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Great Southern Train from Adelaide to Brisbane

Home > Brisbane > Escape the City | Seniors | Tours | Trains | Travel
by Nadine Cresswell-Myatt (subscribe)
Freelance writer exploring Melbourne and beyond. If you enjoy the following article click on the Like button, Facebook it to your friends or subscribe. I'll update you with yummy and often free events. Like my photos? I instagram @redbagwilltravel
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Step aboard Australia's newest rail experience
Great Southern Train Trip
Source: Great Southern


I am a train travel enthusiast, also known as a railfan and rail buff. But I am certainly not a gunzel, gricer a foamer or a
ferroequinologist (a person who studies trains). I don't jump out from behind bushes to clock the time they pass by or talk about engine sizes and gauge widths until listener's eyes glaze over, but I do love the contained freedom of travelling on long distance train journeys.

The world slows down. You sit watching out of panoramic windows the ever changing terrain, you mosey down to the saloon car for a drink and tuck your elbows in so you can enjoy the meals in the dining cart and your stomach in if you have to pass anyone on the narrow return journey to your carriage. You meet the nicest people that way in tight confines.



Over board games and drinks in the lounge car, you converse with people from all over who are ticking off the great train journeys of the world one by one.

Australia has two internationally famous journeys that overseas visitors come here for and that is the legendary Ghan (Adelaide-Darwin) and the IIndian Pacific (Sydney-Perth).

I've done the Ghan twice because I wanted both my children to experience the journey and taken the Indian Pacific across the Nullarbor once for nostalgia's sake as my mother was gung-ho and drove me across desolate terrain as a toddler.

So, as I do love train travel I was excited to learn that the Great Southern is now offering new rail journeys between Adelaide and Brisbane.

The inaugural season has opened for bookings and will run from December 6, 2019 to January 30, 2020.

There are only 16 departures, and each gives you the chance to experience the wonders of Australia's southeast in style.



The train journeys offer a range of excursions, so you truly get to experience the towns, cities and landscapes the train passes through.

Unlike when I last did The Gha,n all excursions are included in the price. So as well as the train journey you can enjoy:

Wine tasting in the Hunter Valley.
Visiting the iconic 12 Apostles.
Lunch with a view from Melbourne's Eureka Skydeck followed by a laneways tour.
Canberra's cultural institutions including the National War Memorial and Parliament House.
Exploring the spectacular wilderness of the Grampians.
Beachside dining experiences.

There will also be options to upgrade excursions including a scenic flight over the 12 Apostles.



Great Southern will operate 16 departures and provide a premium rail experience inclusive of all food and beverages and excursions.

There are many options so the type of trip you take will depend on your interests.

For example, there is from Adelaide to Brisbane where exclusions include the Grampians, Canberra and Northern New South Wales Coast. but you end up having three nights accommodation in Brisbane and a one-day Tangalooma dolphin-feeding cruise.

Or you might go the other way from Adelaide to Brisbane on the 10th of January you venture to the Grampians and the back blocks of NSW including attending the Parkes Elvis Festival.



Options range from 2 and three-night trips right through to 12 day holidays that take in Perth.

Fares start from $1649 per person for Gold Single accommodation, $1829 per person for Gold Twin and $3899 per person for Platinum. They rise to over $5,000 if you are doing the 12 day option. Prices include fabulous meals that showcase Australian foods and your accommodation where this off the train it is in Hilton style hotels and as mentioned excursions are included.

For many people, such a monumental train journey is a once in a lifetime experience in order to celebrate a significant birthday or anniversary. But luxury and slow travel are luxuries you can become accustomed to so it probably won't be the last time you board one of Australia's iconic trains.

For more information, click here.
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Why? For the trip of a lifetime
When: Available to book now
Where: Brisbane and Adelaide
Cost: See article as dependent on length
Your Comment
Sounds tempting Nadine!
by Dave Walsh (score: 4|11309) 1454 days ago
I heard about this new trip last week, Nadine and it's now on my bucket list. I'm a train travel enthusiast, too, it's by far my favourite way to travel. I love your description of it as 'contained freedom' - that's it in a nutshell.
by Geraldine Massey (score: 3|8182) 1452 days ago
Very entertaining Nadine. I have learnt some new words for trainspotters.
by May Cross (score: 3|8394) 1448 days ago
What a great trip this would be.
by Gayle Beveridge-Marien (score: 4|10580) 1447 days ago
It's on my bucket list - have done a lot of train trips in Oz, but not that entire trip. Would be awesome.
by Di Hill (score: 2|716) 1453 days ago
Hi Nadine, enjoyed your first paragraph (made me laugh) and the details of the new journey. Thanks Marina
by Marina Marangos (score: 3|1285) 1450 days ago
It looks like a fantastic trip, I loved the Spirit of the Outback journey.
by Amanda I (score: 2|821) 1447 days ago
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