Australia by Rail: Indian Pacific

Depart the UK to fly to Australia and begin your tailor-made journey, arriving in Perth the next day.

Australia's sunniest state capital and its beautiful surrounds have an enormous amount to offer. Some of the country's best beaches, surf breaks, nature reserves and vineyards are all close at hand, while the city itself boasts a wealth of superb dining options and a cosmopolitan atmosphere that makes it a joy to explore. Head to Cottesloe Beach for some swimming relaxation and stunning Indian Ocean sunsets, enjoy a relaxing cruise along the beautiful Swan River and explore Kings Park, a vast bush-filled expanse on the city's western flank with a 17-acre botanical garden at its heart. You'll have two days to explore after your transfer to your stylish boutique accommodation, complete with lavishly designed interiors and a delightful roof terrace.

Stay: QT Perth (Superior)

Collect your hire car and drive the short distance south to Fremantle. Each weekend this vibrant port city comes alive with craft markets, street artists, buskers and entertainers. Baristas conjure complex coffee concoctions in the cafés of 'Cappuccino Strip' and the local bars, breweries and restaurants are packed to the rafters. Fremantle also has a fascinating maritime and convict past, which can be explored at the superb Maritime Museum and the World Heritage-listed Round House, a notorious prison built in 1830.

Alternatively, you might choose an optional coach tour to Rottnest Island. This tour will provide you with an insight into Rottnest's cultural and historical and social heritage as well as its diverse wildlife and fauna. You'll also have a chance to step outside and have a stroll along the boardwalk at the majestic look-out point at West End.

Stay: Rydges Esplanade Fremantle (Superior)

Today you’ll swap your hire car for your private Gold Service Twin cabin aboard the Indian Pacific. You’ll settle in to enjoy complimentary drinks in the elegant lounge car and all-inclusive dining; the restaurant carriage serves up such delicacies as barramundi fish and grilled kangaroo for multi-course dinners and lunches. Your first gourmet experience is dinner, served as the verdant greenery of the Avon Valley melts into the vast west-Australian outback.

You’ll wake today to see the sun rise over the outback town of Kalgoorlie. A true frontier town, it’s home to a giant, open-cut gold mine that’s over two miles wide. Explore its highlights on a guided tour before rejoining the train for a journey across the Nullarbor Plains. Here, the skyscapes are massive and the desert broken only by mobs of kangaroos and circling birds of prey. You’ll get a sense of its remoteness with a stop at Cook, a once-bustling railway community that’s become an eerie ghost town. Back on board, cool off with a drink back in the lounge.

Watch as views of the spectacular Flinders Ranges make way for the rolling South Australian countryside, where bright greens substitute for yesterday’s red ochre. Take time to relax, with breakfast and lunch both served onboard. Then, at mid-afternoon, you'll pull into the Two Wells for a short transfer to the beautiful Barossa Valley, one of Australia's most famed wine-producing regions. Spend the evening at Seppeltsfield Winery, where you'll be treated to a signature dining experience in a vintage cellar, including a traditional 'firing of the barrel' display. Then, it’s back onto the train as you make your way overnight to Broken Hill.

As one of Australia’s legendary Outback stations, Broken Hill's wide streets and country pubs lead to intriguing art studios and the impressive Miners’ Memorial. This grand piece of architecture remembers the 800 who lost their lives in the town’s silver industry. Return to the train for lunch, then spend the rest of the day relaxing as you wind your way through rural New South Wales.

Before your final journey into Sydney, you'll say goodbye to the Indian Pacific on the edge of the Blue Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you'll spend the afternoon. Enjoy a choice of mountain excursions, from guided hikes to scenic cable car rides before a light lunch and a hosted trip into Sydney aboard a chartered New South Wales rail service. Alternatively, if you wish to arrive in Sydney earlier, there's the option to stay onboard the Indian Pacific for the last stretch of the route. Once in Sydney, head to your hotel where you'll spend the next two nights.

Enjoy a full day exploring the famous sights, beachside suburbs, world-class restaurants and trendy nightspots of Australia's largest city. Be sure to visit the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, but leave time to discover some of the Sydney's lesser-known attractions. There's the laid-back seaside suburbs of Coogee and Manly, the bustling markets of Paddington, ever-popular Bondi Beach and the fashionable boutiques and stylish cafés of the historic Rocks precinct.

To help you get acquainted with the city sights, we suggest an optional all-included lunch cruise with Journey Beyond for the chance to take in some of Sydney's most iconic sights from the water. As well as some spectacular views, you'll also be treated to a delicious lunch created from the finest local ingredients. Think local seafood from the Hawkesbury, lamb from the pastures of Riverina and beef sourced from the upper Hunter Valley. It's all paired with a selection of beers, New South Wales wines, soft drinks and tea or coffee. Speak to our experts for price and availability.

Pick up a hire car to make the drive from Sydney to the Hunter Valley. Here you'll spend the final few days of your holiday getting to know the vineyards and vintners of Australia's oldest wine region, tasting your way through its award-winning wineries. Enjoy two full days of cellar door sales and tours, sampling avant-garde wines like verdelho and chambourcin, and tried-and-tested classics such as shiraz, sémillon and chardonnay. Dine at a profusion of fabulous restaurants and then burn it all off along some of the valley's many hiking and cycling trails. This is the perfect, relaxing end to your trip.

Return your hire car to the airport in time for your flight back to the UK, arriving on day 13.