Travelling across the Australian outback has never been easier with luxury train company Journey Beyond Rail offering 4 different routes spanning one end of Australia to the other. These 4 routes are serviced by 4 luxury train services called The Ghan, Indian Pacific, Great Southern and The Overland.
The Indian Pacific is the most popular route as it serves from the western end of the Australian continent of Perth, Western Australia all the way to the Eastern end ending in Sydney, New South Wales, vice versa. The other three routes also serve end to end from other cities around the continent. Most of these routes start and end in major cities with stops in between in more rural and outback areas of the Australian continent.
The Indian Pacific train is made up of 2 locomotives and 35 passenger cars spanning a length of 878m, it is often a sight to behold, watching the entirety of the train when it makes a bend in the track.
The Route
The full route onboard the Indian Pacific takes 5 days and 4 nights for it’s longest itinerary from Perth to Sydney via Adelaide. However the return journey from Sydney to Perth only takes 4 days and 3 nights. Along the way across the outback, the Indian Pacific stops at these destinations:
- Perth, Western Australia (Departure Point)
- Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
- Cook, South Australia
- Barossa Valley, South Australia
- Adelaide, South Australia
- Broken Hill, New South Wales
- Blue Mountains, New South Wales
- Sydney, New South Wales (Arrival Point)
This itinerary starts from $2890AUD ($2548.40 SGD) per person for the June-July period in a Gold Single cabin category.
It is important to note that the 4D 3N journey from Sydney to Perth is shorter due to the mix up in stops and offered excursions from the first leg. This itinerary looks like this:
- Sydney, New South Wales (Departure Point)
- Broken Hill, New South Wales
- McLaren Vale Hahndorf, South Australia
- Adelaide, South Australia
- Cook, South Australia
- Rawlinna, Western Australia
- Perth, Western Australia (Arrival Point)
This itinerary starts from $2,430AUD ($2142.77SGD) per person for the June – July period in a Gold Single cabin category.
Accommodation Onboard
Gold Class
Gold Class is the lowest class of travel onboard the Indian Express which includes the following:
- For Gold Twin, a comfortable sleeper cabin featuring private en suite and upper and lower berths that convert to a three-seater lounge by day
- For Gold Single, a compact sleeper cabin featuring a bed that converts to a seat by day and shared shower/toilet facilities located at the end of the carriage
- Power outlets in cabin
- In-cabin music channels and journey audio commentary available
- All-inclusive dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant
- All-inclusive Australian wines, beers, base spirits and non-alcoholic beverages
- All-inclusive Off Train Experiences
- Luggage allowance is 60kg per guest
Gold Suite Provides additional features in your cabin such as:
- Gold Suite cabins feature a ¾ size double bed plus an additional fold down upper berth, lounge area, TV and DVD player, mini-bar and en suite.
Gold Class also has accessible cabins for those who require this option.
Gold Premium Class
Gold Premium Class is the newest class to be introduced and is a step between Gold Class and Premium Class. This newly designed contemporary cabin boasts modern luxury in this day and age of rail travel. Slowly being introduced across the fleet of trains, Gold premium Class will make its debut on the Indian Pacific starting in the 2025 season. Gold Premium inlcudes:
Everything included in Gold Class and:
- Newly designed, contemporary cabins
- Premium amenities, luxuriously soft linen and satin eye masks
- Exclusive access to the Gold Premium Lounge and Gold Premium Dining carriage
- Two-course, regionally inspired lunches and four-course dinners
- Preferences on tour selections
- 75kg checked luggage allowance per guest (3 x 25 kg each)
- Priority luggage check-in
Gold Premium Class also has the option of Gold Premium Twin Cabin and Gold Premium Suite. Gold Premium Suite provides additional features:
- A newly designed, contemporary cabin with a three-quarter-size double bed, fold-down upper berth and lounge area
Platinum Class
Indulge in the finer things in life when choosing this class onboard your multi-day itinerary. Premium class passengers includes:
Everything included in Gold Premium Class and:
- Spacious double or twin cabin, almost double the size of a Gold Premium Twin Cabin or Gold Twin Cabin.
- All-inclusive dining experiences, beverages and off-train experiences.
- By day, the cabin is set up in a lounge style with a moveable table and two ottomans
- By night, the cabin converts the ottomans into a double or twin beds.
- En-suite with separate shower, vanity with cupboard space, and toilet.
- Panoramic windows offering views from both sides of the train.
- Access to the exclusive Platinum club for dining and socialising.
- Freshly prepared continental breakfasts served upon request in-cabin
- Refreshments served in Cabin
- 90 kg checked luggage allowance per guest (3 x 30 kg each)
Itineraries are now out for 2024 and through to 2025. If this interests you, you should definitely check out the other lines traversing the Australian continent. Journey Beyond Rail offers a great mix of cultural experience, luxury, and wining & dining. A worthwhile experience for you to travel and experience something more out of the ordinary on your next trip to the land down under!
