Great Southern
Press Room

Our newest train burst onto the scene in 2019 and since then has been taking guests on a culinary and scenic adventure through Australia’s south-east.

Experience Australia’s stunning south-east on our newest train, which burst onto the scene in 2019. The Great Southern, often referred to as the ‘summer train’, travels between Brisbane and Adelaide each December, January, and February.

Embark on a rail holiday that excites the senses; the Great Southern’s journey from Brisbane to Adelaide spans three nights and four days, while the return journey from Adelaide to Brisbane takes two nights and three days.

With a striking, bright orange locomotive symbolising the warmth of summer, the Great Southern features an Eastern Grey Kangaroo motif, representative of the regions traversed by the train.

Guests can indulge in Gold, Gold Premium, and Platinum service options, with the much-anticipated Aurora Australis Suites launching in 2026. Each journey is inclusive of Off Train Experiences in a variety of locations, including Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Hunter Valley, and Port Stephens.

North-bound and south-bound journeys differ not only in length but also in stops and experiences, making a return journey on the Great Southern particularly appealing.

Travelling through some of Australia’s finest food-producing regions, guests will savour menus brimming with local produce, featuring dishes such as Riverina oranges, Junee lamb rump, and Spencer Gulf prawns.

With exceptional Off Train Experiences and world-class hospitality, a journey on the Great Southern is truly a summer holiday like no other.

Fast Facts

  • The Great Southern arrives in Adelaide on the same day the Indian Pacific departs, meaning guests can continue their rail holiday all the way through to Perth.
  • The Great Southern crosses the Murray River twice, once in NSW close to its source and once in South Australia nearer to its mouth. It also goes around two spiral loops of track on its journey (where the train crosses over its own route at a different level).
  • The train’s average speed is 85km/hr and its maximum speed is 115 km/hr.