Touchdown in Australia’s iconic and picturesque city of Sydney. Spend four nights in your choice of accommodation and explore the city and beyond.

Perhaps you’d like to relax on Bondi Beach, cruise Sydney Harbour, or conquer the Harbour Bridge climb. By night the city comes alive with a host of incredible dining options and lively bars, or alternatively join the locals in a performance at the famous Sydney Opera House. You could even venture out of the city for a day, exploring the majestic Blue Mountains, or sampling fine wines in the Hunter Valley.

Your chosen Sydney hotel

Feel the excitement build this morning as, as you are about to experience one of Australia’s great rail journeys. Board your Indian Pacific rail journey from Sydney to Adelaide, and settle into your private cabin.

Watch the incredible and constantly changing views, as you travel through the Blue Mountains and then enter the South Australian Outback. In the evening, you’ll enjoy world-class hospitality and fine dining, with a regionally inspired menu and wine pairings, all included in your journey.

After spending the night onboard the Indian Pacific, you’ll arrive in Broken Hill, where you can choose to take one of several tours on offer. After exploring the ‘Silver City’ you’ll return to the train for lunch, passing through the spectacular Flinders Ranges in the afternoon. Your journey aboard the Indian Pacific train comes to an end as you pull into Adelaide.

Onboard the Indian Pacific and your chosen Adelaide hotel

Spend the next two days exploring South Australia’s capital, Adelaide. You’ll find galleries and museums in abundance along the tree-lined streets of North Terrace, or head to Rundle Mall for some retail therapy. Adelaide Central Market offers a huge range of fresh produce, making it a great place to explore and check out some of Adelaide’s best eateries. Take a stroll along the riverbank, and explore the city’s Botanic Gardens.

Further afield, travel out to the picturesque Adelaide Hills, or sample the fine wine produce of the Barossa and Clare Valley. Alternatively, you may like to opt for an overnight stay on Kangaroo Island instead of a night in the city, encountering some of the island’s abundant wildlife and enjoying some beautiful scenery.

Your chosen Adelaide hotel

Your next rail adventure is an epic outback journey on board The Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice Springs.

Wind your way through the diverse South Australia terrain, travelling through the majestic Flinders Ranges, lush green wine-producing regions and finally into the expansive phenomenon of the outback.

You’ll spend one night on board The Ghan, with all-inclusive meals and drinks, and your choice of cabin. Enjoy the incredible views and world-class service aboard.

Onboard The Ghan

This morning, The Ghan will stop at the remote outpost of Marla, where you will disembark to watch a spectacular sunrise over the Outback. Enjoy a delicious brunch on board as you enter the Northern Territory and wind you way through the MacDonnell Ranges. Leave The Ghan in Alice Springs, ready for your next adventure.

Pick up your Avis intermediate automatic sedan or full size 4WD automatic vehicle at Alice Springs Depot.

In Alice Springs, we recommend that you visit the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the School of the Air which both give you a good insight into life in the Australian Outback. Then, head up to Anzac Hill for views over Alice Springs and the surrounding area.

Perhaps visit the Old Telegraph Station, situated 3 km north from the Town Centre, or visit the the Alice Springs Desert Park. Discover the landscapes, plants and animals of Australia’s unique desert environment.

Alternatively, for a deeper insight into ‘Alice’ you may wish to join a guided tour of the town.

Your chosen Alice Springs hotel

Depart Alice Springs and travel south along the Stuart Highway and on to Kings Canyon.

This afternoon, you may wish to take a relaxed walk through the peaceful and shady boulder strewn canyon floor.

Kings Canyon is the deepest gorge in the Red Centre and magnificently beautiful. Waterholes on the canyon floor never completely dry up and foster lush growth, which includes palms of ancient biological origin. A path to the rim of the gorge leads to the Lost City, where the rock has worn away to resemble ruins. High in the canyon and very difficult to reach is the Garden of Eden, an oasis of waterholes and plant life.

Whilst staying a Kings Canyon you may like to visit the Light Towers art installation, the innovative work of Bruce Munro. See the Red Centre in a unique light, as the sun sets over these two metre tall illuminated towers.

Alice Springs > Kings Canyon

Your chosen Kings Canyon hotel

This morning, make an early start to avoid the heat of the day and drive in to the Kings Canyon car park to discover the wonders of this ancient geological formation via the rim walk. The walk may take up to 3 hours and is suitable for those with a good level of fitness.

Mid morning, travel back along the Luritja Road to re-join the Lasseter Highway heading west to Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park. Perhaps take a detour en-route to explore the domes of Kata-Tjuta (The Olgas) before arriving at Uluru.

Kata Tjuta / The Olgas are a dramatic series of 36 dome-like rock formations which stand up to 546 metres high and cover an area of 35 square kilometres. Like Uluru, they produce an incredible light show at sunset, and to walk amongst them is a memorable experience.

Uluru (Ayers Rock) is the world’s largest monolith, measuring over 9kms around the base, and rising 348 metres above the Mulga plain. Named “Uluru” by the Aborigines, it is a sacred monument to them, and the walls of the caves, which comb the base, are covered in Aboriginal carvings and paintings, many of which are thousands of years old.

Whilst staying at Ayers Rock Resort, you may wish to experience the Field of Light art installation, enjoy dinner to the Sounds of Silence, or wonder at the Wintjiri Wiru light display.

Kings Canyon > Uluru

Ayers Rock Resort

This morning you may wish to take a walk through the caves at the base of the Rock, then drop off your rental vehicle at the depot at Ayers Rock Airport before catching your flight to Melbourne. Make sure to soak in the views and the colours of the Outback one last time as you take off.

With a three night stay you have time to ride the iconic trams, explore the cafes and boutique shops or join a guided tour through the Laneways. You can also wander through the city’s impressive botanic gardens, or visit the beach huts in Mornington Peninsula. For panoramic views of Melbourne, head up 88 floors to the Eureka Skydeck.

Heading out of the city, join a wine tasting tour to the Yarra Valley, ride the Puffing Billy Railway, or even head out to Phillip Island to witness the nightly Penguin Parade.

Your chosen Melbourne hotel

Bid a fond farewell to Melbourne as you make your way back to the airport for your flight home.