Get ready to make unforgettable memories this festive season with Journey Beyond.
To celebrate the festive season, Journey Beyond has introduced a new seven-day rail and safari holiday package, combining the Great Southern train with a stay at Monarto Safari Resort. Designed for those looking to celebrate the season in a relaxed way, the journey takes guests from Brisbane to Adelaide, winding along the East Coast, before continuing beyond the tracks for a wild stay at Monarto Safari Resort.
Imagine waking up on Christmas morning to the call of African wildlife, surrounded by sweeping landscapes and the untamed beauty of South Australia’s Murraylands.
“As Australians increasingly seek meaningful experiences over the festive season, we wanted to create a Christmas holiday reimagined: wild, unhurried and utterly unforgettable,” said David Donald, Managing Director of Rail and Touring at Journey Beyond.
Departing Brisbane on 21 December, travellers board the coastal Great Southern train for a seven-day southbound adventure where festive cheer meets some of Australia’s most breathtaking scenery. As the train winds through the landscape, regionally inspired dining and warm seasonal hospitality set the mood for the holiday ahead.
The journey unfolds at a leisurely pace, with opportunities to step off the train and explore the vibrant coastal town of Coffs Harbour, Australia’s oldest wine region the Hunter Valley, or the pristine waterways of Port Stephens before discovering the culture of Melbourne or the charm of regional Victoria.
Arriving in Adelaide on Christmas Eve, the adventure takes a breathtaking turn. Take in the sweeping views from Mount Lofty Summit before descending into the quaint village of Hahndorf, where a hearty German feast awaits. From there, it’s on to Monarto Safari Resort, home for the next three nights. As the sun dips below the horizon on your first evening, step aboard a Sunset Wildlife Safari, sundowner in hand, with nothing but the sounds of Africa surrounding you.
Christmas Day is spent exactly as it should be, in good company with newfound friends. No reindeer in sight, but you may spot an eland, giraffe or zebra at the waterhole during a lavish Christmas lunch. Expect incredible food, breathtaking surrounds and wildlife encounters to remember.
On Boxing Day, relax and unwind by the resort’s infinity pools, or if you are feeling adventurous head next door to explore Monarto Safari Park and jump on the Zu-loop or get even closer to your favourite species with the park’s animal experiences.
“If you’re searching for a gift for someone who has everything, our Monarto Safari Resort Festive Stay is the perfect solution. There’s no better gift than an experience, so give your loved ones the adventure of a lifetime aboard the Great Southern this Christmas,” Donald added.
For those looking to trade holiday stress for something truly extraordinary, this festive departure offers a new way to experience the season: unhurried, uniquely Australian, and beyond the everyday.
Monarto Safari Resort Festive Stay – Brisbane to Adelaide, 21 – 27 December
7 days, 6 nights
Platinum from $8,570 per person, twin share
Gold Premium Twin from $6,330 per person, twin share
Gold Twin from $5,550 per person, twin share
Gold Single from $5,960 per person
Highlights and inclusions:
Make this Christmas truly special and book the Great Southern Festive Escape or The Monarto Safari Resort Festive Stay now at https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/packages/monarto-safari-resort-festive-stay-2026/ or visit your local travel agent.
Images | https://journeybeyond.canto.global/b/R1M6I
