a different way to experience this vibrant city and the remarkable regions that surround it. Option 1. Great Ocean Road Day Tour Travel the spectacular Great Ocean Road on a full-day journey showcasing some of Victoria’s most dramatic coastal scenery. With wildlife spotting, rainforest walks, seaside towns and the iconic Twelve Apostles and Loch Ard Gorge, this is one of Australia’s classic touring experiences. Option 2. Phillip Island, Moonlit Sanctuary & Penguins Plus Discover Phillip Island on a memorable afternoon and evening excursion featuring native wildlife, coastal scenery and the famous Penguin Parade. From Moonlit Sanctuary to the Nobbies coastline, the day builds towards the magical moment when little penguins emerge from the sea at dusk. Option 3. Melbourne Lanes & Arcades Walking Tour Step into the heart of Melbourne on a guided walk through its celebrated laneways and heritage arcades. With stories of the city’s history, street art, boutique shops, cafés, chocolate and coffee along the way, this is a wonderful introduction to Melbourne’s creative soul. Option 4. Melbourne Café Culture Walking Tour Immerse yourself in Melbourne’s famed coffee scene on a leisurely walk through hidden laneways and local favorites. Along the way, enjoy coffee, tea, chocolate and sweet treats while discovering the story behind one of the city’s most beloved cultural traditions. Option 5. Yarra Valley Wine & Cheese Experience Escape to the Yarra Valley for a gourmet day of sparkling wine, regional produce and vineyard scenery. With tastings at Chandon and De Bortoli, a leisurely lunch at Soumah and beautiful views throughout, this is a refined and delicious taste of regional Victoria. Option 6. Mornington Peninsula Wine & Lunch Tour Discover the Mornington Peninsula on a full-day gourmet journey through one of Victoria’s most beautiful maritime wine regions. Premium tastings, a two-course lunch, sculpture walk, bay views and a scenic return via Arthur’s Seat make this a relaxed and rewarding day out. Option 7. Personalized Tailor-Made Excursion For a more tailored experience, speak with one of our local specialists to create a day in Melbourne around your interests. Possibilities include laneway walks, foodie tours, sunrise ballooning, Puffing Billy steam train journeys or a relaxing Yarra River cruise.

Day 5 Day at Leisure in Melbourne Today is free to discover Melbourne in your own style. Perhaps spend the day exploring the city’s celebrated laneways and arcades, where heritage architecture, independent boutiques, coffee culture and ever-changing street art give the city its distinctive personality. You may wish to browse the elegant Royal Arcade and Block Arcade, wander through Degraves Street and Hosier Lane, or make your way to Federation Square and Southbank for river views, galleries, bars and restaurants along the Yarra. Cosmopolitan, creative and wonderfully easy to explore, Melbourne is the perfect city for a relaxed day at leisure.

Day 6 Melbourne to Adelaide | The Overland Train | Red Premium Class This morning, board The Overland at Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station and settle into Red Premium, where extra legroom, in-seat dining and attentive hospitality make this classic interstate rail journey feel relaxed from the outset. Soon after departure, the train curves out through Geelong and into the broad farming country of western Victoria, with ever-changing views of open paddocks, regional townships and distant glimpses towards the Grampians. Crossing into South Australia, the landscapes shift once more to mallee scrub, Murray River country and the picturesque Adelaide Hills before arriving into Adelaide in the early evening, bringing this charming daylight rail journey to a memorable close. (Breakfast, lunch & afternoon tea are included today.)

Day 7 Adelaide to Kangaroo Island | Coach Transfer, Ferry & Touring Early this morning, depart Adelaide on a scenic coach journey south to Cape Jervis, where you board the SeaLink ferry for the 45-minute crossing to Kangaroo Island. On arrival in Penneshaw, meet your local guide and begin a nature-focused exploration of the island’s diverse habitats and remarkable wildlife. At Seal Bay Conservation Park, enjoy a memorable guided walk along the beach among a colony of endangered Australian sea lions, observing these extraordinary creatures from a respectful distance in their natural environment. Later, enjoy a picnic-style lunch before continuing through the island’s interior, keeping watch for koalas, echidnas and abundant birdlife. As the day draws to a close, see kangaroos emerge from the bush to graze on the open pastures before arriving at your accommodation for an overnight stay on Kangaroo Island. (Morning or afternoon tea & lunch are included today.)

Day 8 Kangaroo Island to Adelaide | Touring, Ferry & Coach Transfer After breakfast, travel to the western end of the island to explore the spectacular landscapes of Flinders Chase National Park, home to some of Kangaroo Island’s most iconic natural attractions. Visit Admirals Arch, where the forces of the Southern Ocean have carved a dramatic rock formation into the headland, and watch for long-nosed fur seals at Cape du Couedic. Continue to Remarkable Rocks, where immense granite boulders stand balanced above the sea, then pause for a picnic-style lunch in a scenic location. This afternoon, search for kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and native birdlife as you continue through some of the island’s most beautiful coastal scenery and beaches. Later, return to Penneshaw in time for the ferry crossing back to the mainland, followed by your coach transfer to Adelaide. (Breakfast, morning or afternoon tea & lunch are included today.)

Day 9 Adelaide | Departure on board the Indian Pacific Train Your journey begins in Adelaide with an exclusive evening in the Barossa Valley, setting a wonderfully indulgent tone for the days ahead. Spend the evening at historic Seppeltsfield Estate, where fine wine, regional flavours and a memorable dining experience come together in one of South Australia’s best-known wine regions. Later, board the Indian Pacific at Adelaide Parklands Terminal, settle into your cabin and relax into the elegant rhythm of life on board as the train departs eastbound. (Dinner is included today.)

Day 10 Broken Hill | On board the Indian Pacific Train Wake this morning in Broken Hill, the legendary Silver City, where a choice of off-train experiences reveals the outback character, mining heritage and creative spirit of this remarkable town. Depending on your interests, you may delve into the region’s mining past, venture underground, discover local art or enjoy a food-focused experience highlighting native ingredients and regional flavours. Back on board, continue through the changing landscapes of regional New South Wales and spend the evening enjoying your final dinner on the Indian Pacific. (Breakfast, lunch & dinner are included today.)

Day 11 Blue Mountains to Sydney | On board the Indian Pacific Train Your final day begins in the majestic Blue Mountains, where soaring sandstone escarpments, forested valleys and sweeping views create one of New South Wales’ most memorable landscapes. After breakfast, step off the train for your off-train experience and choose how you would like to explore this World Heritage-listed region, from Scenic World adventures and guided walks to high tea overlooking the mountains. Later, continue into Sydney on Journey Beyond’s chartered New South Wales rail service, arriving in the harbour city and bringing your Indian Pacific journey to a memorable close. (Breakfast & lunch are included today.)

Day 12 Sydney | Departure The time has come to say goodbye to Sydney, Australia. We have included a transfer to the airport from your hotel to begin your journey home.