This 2,700-mile Train Route Is One of the Most Epic Rides in the World—and It Connects 2 Oceans and Crosses a Continent

Key Points

• The Indian Pacific rail journey spans 2,700 miles between Sydney and Perth, offering an immersive look at Australia's diverse landscapes and history.

• Stops include major cities like Adelaide, remote outposts like Cook, and unique experiences from wine tastings to outback dining under the stars.

• Onboard accommodations range from compact cabins to luxury suites, with meals and guided excursions included throughout the trip.

To truly grasp how vast Australia is, you need to experience it from the ground. And Journey Beyond's Indian Pacific rail journey is one of the best ways to see the country's incredibly beautiful landscapes as it travels from coast to coast.

The 2,700-mile journey, which covers four separate rail systems, runs east or west, with trips starting in either Sydney or Perth. The experience can be halved, too, with a start or stop in Adelaide. As you travel along, you'll see some of Australia's most gorgeous vistas, from the red dirt of the Outback, sheep stations, mining towns, to mountains and everything in between.

The sleeper train provides riders with four cabin types to choose from, including compact single cabins with shared shower facilities to spacious 270-square-foot suites with separate sitting rooms, bedrooms, and private en-suites. Meals and off-train experiences are included, too, to give riders a thorough understanding of how instrumental the cross-country rail system was for the growth of Australia—and to relax while doing so. 

Here's what you need to know before riding Journey Beyond's Indian Pacific.

Sydney

As you'd expect from Australia's largest city, there's plenty to explore in Sydney before or after your train journey. The Opera House is iconic for a reason. Take a guided tour of the architectural masterpiece to understand how it came to be built and why it is now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site . The new Sydney Fish Market , which opened its doors in Jan. 2026, is a working port and wholesale market, with market stalls and restaurants, making it a great stop for lunch. Stretch your legs on the 3.7-mile Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk to soak in Australia's beach culture. Fine dining meets live fire at Firedoor , while Ragazzi has some of Sydney's best pasta, and PS40 is a cocktail bar that incorporates bush ingredients in its inventive menu. Capella Sydney , a short walk from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, offers a diverse array of cultural experiences for guests, including a city tour led by an Aboriginal elder. The Eve sits in the buzzy Redfern neighborhood, close to several boutiques and restaurants. Alternatively, the hip 25H/The Olympia , housed in a former theater, has beautiful rooms filled with artwork.  

Broken Hill

Those traveling between Sydney and Adelaide will stop at this outback mining town, which has some of the world's largest silver, lead, and zinc mineral deposits. Off-train tours include a drive through the outback to Living Desert State Park , home to large-scale sandstone desert sculptures. It also hosts a culinary outback experience with a local chef, or a tour led by Shelita Buffet, a local drag queen, who'll point out settings from the cult hit "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," which was filmed in the area.

Adelaide and Barossa Valley

Adelaide is the midway point of the coast-to-coast journey, or it can be the beginning or end for those doing half the trip. Known as a festival city, Adelaide has several multi-day events worth planning for, from wine events like the Winter Reds Festival to Womadelaide , a music and arts festival that takes over the city's botanic gardens for a long weekend in March. Adelaide Fringe , the second biggest arts festival in the world, pops up throughout the city in February and March.

The chic Sofitel Adelaide is a short walk from Rundle Mall, the city's pedestrianized downtown core, and the Art Gallery of South Australia , which has an incredibly diverse collection of Australian and international art. Another must-visit is the Adelaide Central Market , which has extended hours on Fridays for late-night shopping and dining. Haigh's Chocolates , the country's oldest chocolate maker has an outpost there; Let Them Eat has fresh vegetarian and vegan options; and Smelly Cheese Co. is a treasure trove of French cheeses. The Adelaide Marriott Hotel is just up the street, newly opened in the city's historic General Post Office building. Head to Osteria Oggi for modern Italian, or Omada for hot-off-the-grill Greek classics.

The train arrives and departs from the Adelaide Parklands Terminal, which is outside the city centre. Cross-country passengers have multiple off-train experiences to choose from as part of their fare, including wine tastings, a behind-the-scenes tour of a local brewery, and indulgent dinners in the Barossa Valley. 

Cook

A short stop on the journey—and roughly the midway point between Adelaide and Perth—it's worth disembarking in Cook to walk around this nearly ghost town, which has a population of four people. It sits on the border of the Nullarbor Regional Reserve, a protected area in South Australia. Once a bustling community with 200 or so residents, Cool now mostly consists of relics of their past presence. The shell of the old swimming pool remains, as does the former school, with a mural on its water tank. Walking around the tiny outpost offers an understanding of just how vast and desolate this arid part of the country can be. Travelers heading east will arrive in the evening and have a spectacular view of the stars. 

Rawlinna and Kalgoorlie

Travelers headed westbound stop at Rawlinna, the country's largest sheep station, for an evening under the stars and an al fresco dinner, weather permitting. Dinner and drinks take place outside the train station, but on the one million hectares of land around it, upwards of 80,000 merino sheep graze, with an annual shearing happening in February.

Passengers traveling towards Sydney, on the other hand, stop in Kalgoorlie, a town on the edge of the Nullarbor that was busy during the country's gold rush. Though that era is over, the Super Pit mine still operates, and there are options to visit the working mine via guided tour to grasp the enormity of the operation, or tour Hannah's North Tourism Mine, where the history of gold mining in Australia is detailed with a series of exhibits, including an opportunity to pan for the precious metal. You can also explore the town of Kalgoorlie and the suburb of Boulder, and meet a local woodcarver who shares his personal insight into the area.

Perth

Coastal life in this western city is slightly more subdued than it is on Australia's easter coast. Enjoy the slower pace in Northbridge, Perth's cultural district, which is home to both the Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip , the state's main natural history museum, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia . If you're into quirky and adorable creatures, the 30-minute ferry to Rottnest Island from the suburb of Fremantle is worthwhile for the chance to spot quokka , a small marsupial found only on this island. Watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean during a meal at Asian fusion spot Tigerfish , or dine at Emily Taylor in Fremantle—the lobster dumplings with Australian black truffles are a favorite. Hyde Perth is a buzzy new hotel in the city center. Its in-house Greek restaurant, Farra , also services the hotel's pool bar, so you can enjoy delicious dips and small bites while lounging. Como The Treasury , set within the city's historic State Buildings, is another great choice for a luxury stay.

Best Time to Ride

The Indian Pacific runs year-round. March through May and September to November are optimal times with weather conducive to off-train exploring—it shouldn't be too hot or too rainy. July through August is quieter, with clear skies for celestial viewing, but it's also colder in the Outback. December through February is Australia's summer, and it can be quite hot.

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