Train travel in Australia: Should you do it?

Australia has useful regional rail systems around Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Intercity trains link up cities along the east coast, and long-distance tourist trains across the country offer luxury and adventure. However, trains don’t serve most of the nation, and it’s hard to imagine a train-only trip around the country.

Remember that with train travel in Australia, the journey can be as beautiful as the destination. Yes, you can take an intercity train between Sydney and Melbourne, but it runs far inland and you’ll miss the incredible drive along the coast. We recommend using trains to explore in and around cities, but when it comes to travelling longer distances, you’ll definitely want to look at other options.

Kangaroo watching the Indian Pacific on its journey across the Nullarbor

Regional trains in Australia

The three main regional rail networks are in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Adelaide and Perth have smaller networks.

New South Wales: Lines from Sydney serve popular areas like Canberra, the Blue Mountains and the coast

Victoria: Lines from Melbourne serve coastal towns and the historic gold towns inland

Queensland: Lines from Brisbane include the resort area of Gold Coast to the south and the long coast to the north

Intercity trains around Australia

The three main routes of interest to visitors are all are along the popular east coast.

Melbourne to Sydney (11¼ hours/2 daily)
One train runs during the day, one runs overnight The night train includes sleeper cars with cabins (compartments) for one or two Train runs far inland, so no coastal views
Sydney to Brisbane (14¼ hours/1 daily)
Train runs north overnight, south by day Departure and arrival times in Brisbane are inconvenient Serves the popular beach town of Coffs Harbour
Brisbane to Cairns (24 hours/5 times per week)
Train is named ‘Spirit of Queensland’ Has regular seats and ‘railbed’ seats that convert to flat beds Follows the coast; popular stops include Rockhampton and Townsville

the ghan train Australia — The Ghan train (Credit: Train Chartering & Private Rail Cars/ Foter.com)

Cruise trains across Australia

Australia’s only true long-distance trains are operated by Great Southern Rail and are marketed mostly to tourists. The Ghan and The Indian Pacific traverse the country with luxurious trains where all passengers have cabins that sleep one or two people. Gourmet meals are included. These trains make a few extended stops along the way for sightseeing.

The daytime Overland that runs between Melbourne and Adelaide is a hybrid in that it serves a popular travel route at affordable prices but only runs twice a week. Drinks and meals are sold in a cafe car.

The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs, one per week)
Adelaide to Darwin: 53 hours Adelaide to Alice Springs: 25½ hours Alice Springs to Darwin: 23½ hours
The Indian Pacific (Sydney to Perth via Adelaide, one per week)
Sydney to Perth: 3 days Sydney to Adelaide: 24 hours Adelaide to Perth: 41 hours
The Overland (Melbourne to Adelaide, two per week)
12 hours

The Ghan train day cabin — The Ghan – Platinum Class by day (Credit: Train Chartering & Private Rail Cars/ Foter.com)

The Ghan train double cabin — The Ghan – Platinum Class, double (Credit: Train Chartering & Private Rail Cars/Foter.com)

The Ghan train map — The Ghan route map (Credit: Train Chartering & Private Rail Cars/Foter.com)

the ghan train australia restaurant — The Ghan’s restaurant car (Credit: Train Chartering & Private Rail Cars/Foter.com)

Puffing Billy Yarra Valley Australia — Puffing Billy steam train in the Yarra Valley (Credit: Robert Blackburn/Visit Victoria)

Flinders Street Station, Melbourne, Australia — Flinders Street Station, Melbourne (Credit: Josie Withers/Visit Victoria)

Melbourne Southern Cross station — Melbourne’s Southern Cross station services train and bus routes from all over Australia (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Sydney Central Station — Sydney’s Central Station is home to intercity trains (Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Indian Pacific train — The Indian Pacific at Broken Hill (Credit: smjbk/Foter.com)

Meals in the dining car of the Indian Pacific — Gourmet meals are included in the Indian Pacific trains (Credit: Denisbin/Flickr)

Overland train interiors — Interior of The Overland, which runs from Melbourne to Adelaide (Credit: Mertie/Foter.com)

zig zag railway NSW Lithgow — The heritage Zig Zag Railway near Lithgow in New South Wales climbs the western flank of the Blue Mountains, using railway zig zags to gain height (Credit: Denisbin/Foter.com)

Valley Rattler Steam Train Queensland — Valley Rattler steam train in Queensland (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland)

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Regional trains in Australia

Intercity trains around Australia

Cruise trains across Australia