1 week ago
9
November 27, 2025 — 5:00am
The great Indian Pacific west-to-east train odyssey has been reimagined in a five-day itinerary that gives travellers the chance to more deeply experience the gems of the Australian outback between Perth and Sydney.
The numbers
- The journey Perth to Sydney, with stops in Kalgoorlie, Cook, Barossa Valley, Broken Hill and the Blue Mountains.
- Duration Five days and four nights
- Distance 4352 kilometres
- Carriages 28 on this journey, but up to 34
- Passengers 206 on this journey, but up to 260
- Crew 36 on this journey, but up to 48
The train
This quintessentially Australian train, a sister to The Ghan, began adventures in 1970, but it wasn’t until 1983 that it connected to Adelaide, when the line became standard gauge. In addition to its role as a luxury transcontinental passenger experience, this train also functions, in small part, as a delivery service, providing mail and essential goods to the tiny (read: a handful of people, if that) communities of Cook and Rawlinna along the 478-kilometre straight stretch of railway that crosses the Nullarbor Plain. On this early winter trek, we are 28 carriages strong, with three kitchens and 206 passengers.
The station
Departure is from the otherwise nondescript East Perth Terminal, a leisurely 17 minutes by car from the airport or five-minute cab ride from the CBD. Check in is easy enough, although could be better signposted for eager departees, and involves a pre-departure platform party featuring canapes and refreshments. Crew are easily identifiable beneath their Cattleman Akubras and camel-coloured blazers and happy to share details on the status of the slightly delayed train. The distinct buzz of anticipation among blue-lanyard-wearing guests turns to grins as the train pulls in, all koala-grey, pindan-dusted and nearly 30 carriages long. On the other end, in Sydney, it’s a seamless arrival process into the cavernous main terminal of Central Station. Along the way, the intimate station outposts of Kalgoorlie, Rawlinna, Cook and Broken Hill serve as either great gawking opportunities or well-oiled sites for off-train experiences.
The class
Gold class is split into traditional Gold and then Gold Premium, the latter of which enjoys the comforts of recently refurbished cabins, dining car and lounge carriage. (Within the next five years, all Gold carriages will enjoy these stylish renovations, which include complimentary silk eye masks and new upholstery inspired by the artwork of Albert Namatjira in the cabins and a sophisticated communal lounge with leather banquette seating and marble-topped tables.) The older carriages of the base Gold are full of character and history, with quirky patterned carpet, well-maintained booths and regularly refreshed mattresses topped with plush feather doonas and buttery pillows – on which a minty chocolate is placed after every turndown service. Our dining car, the Queen Adelaide Restaurant, is comfortable and spacious and our bar car enjoys the same live entertainment, complimentary drinks list and puzzle collection as the higher tiers of travellers.
The cabin/compartment
I’m in a Gold Twin cabin for my four nights on board, which is wonderful for a single traveller (me!) and cosy for a couple. It’s cleverly designed, with alcoves and hooks for clothes and books, and it is meticulously maintained. The wet-room-style bathroom has a tidy shower separated from the toilet and sink by a long curtain, and there’s even a vanity with space for my toiletries. In the main cabin, the hero is the view, framed by the 110-centimetre window with retractable aluminium Venetian blinds. A fold-down table stays up the entire trip, home to my notebook and an ever-rotating cup of tea on a porcelain saucer that never slips. It feels spacious, and my retreat into its cosy, warmly lit cocoon fills me with childlike wonder and delight. During the day, the bench seat is comfortable and adjustable, the direction of my view changing when we pick up new carriages in Adelaide. At night, the bunks are changed by nimble stewards who remember that I love using two feather pillows instead of one.
The dining and lounge cars
That the Queen Adelaide Restaurant manages to turn out as many flawless meals as it does service after service is a testament to the skill and finesse of the kitchen team. Each meal time involves a menu filled with unique dishes, and I am delighted by every one – roasted pork tenderloin with caramelised cabbage one night, grilled swordfish in green curry for lunch the next day – that is delivered to our four-person booth. Cheese plates for dessert, paired with South Australian tawny, are a treat. Outside of dinner service, the lounge car is the social gathering place for guests, with its bar well stocked with local beer, delectable liqueurs and a never-ending flow of sparkling wine. We gather over bowls of pretzels and afternoon pastries as we bear witness to the captivating Nullarbor sunsets and, on our final night, for a terrific performance by the on-train musician alongside our carriage staples, Troy and Aisha, who belt out Elvis and Frankie Valli to enthusiastic cheers from the audience.
The excursions
The joy of getting off the train is not just knowing you’re going to be returning to the sumptuous cocoon of all-inclusive rail travel and its trimmings but also making the most of the meticulously designed off-train experiences. Over the five-day itinerary, we stop five times, with each destination’s experiences curated for this new longer journey. At Kalgoorlie, Broken Hill and Katoomba, we have options: I choose to step back in time, learn two-up and look out over the Superpit at the first, wander through the Living Desert sandstone gallery and indulge in a bush-food-centric lunch lesson at the second, and trek on a drizzly rainforest hike at the third. At Cook, we all hop off after dinner and wander towards a blazing bonfire surrounded by tables stocked with glasses of tawny, Baileys and hot chocolate. Kevin, our onboard entertainment maestro, strums away on his acoustic guitar and when he pauses between tunes, a team member uses a laser pointer to trace the Milky Way with us tiny peons standing on the red dirt beneath the inky sky. On our night in Adelaide, we indulge in a wine tasting and decadent festoon-lit dinner in a barn at Seppeltsfield Wines, which results in a conga line and plenty of camaraderie.
Chill time
There’s plenty of time for quiet reflection, boisterous socialising or carriage-bound sightseeing. Soft jazz tunes play during the day, a soundtrack that suits reading paperbacks or playing Scrabble in the sunny window seat in the lounge car. In case you forgot your own reading material, there’s a little train-centric library on board and a stack of board games. Post-dinner evenings are quiet, best enjoyed with Seppeltsfield libation by the bar before retreating to a freshly made bed with uninterrupted views of the constellations.
The service
You are left to want for nothing on this trip, with the efficient team operating seamlessly from morning to night. The crew are generous with their time, knowledge and assistance, and seem genuinely excited to be a part of this great adventure. Meal times are clearly communicated, beds are made as if by magic, barista coffees are full-bodied and quickly served. On one occasion, after asking for a glass of water, crew member Giulia remembered my holiday preference: sparkling, with a lemon wedge. On board and off, the team’s awareness of the little details are the whole thing.
The verdict
An exceptional extended journey that provides the optimum amount of time to explore these wonderful, wild, worthy and lesser-seen regions of Australia.
Essentials
The Indian Pacific departs East Perth Terminal on Saturdays and arrives in Sydney five days later (and runs vice versa). Fares are all-inclusive, including off-train experiences, onboard entertainment, unlimited beverages and 11 meals, starting at $4500 a person. See journeybeyondrail.com.au
Our rating out of five
★★★★½
On track
Meals use regional and local produce wherever possible, resulting in a finely tuned menu that tastes as good as the landscape looks.
Off track
The dated, yet-to-be-updated carriages border between a romantic step-back-in-time aesthetic and a tired, due-for-a-refresh design.
The writer travelled as a guest of the Indian Pacific and Journey Beyond.
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