Ten of the Best Rail Trips in Australia

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There’s no better way to explore Oz than by riding the rails.

There are commercial passenger rail networks in most states to do the heavy lifting, and an array of heritage tourist trains to add colour and character to your travel experience. The latter range in length from a few minutes to a number of days — but each one has an interesting tale to tell.

The rise of rail in Australia began in the 1850s and was quickly embraced by individual states, largely to transport raw materials and agricultural products. Many of those original industrial lines would go on to carry the tourist services of today.

From short tourist services to overland adventures, here are ten of the best rail trips in Australia. All aboard!

1. The Indian Pacific, Sydney/Adelaide/Perth

If you want to travel overland between the east and west coasts of Australia, the epic Sydney to Perth train journey on The Indian Pacific is a fabulous way to do it. This experience-based rail service links Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth, with additional stops in the historic mining city of Broken Hill in outback New South Wales and the tiny Western Australian town of Rawlinna (which sits on the edge of the vast Nullarbor Plain). The trip takes four days in total, and serviced accommodation, meals, drinks, and a series of off-train experiences are all included in the cost of your fare. Duration: 4 days/3 nights

Watch our video of this experience: 

INDIAN PACIFIC Gold Service, Perth to Sydney, Australia 2024 | Cabins, Dining, Off-Train Experiences

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2. The Ghan, Adelaide/Darwin

Traversing the Red Centre is generally no mean feat, but the iconic Ghan rail service between Adelaide and Darwin makes it effortless. The journey, which takes three or four days (depending on the direction of travel), embodies the pioneering spirit of the colonial Afghan cameleers who opened up central Australia on their ‘ships of the desert’. The Ghan operates on the same all-inclusive basis as the Indian Pacific. The itineraries differ depending on your departure point; if you want to see the famous underground town of Coober Pedy, opt to travel south from Darwin. Duration: Up to 4 days/3 nights

3. Scenic Railway, Blue Mountains (NSW)

We may not have the longest passenger rail service in the world (that honour belongs to the trans-Siberian railway), but we do have the steepest! Originally built to haul coal up from the mines on the floor of the Jamison Valley in New South Wales’ Blue Mountains, the Scenic Railway has been thrilling passengers of all ages since the 1940s. It plunges down a narrow ravine, 310 metres in length, at an incline of 52 degrees (128 percent). Be a daredevil and choose a ‘Cliffhanger seat’ to increase the incline to 64 degrees. The Scenic Railway is located in the hub mountain town of Katoomba; catch a train up and back from Sydney (2.5 hours each way) and make a day of it. Duration: 5 minutes each way

4. Puffing Billy, Dandenong Ranges (VIC)

Ask any Victorian to name the icons of their state and the Great Ocean Road will probably top the list. But you can bet that Puffing Billy won’t be far behind. This jaunty steam train travels between Belgrave and Gembrook in the glorious Dandenong Ranges — an hour-or-so’s drive east of Melbourne. The line was constructed at the turn of the 20th century as part of an initiative to drive development in rural parts of the state. Today it’s a much-loved tourist attraction, but courted controversy in 2018 when a ban was imposed on passengers dangling their legs over the sides of the train (following a collision with a tourist mini-bus). The ban was recently overturned, allowing guests to feel the breeze on their knees once more. Duration: Up to 3 hours return

Watch our video of this experience: 

PUFFING BILLY RAILWAY Day Trip from Melbourne, Australia 2026 + California Redwoods & Yarra Valley!

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5. Cockle Train, Victor Harbor/Goolwa (SA)

Established in sections from 1854, South Australia’s first railway line (and Australia’s first line with iron rails) connected the seaside towns of Victor Harbor and Port Elliot with Goolwa at the the mouth of the Murray River. Originally, horse-drawn trains transported goods along the line between the ports and Murray. Residents would go along for the ride to collect cockles on the beaches around Goolwa (which were used as fishing bait) — earning the service its nickname: ‘Cockle Train’.

Steam trains were introduced 30 years later and the volunteer-run Steam Ranger Heritage Railway continues to operate a tourist service on the line two or three times a week (with up to three services a day during holiday periods). Duration: 30 minutes each way

6. Kuranda Scenic Railway, Cairns/Kuranda (QLD)

The discovery of gold in far north Queensland in the 1870s drove regional growth, just as it did in many other parts of the country. To guarantee supplies to burgeoning inland townships, a rail line was proposed from Cairns to Kuranda in the Atherton Tablelands. However, the steep slope and rugged terrain would necessitate some creative engineering. Construction began in 1886 and continued for five years, resulting in the loss of an estimated 32 lives. However, the result was an acclaimed feat, and one that is still admired today. The winding line rises from sea level to 328 metres, and passes through hand-dug tunnels, across towering bridges, and around plunging ravines and gorges. The Kuranda Scenic Railway passenger service operates daily and has two classes of travel — Heritage and Gold. Many visitors travel up to Kuranda by rail, and back to Cairns on board the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway. Duration: 2 hours each way

Watch our video of this experience: 

KURANDA SCENIC RAILWAY from Cairns, Australia | Review of Heritage & Gold Class

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7. West Coast Wilderness Railway, Queenstown/Strahan (TAS)

Down south in Tasmania, the town of Queenstown’s lunar-like landscape tells the tale of the copper mining boom that once gripped this part of the state. A rail line was required to transport the mined metal to the coast. Just 35 kilometres of track was needed, but it would be no ordinary trip. The line would need to pass through dense rainforest, over majestic King River Gorge and, above all, up Rinadeena Saddle’s steep gradient. It was thought to be an impossible task — but thanks to an ingenious rack-and-pinion rail system (the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere), the completed link with Strahan opened in 1899. It operated as the Mount Lyell Railway until 1963, and was resurrected in 2002 as a tourist attraction. Riding the West Coast Wilderness Railway is a unique way to experience the beauty of Tassie’s western wilderness. Duration: 5 hours return

8. Gulflander, Normanton/Croydon (QLD)

Given its uber remote location, only the most intrepid of travellers get to ride Queensland’s Gulflander, which runs seasonally from Normanton at the southernmost point of the Gulf of Carpentaria to the small inland town of Croydon — a distance of 94 kilometres (still officially measured locally in miles). The Gulflander’s 1950s-era railmotor is affectionately known as the ‘Old Tin Hare’ and operates Wednesdays from Normanton to Croydon and Thursdays on the return journey from mid-February through to mid-December. The trip will see you traversing a mix of savannah grassland, woodland, and wetlands. One of the great joys of this experience is simply the opportunity to catch a train from Normanton’s heritage-listed railway station, which dates back to 1889. Duration: 5 hours each way

9. Mary Valley Rattler, Gympie/Mary Valley (QLD)

Gympie’s Mary Valley Rattler is testament to what a small town can do when it puts its collective mind to it. Originally part of the Maryborough Railway — which linked the river port of Maryborough with Gympie and the towns of the Mary Valley — commercial services on the line ceased in the 1990s. A tourist service was launched between Gympie and the Mary Valley in 1998, but it was suspended indefinitely in 2012 following two serious derailments and a big black hole in the operation’s finances. Would the Rattler be silenced once and for all? Not if the Gympie community could help it. A lot of lobbying and $14.5 million dollars of government funding later, services recommenced in late 2018. If you’re staying on the Sunshine Coast or doing a coastal roadie, put this on your to-do list. It’s a beauty! Duration: 3 hours return

10. The Q Train, Bellarine Peninsula (VIC)

Our final rail service serves up a memorable combination of scenic vistas and fine fare. The delectable Q Train operates on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula — 1.5 hours’ drive south-west of Melbourne, via the city of Geelong. It’s run under charter by The Bellarine Railway and utilises refurbished carriages from Queensland’s old Sunlander service. During the standard three-hour return trip from Drysdale to Queenscliff, guests sit down to a sumptuous five-course degustation lunch or dinner. Push the boat out on The Q Train’s First Class experience, which will see you dining in a private cabin and enjoying local beverages matched with the meal. Speaking of boats, if you’re travelling down from Melbourne, a combined ferry and rail package is available. Duration: 3 hours return

This post was published thanks to Aussie Trains.

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Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of the best rail trips in Australia? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

Additional images: Bigstock