Rock & Rail

Day 1 to 4 - Sydney

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

Spend you days relaxing on the sands of one of the city’s fringing beaches, shopping in its impressive malls, cruising the harbour or conquer the Harbour Bridge climb. By night the city comes alive with a host of fine dining options and lively bars, or alternatively join the locals in a performance at the famous Sydney Opera House.

Day 5 - Indian Pacific

Fell the excitement build this morning as you board your Indian Pacific rail journey from Sydney to Adelaide.

Relax in your own private cabin as your travel through the Blue Mountains, then drop down into the Southern Australian Outback. Fine food and wines are included throughout your journey, served by knowledgeable hosts.

Day 6 to 8 - Adelaide

Disembark The Indian Pacific train journey to spend the next 3 nights in the heart of Adelaide. The tree-lined streets of North Terrace are home to national galleries and museums, whilst Rundle Mall provides some retail therapy.

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.

Day 9 - The Ghan

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.

Spend the night in your private cabin with all meals and drinks included.

Day 10- Alice Springs

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 how life works in Outback Australia. Both are situated in the town centre.From Anzac Hill you get a good view of Alice Springs and the surrounding area.

The Old Telegraph Station is situated 3 kms north from the Town Centre along the Stuart Highway. Just minutes from the city centre is the Alice Springs Desert Park. Discover the landscapes, plants and animals of Australia’s unique desert environment. The park features rare and endangered species, the second largest nocturnal house in the world, walk through aviaries and a virtual reality presentation.

To learn more about Alice Springs you may like to join a guided tour of the town.

Day 11 - Kings Canyon (473 kms)

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 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.

Day 12 & 13 - Uluru (Ayers Rock) (302 kms)

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 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 Ayers Rock.

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.

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.

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.

Day 14 to 16 - Melbourne

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. You can still marvel at the colours of the outback as you fly to Melbourne, Victoria.

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, join a wine tasting tour to the Yarra Valley or even head out to Phillip Island to witness the nightly Penguin Parade.

Day 17 - Farewell from Melbourne

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