Australia Has A Brand New Luxury Rail Route From Adelaide To Brisbane

Long, transcontinental train rides in Australia tend to be a bit of a punish. After all, why would you sit on an uncomfortable train all day, when you could zip from state to state via plane in a few hours? But thanks to Australia’s new luxury “slow train”, we might just be convinced to take the scenic route.

[related_articles]67622,58895,66935[/related_articles]

In December, the Great Southern Rail will start taking bookings for an epic new multi-day rail journey from Brisbane and Adelaide, with plenty of “experiential stops” along the way. A far cry from those rigid seats and questionable pre-packaged sandwiches, the luxury rail route offers private suites, comfortable beds and world-class food and wine.

The Great Southern Train is, as the old saying goes, less about the destination and more about the journey itself. The two-night, three-day route from Adelaide to Brisbane features opportunities to step off the train to experience the spectacular Grampians National Park, the nation’s capital Canberra and the idyllic northern New South Wales coast.

The four-day southbound journey includes a memorable beachside dining experience in northern NSW, an immersive day in the Hunter Valley and Newcastle region and visit to Victoria’s iconic Twelve Apostles.

Consisting of 28 carriages and two locomotives, the train itself is pretty special to look at. It’s adorned in a “sunset-inspired burnt orange, reflective of summer and Australian beaches,” says Chris Tallent, chief executive of Journey Beyond.

Unsurprisingly, this isn’t just a “tap of the Opal card” type situation. Fares start from $1649 per person for Gold Single accommodation, $1829 per person for Gold Twin and $3899 per person for Platinum – but all food and drinks for your journey are included in that price.

Bookings are open now, with the Great Southern Train’s travel season running through to 27 January 2020. You can learn more here.

(Lead image: Great Southern Rail / supplied)