DAY 1 – BOARD THE GREAT SOUTHERN IN BRISBANE

Your East Coast journey begins with a warm welcome at Hanworth House in East Brisbane, where you’ll check in gather with fellow travellers for a celebratory start to your summer journey. After setting off from Brisbane on the Great Southern, life on board begins to unfold.

Savour lunch as the train winds south, then settle into the rhythm of your cabin and the passing landscapes. In the afternoon, the Great Southern arrives in the coastal town of Coffs Harbour. Here, the evening unfolds in true coastal style. As the sun sinks below the horizon, enjoy drinks and canapés on the sand at Charlesworth Bay before a signature outdoor dinner – weather permitting- showcasing fresh seafood and regional produce paired with local wines. The soundtrack is set by a live band and the gentle rhythm of waves on the shore. After a few unhurried hours, reboard the train and settle in for your first night on board. (L,D)

OVERNIGHT: 3 nights Great Southern

DAY 2 – GREAT SOUTHERN, HUNTER VALLEY, PORT STEPHENS OR NEWCASTLE

Start the day with a hearty breakfast on board before setting off on your choice of Off Train Experiences. Wine lovers can explore the picturesque Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine region. Known for Semillon and Shiraz, here you’ll spend the day amongst the vines, visiting Tulloch and Brokenwood Wines followed by a platter-style lunch featuring local produce at Twine Restaurant. If you’d prefer to take to the skies, treat yourself to an optional upgrade with a Hunter Valley helicopter flight that soars over the rolling green hills, showcasing the best of the wine region and beyond.

BAROSSA & KANGAROO ISLAND ESCAPE

Alternatively, discover Port Stephens by land or sea. Venture by 4WD across the vast Stockton Bight Sand Dunes, the largest mobile dunes in the Southern Hemisphere. Stop to admire your surrounds and drive to the top of a dune to take in the sweeping views – you may even choose to sandboard down. On the water tour, be dazzled by turquoise seas as you soak up the coastline on a relaxed boat cruise, with the chance to spot dolphins along the way. Whether by land or sea, after your Port Stephens adventure you’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch at Nelson Bay Golf Club before returning to the train in the afternoon.

Closer to the city, explore Newcastle on a guided walking tour that reveals its coastal charm, capped with lunch at Scratchleys on the Wharf before returning to the train for a regionally inspired dinner. (B,L,D)

DAY 3 – GREAT SOUTHERN, REGIONAL VICTORIA OR MELBOURNE

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast on board as the Great Southern travels through Victoria’s high country before choosing your next Off Train Experience.

Victoria is well-known for its excellent food and wine scene, which is on show at Clyde Park in the Moorabool Valley. Clyde Park is a beautiful vineyard, cellar door and bistro set among rolling hills. Here, you’ll enjoy a long lunch and sample cool-climate wines while being entertained on the glorious lawns.

Alternatively, spend the day in cosmopolitan Melbourne to discover why it’s considered the cultural and sporting capital of Australia. Highlights include the Ian Potter Centre at NGV Australia, with its remarkable collection of Australian art, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, guided by a club member. History buffs may prefer the Old Melbourne Gaol, where stories of the past, including those of Ned Kelly, come to life.

To complete your Melbourne experience, take in the sweeping views from Melbourne Skydeck before ascending to Eureka 89 for a curated lunch showcasing seasonal local produce. Afterwards, return to the train to continue your journey south. (B,L,D)

DAY 4 – GREAT SOUTHERN, ADELAIDE

Catch the morning light over regional South Australia, a final reminder of the landscapes you’ve travelled through. Sit back and enjoy a leisurely breakfast on board, savouring the last moments of life on train. Soon, the Great Southern glides into Adelaide, where you will be transferred to your accommodation. The day is yours to explore the city. Home to over 900 restaurants, pubs and cafes, and a lively food and wine scene, you’ll be spoilt for choice. (B)

OVERNIGHT: 2 nights Pullman Adelaide

DAY 5 – NATIONAL WINE CENTRE OF AUSTRALIA

Delight in a memorable culinary journey at the National Wine Centre of Australia with a “Feed Me” style lunch dining experience curated by the Head Chef. This indulgent menu showcases the best of South Australia’s regional produce, artfully crafted to take your taste buds on a captivating voyage of flavours and textures.

Each course is perfectly paired with premium wines, hand-selected by the Centre’s expert Sommeliers to enhance the dining experience and elevate each dish. This immersive food and wine adventure promises to enchant and surprise your palate at every turn.

Following your lunch, enjoy a hosted tour of the National Wine Centre of Australia – a perfect conclusion to this unforgettable sensory experience. (B,L)

DAY 6 – ADELAIDE TO KANGAROO ISLAND

Please note: Day 6 and 7 may be interchanged.

Depart from Adelaide Airport for your flight to magical Kangaroo Island, where you will be met by your guide and begin your ‘Island Life’ tour. Island Life provides a taste of the way of life in this bucolic spot, where things take time, drivers wave as they go by, and passers-by stop for a chat. Have a cuppa with some home-made treats before taking a walk down a country track through towering Eucalyptus trees, where koalas snooze overhead or chew languidly on leaves. Listen for the sounds of the bush – brightly coloured honeyeaters and brilliant parrots, cicadas or perhaps just the sound of silence. You’ll travel through the island’s most productive countryside to the north coast and walk through the bush with your guide, learning what makes that noise and whose tracks those are. Watch for BAROSSA & KANGAROO ISLAND ESCAPE small wallabies, a kangaroo found only on Kangaroo Island, and a variety of other birds, plants and animals.

Lunch is at a private bush camp, where you’ll enjoy a delicious meal featuring King George whiting – a local sea fish, fresh salads and fine South Australian wines. At Seal Bay Conservation Park, take a private tour with your guide among Australian sea lions on a beautiful sandy beach. Watch pups nursing or playing in the surf and old bulls bearing the scars of territorial disputes and learn about their unique breeding biology.

After a day of touring, you will return to your accommodation, with dinner included at your hotel. (B,L,D)

OVERNIGHT: 2 nights Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge

DAY 7 – KANGAROO ISLAND

Begin the day travelling through some of the regenerating landscapes of Kangaroo Island. Learn about fire ecology and how nature deals with this natural hazard. Some of the native flora species only flower following fire.

Travel into Flinders Chase National Park and explore the massive shapes of Remarkable Rocks, a natural sculpture perched impossibly on top a granite dome plunging into the ocean. Then you’ll break for an elegant picnic lunch in the bush, or if weather permits, on a spectacular clifftop. Evidence of the power of the Southern Ocean swell continues at Admirals Arch – a coastal grotto that provides a haul out for a large colony of Long-nosed Fur Seals, which swim effortlessly through the crashing waves.

After your last day of touring, you will return to your accommodation, with dinner included at your hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 8 – KANGAROO ISLAND TO ADELAIDE

This morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Adelaide. Arriving in Adelaide, you will be transferred to your city accommodation to leave your bags and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. The evening is free to explore some of Adelaide’s many dining and entertainment precincts. (B)

OVERNIGHT: 2 nights Pullman Adelaide

DAY 9 – BAROSSA VALLEY

Today, delight your senses with boutique wine and food touring to the historic Barossa Valley, with its 80 cellar doors. You’ll even visit one of the oldest vineyards in the world, where Shiraz vines were planted in 1843. Enjoy running commentary from your driver as you make your way towards the world-renowned wine region and be guided through some of the best wines South Australia has to offer. Tours are small groups up to 8 people only to ensure a relaxed and unhurried day. Whether you prefer red or white, there will be something to tantalise and delight with tastings at three wineries throughout the day, and a delicious lunch with an accompanying glass of wine included in your tour. (B,L)

DAY 10 – FAREWELL

After breakfast, check out of your accommodation, bringing your epicurean adventure to an end. (B)