Australia on board the Indian Pacific and the Ghan

Flight to Australia on request. Allow around 22 hours of flying.

Individual arrival at Sydney.
Meet your driver and transfer to your hotel, located in the city centre. Check-in and free time.

Overnight in Sydney

After an early morning breakfast, you meet your French-speaking guide in front of the main entrance of the Sydney Opera House to begin a guided tour of this iconic landmark, inaugurated in 1972 and now one of Australia’s most instantly recognizable symbols.
Throughout the tour, your guide brings the artistic and cultural history of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed site back to life, which was even once considered as one of the seven new wonders of the world.

You continue your discovery with a Sydney Harbour cruise; the cruise lunch is included. Throughout the cruise, you’ll admire the Sydney Opera House in all its grandeur. From the deck, you’ll have the chance to take superb photos of this emblematic symbol of Australia. The boat also passes under the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, offering a unique perspective on this impressive engineering feat.

Free afternoon to explore the city at your own pace.

Overnight in Sydney. (B&bacute;F, L&bacute;F)

In the morning, meet at your Sydney hotel for an unforgettable day in the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The itinerary begins with the first stop at Calmsley Hill Farm, where you’ll meet kangaroos, emus, wombats, and koalas around a morning tea. Then head to spectacular lookout points over the Jamison Valley, away from the crowds, to admire the region’s untamed beauty.

At Eaglehawk Lookout, you’ll take in the legendary Three Sisters while discovering the Aboriginal legends that surround them. Next, enjoy a refined two-course lunch at the panoramic restaurant of Hydro Majestic, in the charming village of Blackheath.

In the afternoon, it’s time for breathtaking panoramas: Govetts Leap and its dizzying waterfall, the Blue Mountains botanic gardens, and the Bells Line Road dotted with orchards and stunning views.
Return to the city at around 5:00 pm and free time.

Overnight in Sydney. (B&bacute;F, L&bacute;F)

Free morning for personal discovery.
Transfer to Central Station, where you board the “Indian Pacific“.

In the early afternoon, the train departs from Sydney Central Station, leaving behind the skyscrapers and the city’s hectic pace. As the Indian Pacific begins its westward journey through the Blue Mountains.

Your train journey in Australia begins: the Indian Pacific heads towards Adelaide, and you are looked after by its attentive team. You travel in a private compartment for 2 people with WC and a shower. Share friendly moments in the communal lounge Outback Explorer Lounge, around a coffee prepared by a barista or a carefully selected glass of white wine. Then follow the guidance to the Queen Adelaide restaurant to enjoy your dinner.
End the day with one last drink in the lounge, before returning to the comfort of your cabin for the night.

Overnight on board the train. (B&bacute;F, D&bacute;F)

While you’re asleep, the train has crossed almost the entire state of New South Wales.

Very early in the morning, you arrive at Broken Hill station for your first look at the outback hinterland. A guided tour of this former mining town is scheduled, allowing you also to admire the art of the Aboriginal peoples.
During your visit, enjoy a light snack while discovering the town’s rich mining heritage, through iconic places such as the historic Trades Hall and the impressive Miners’ Memorial, which overlooks the town from its hilltop.

For a more original approach, you can also follow Shelita Buffet, the Queen of the Outback, on a lively, colourful tour of the town centre!

After boarding the train again, it continues its journey westward to the city of Adelaide.
Lunch served on board.

On arrival in the afternoon, you bid farewell to the Indian Pacific and freely head to your hotel in the city centre.

Overnight in Adelaide. (B&bacute;F, L&bacute;F)

After breakfast, you set off for a group city tour of Adelaide, the capital of the Australian state of South Australia. Accompanied by a passionate English-speaking guide, you’ll trace Adelaide’s story—from its colonial origins to its current role as a major city in southern Australia.

This two-hour walk will immerse you in the history of the South Australian capital, between colonial buildings, iconic monuments, and notable local figures. You’ll particularly pass by the Treasury Building, St Francis Xavier Cathedral, Victoria Square—also known as Tarndanyangga—and several historic statues. The tour ends at noon in front of the former General Post Office.

Free afternoon to delve further into your exploration of the city centre.

Overnight in Adelaide. (B&bacute;F)

Today the contrast is striking, as you spend the day in the “Outbush“.

Departing from Adelaide, go to Red Banks Conservation Park, one of Australia’s major sites for megafauna. A walk along a rugged trail will lead you to a spectacular gorge, once trodden by imposing prehistoric marsupials.

You’ll then discover megafauna fossils in the mining town of Burra, before ending the day in Clare, in the heart of the wine-growing region. The visit to the home of John Horrocks will be an opportunity to discuss the impact of colonization on the Ngadjuri people.

Overnight in Adelaide. (B&bacute;F)

After a free morning, head to the station for departure at 12:15 pm on the legendary luxury train “The Ghan” which takes you, on a journey of more than 2,900 km, to Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Embark for three days on board the Ghan, travelling through the red heart of Australia. Along the way, the scenery shifts from green plains to the arid lands of the Outback. Stops in Marla, Alice Springs, and Katherine will let you discover the history, culture, and spectacular landscapes of these remote regions.

As the train runs alongside the Flinders Ranges, agricultural landscapes give way to the arid expanse of the Outback.
You travel in a private compartment for 2 people with WC and a shower. A gourmet lunch is served on board, followed by time to relax and enjoy the train while getting to know the other passengers.

In the evening, savour a refined dinner accompanied by Australian wines, in the warm atmosphere of the train restaurant.

Overnight on board the train. (B&bacute;F, L&bacute;F, D&bacute;F)

After your first night on board, wake up to a spectacular sunrise at Marla, a small remote stop at the gates of the Outback. With your feet in the red earth, warmed by a campfire, take your time to savour this out-of-time moment. A brunch is served as the train continues its journey to Alice Springs.

On arrival, several excursions included in the package are offered:

• Discover the many facets of Alice Springs, between heritage, innovation, and nature. You’ll visit the School of the Air, which has been educating Outback children remotely since 1951, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a cornerstone of medical care for remote areas, and the reptile centre, where you’ll observe frill-necked lizards and thorny devils with expert explanations.

• At the foot of the West MacDonnell Ranges, the Desert Park immerses you in the unique landscapes and cultures of Australia’s Centre. Explore three desert habitats – dry rivers, red dunes, and arid forests – and discover how the fauna and flora adapt to extreme conditions.
  Visit the night house to see rare species such as the bilby and mala wallaby, then enjoy an opportunity to watch birds of prey fly freely, with exclusive access behind the scenes and to the keepers.

• At the heart of the West MacDonnell Ranges, Simpson Gap – or Rungutjirpa for the Arrernte – is a sacred site rich in legends, linked to the ancestors of goannas. This excursion invites you to explore a spectacular landscape: imposing cliffs, a peaceful waterhole, ghost gums, and rare plants.
  You can follow marked walking trails through this striking setting and, if you’re lucky, spot black-footed wallabies on the rocks.

• Known as Angkerle Atwatye by the Arrernte, Standley Chasm is a spectacular gorge 80 metres high, shaped by millions of years of erosion. Its glowing red sandstone walls take on changing shades throughout the day—an ideal place for photography enthusiasts.
  Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll discover the cultural significance of this sacred site, knowledge linked to bush tucker (edible plants), and the spiritual connections that unite the Arrernte with this unique landscape.

Back on board, The Ghan continues its progress. Dinner on board.

Overnight on board the train. (B&bacute;F, L&bacute;F, D&bacute;F)

This morning, you wake up to the tropical climate of northern Australia, as the train travels through the spectacular landscapes of the Top End. At Katherine, set off on a memorable cruise through the Nitmiluk gorges, accompanied by fascinating stories about the culture and spiritual connections of the Jawoyn, the Aboriginal people of the region.
Optional: a helicopter flight lets you admire the gorge from the air.

In the late morning, your train begins its final journey to Darwin.

After lunch, you return on board for the last leg of the journey to Darwin, where this great rail adventure across Australia comes to an end. Transfer to your hotel, located in the city centre.

Overnight in Darwin. (B&bacute;F)

Set off for a guided group tour to discover Darwin, a cosmopolitan city shaped by its history and resilience. Your English-speaking guide begins with the aviation museum, housed in a former hangar, where you’ll discover historic aircraft, including an impressive B-52 Stratofortress, as well as the story of the 1942 air raid, nicknamed “the Australian Pearl Harbor”.

Next, you’ll visit the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery, then enjoy some time in the Darwin Botanic Gardens, where marine plants, tropical species and wildlife live side by side.

Free afternoon for personal discovery.

Overnight in Darwin. (B&B)

Today you set off to explore the Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

After around three hours by car, you’ll discover the ancestral cultures of the Bininj at the Warradjan Cultural Centre.
Next, head to a cruise on the Yellow Waters, where you can spot saltwater crocodiles in their natural habitat. A lunch is served at Cooinda Lodge.

In the afternoon, you’ll focus on discovering the rock paintings at Nourlangie Rock, evidence of Aboriginal art spanning many millennia. You’ll also learn how Aboriginal people live in these wild lands up to the present day.
Return to Darwin in the evening.

Overnight in Darwin. (B&B)

Depending on your departure time, enjoy a free morning/day in Darwin.
Private transfer to the airport. (B&B)

Additional overnight stay, return flight departing from Darwin on request.