There’s two nights on the mighty Indian Pacific train, a steam ride in The Yarra Valley, a scenic rainforest journey and an opportunity to ride the world’s steepest scenic track into the Blue Mountains.
Two locomotives haul 30 carriages on the Indian Pacific, its full journey of 2,704 miles between Perth and Sydney takes 65 hours.
Guests embark in Perth and spend two nights on the transcontinental train in twin ‘gold’ cabins which have large windows and are set up as a lounge with a comfortable sofa during the day, then reconfigured as upper and lower berths at night. Meals are served in an elegant restaurant and there’s an all-inclusive licensed bar.
On arrival in Adelaide, the ‘city of churches’, there’s a two-night stay and a tour taking in St Peter’s Cathedral and the botanic gardens.
The tour then takes to the Great Ocean Road for a spectacular trip by air-conditioned coach past sweeping beaches and limestone cliffs, including the sea-stacks of the Twelve Apostles.
Melbourne is the base for an excursion to The Yarra Valley and Australia’s oldest narrow-gauge steam train, Puffing Billy, chugging through the Dandenong Ranges, as well as visits to the Shrine of Remembrance and Captain Cook’s modest cottage, which Sir Russell Grimwade had brought brick by brick from Yorkshire in 1934.
Next is a flight to Sydney for a three-night break and a tour taking in the Opera house, Harbour, Bridge and Bondi Beach.
Cairns is the last city on the itinerary offering a chance to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef and a final train journey covering Queensland’s tropical rainforest, the picturesque mountain village of Kuranda and Australia’s largest walk-through butterfly sanctuary. All accommodation is in four-star hotels.
Eighteen nights (including two onboard the aircraft) from £5,599 per person, departing Heathrow with Qantas on April 30 or November 5, 2020.
Price includes VIP door-to-door chauffeur service, return flights, airport taxes, four-star hotel accommodation, 20 meals, porterage, tour manager, optional travel insurance and additional cancellation rights, or a discount if passenger has own insurance.
