Grand Tour of Australia Including the Ghan

Your incredible journey begins with your flight from London to Sydney.

On arrival in Sydney today you'll be transferred to your hotel. The sight of the iconic Sydney Opera House welcomes you to this vibrant city by the water. The land of surf and culture gifts you gems like Bondi Beach, alongside an art gallery that boasts Aboriginal and Asian art, and a diverse food scene to delve into. Sydney is cosmopolitan and sophisticated, while also being a haven for anyone who wants to chill out on the beach and ride the waves. Choose from our 4* and 5* hotels, on a B&B basis.

Enjoy a free day in Sydney today. Take a walk around the city and see the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The best way to experience the bridge is to walk across it, and you get a different perspective on the city too. Go shopping at some of the many busy shopping streets, and relax with a coffee while the bustling city moves around you. Take a walk by the water and watch the surfers catching the waves, you can even take a surfing lesson. Or, choose one of our optional excursions, available at a supplement, to get to know Sydney better.

This morning you'll leave your hotel and you'll be transferred to Sydney Central Station for your first train journey of the trip. You'll travel 600 miles on this long distance rail journey from Sydney to the city of Melbourne. Sit back and relax in your seat as you pass farmsteads, woods and open plains, on this journey across Eastern Australia. On arrival in Melbourne, you'll be transferred to your hotel for the night. Choose from our 4* and 5* hotels on a B&B basis.

Enjoy a free day in Melbourne today and explore this sophisticated city. Visit a gallery or two, or check out the street art down the lanes off the main streets, and discover a little of Melbourne's urban history on AC/DC lane. For some calm in the city head to the Botanic Gardens, or visit the suburb of St Kilda to lounge on the beach and explore the famous Luna Park. Try some local dishes at the city's restaurants or taste the street food on offer at Queen Victoria Market. Or, choose one of our supplementary optional excursions.

This morning you'll be transferred from your hotel to Southern Cross Station, where you'll board the Overland train for Adelaide. Once onboard the Overland you can settle into your seat and get comfortable for your journey. Standard Red Service travel gives you all the romance of a rail journey through Australia, with stunning and diverse landscapes rolling by your window. Visit the licenced Café 828 car when you fancy a bite to eat or a drink. Or, you can choose to upgrade to Red Premium for more leg room and breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea served at your seat.

On arrival in Adelaide, you'll be transferred to your hotel for the night. Choose from our 4* and 5* hotels, on a B&B basis.

Enjoy a free day in Adelaide today, and get to know the city better. Go shopping along some of the chic shopping streets and visit the boutiques and indie shops, or head to the arcade for a different shopping experience. Visit some of Adelaide's fine restaurants and hip bars, or get away from the big city atmosphere and head to the Botanic Gardens. You can take a tram to the beach for a few hours lazing on the sands or having a go at some water sports. Or, take it easy and stroll around the streets, stopping for a coffee and watching local life go by.

Alternatively, choose one of optional excursions, available at a supplement.

Today you'll embark on a special journey as part of your incredible tour, when you board The Ghan train from Adelaide to Alice. The Ghan takes you back in time to the golden age of travel as soon as you step aboard. Access to the Outback Explorer Lounge gives you a place to get to know your fellow travellers over a drink and to relax while you watch the landscapes roll by. A two-course lunch and a three-course dinner is served in the dining car, accompanied by region fine wines.

Beginning in Adelaide, you'll travel to Marla, and finally arriving in Alice Springs where your once-in-a-lifetime journey aboard The Ghan ends.

Your gold twin cabin provides a quiet oasis of calm for you to sit in by day, watching the scenery go by, and sleep in by night when your sofa converts into twin beds. You can also choose the gold single cabin for total relaxation and solo time to enjoy the scenery in complete peace. The gold premium option also gives you access to the Gold Premium Lounge and Gold Premium Dining Carriage. Or, choose the platinum cabin for a touch of luxury. These spacious and sophisticated cabins feature double beds, which convert into soft seating by day so you can enjoy the views from your window in style.

Early this morning you'll make a special, short stop at the outback town of Marla. You'll arrive at Marla in the dark, but the sun soon rises, bringing an incredible spectacle to this remote area. You can hop off the train at this point and have a walk about and enjoy the atmosphere as the sun comes up. Brunch is served on the train and soon you are crossing the state border and into the Northern Territory.  Then you'll glide through the MacDonnell Ranges and arrive at Alice Springs in the afternoon. On arrival in Alice Springs you'll make your own way to your hotel for the night.

Following your breakfast in your hotel this morning, you'll be transferred from Alice Springs to Ayers Rock. This incredible sandstone monolith, also known as Uluru, makes the landscape of the 'red centre' of Australia even more spectacular. As you make your way to the town of Yulara, you'll see the spectacular colours and altering views of this remote and beautiful area.

When you arrive, you'll experience the many moods of Uluru at sunset with an uninterrupted view, when you take a sunset Uluru tour. Marvel at the immensity of Uluru as you immerse yourself in the environmental changes of this famous icon. Relax with a glass of sparkling wine and light refreshments as the sun sets in the west. Choose from our handpicked 4* and 5* hotels, on a B&B basis.

Enjoy a free day in Yulara today and take a walk around Ayers Rock at your own pace. There are plaques to give you information on the cultural significance of various caves and rocks. Or, for something different head to the art gallery in town, where the works of local artists are shown for free. Take a digeridoo workshop, or a bush food experience. Or relax at your resort hotel by the pool. Alternatively, choose one of our optional excursions, available at a supplement.

Your adventure of a lifetime comes to its end today when you're transferred from your hotel at Yulara to Ayers Rock Airport. Your overnight flight back to London takes you via Sydney and Dubai. You'll arrive back in the UK with the most incredible memories that will last you forever.