2,000 miles across the fifth continent – On rails through the vastness of Australia (2026/2027)

starting at 12.150 €

Your grand Australian train adventure begins with a flight from Germany via Singapore to Sydney. (If you booked without flights, your trip begins on Day 2)

Arrival in Singapore early in the morning and connecting flight to Sydney. On request, we will be happy to book a stopover with hotel accommodation in Singapore for you. Otherwise, you will fly on to Sydney after a short stay. Here you will be warmly welcomed at the airport and driven to your deluxe hotel, where you will stay for three nights.

Well-rested and refreshed, let yourself be enchanted by Sydney’s charm on your city tour. You’ll marvel at the world-famous white Opera House from both the inside and the outside. On a harbor cruise, you’ll experience Australia’s metropolis from surprising perspectives. You’ll drive through the exclusive villa suburbs of Double Bay and Rose Bay to the most famous beach of them all: the sweeping, crescent-shaped Bondi Beach with its white sand is one of the world’s most famous surfing spots. To round off this fantastic day, enjoy an atmospheric dinner cruise. (FA)

Today’s excursion takes you to the Blue Mountains, southwest of Sydney. The Blue Mountains are more than 250 million years old! Then an extraordinary experience awaits you: a ride on the incredibly steep Katoomba Scenic Railway in Jamison Gorge. With a gradient of up to 64 degrees, this 310-meter-long narrow-gauge funicular is the steepest funicular in the world. (F)

A short flight takes you from Sydney to Adelaide. South Australia’s capital surprises visitors with its laid-back atmosphere, set amid green parks and fascinating architecture. At the South Australian Museum, you’ll not only discover the magnificent natural beauty of the Fifth Continent but also encounter the heritage of the indigenous Aboriginal people for the first time. Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc—Australia’s wines are world-class! See for yourself during a small wine tasting at the National Wine Center of Australia. You’ll spend the night at a comfortable hotel in Adelaide. (B)

Today, Australia’s legendary train, The Ghan, awaits you at the Adelaide train station. Countless stories surround the name of this world-famous train. One story suggests that the name “The Ghan” is a nod to the Afghan leaders of the camel caravans who, before the advent of motorization, ensured the transport of goods across the Australian outback. In 2004, after 120 years of construction, the project was completed: one of the longest railway lines on Earth (2,979 km) now runs through the Dreamtime lands of the Aboriginal people. Since then, The Ghan has connected Australia from the south coast to the north coast, crossing 22 degrees of latitude and four climate zones. You’ll board the train and travel all the way across Australia—from the Mediterranean-style wine country through the Red Center to the tropical north. As darkness envelops the rugged outback, you’ll enjoy an exquisite dinner and fine wines. You’ll spend the night on board. (FMA)

In the morning, The Ghan arrives in Port Augusta, the gateway to the Australian Outback. From here, you’ll embark on a full-day excursion to the spectacular Flinders Ranges, one of the oldest landscapes on Earth. Mighty mountain ranges, deep gorges, and glowing red rock formations characterize this unique region, which has been shaped by the wind over millions of years. In the historic railroad town of Quorn, you’ll enjoy lunch in the heart of the Australian Outback before returning to your train in the afternoon. You’ll spend the night on board again. (FMA)

At sunrise, the red desert comes to life outside your train car window. Soon you’ll pass Marla, an outback outpost with just 100 residents. At noon, your train reaches Alice Springs, the only major city in the Red Center, founded in 1872 during the construction of the Trans-Australian Telegraph Line. Here, you’ll say goodbye to your train for three days and immerse yourself in the pioneering era of the white Outback settlers at the telegraph station. Afterward, at the School of the Air, you’ll learn how children on remote farms are taught via radio. You’ll spend the night in Alice Springs today. (FM)

Today, you will travel through the endless semi-desert to Kata Tjuta National Park. The round rock formations of the Olgas lie in the desert sand like giant red marbles. You will explore the bizarre scenery on a short hike. Your destination for the day is Australia's most famous photo motif: the unmistakable Ayers Rock. The 3.6 km long, 2.4 km wide, and 348 m high monolith Uluru is a sacred place for the Aborigines. In the evening light, the mountain range glows in ever-changing shades of red. You will spend the night at Ayers Rock. (F)

Today you have to get up early: sunrise at Uluru is a unique experience, a spectacle of light and shadow in the cool morning outback. Afterwards, on a tour around the sacred mountain, you will discover caves and rocks that tell of the myths and dream paths of the Aborigines. Then it's back through the red desert to Alice Springs, where you will spend the night again. (F)

The area around Alice Springs offers a wide variety of landscapes. A day trip takes you into the mountainous terrain of the MacDonnell Ranges. Here, several gorges stretch out like pearls on a string. Each gorge is different: some are narrow, others wider; some have waterfalls, others do not. A waterhole (billabong) in the striking Simpsons Gap gorge has water year-round. Keep an eye out for black-footed rock wallabies! Another spectacular gorge is Standley Chasm (Angkerle Atwatye), a place of great spiritual significance to the Aboriginal people. In the afternoon, you’ll board The Ghan again at the Alice Springs train station. You’ll spend the night on the train. (FA)

What a change overnight – from the desert in the Red Centre to the tropical north of Australia. The small town of Katherine has been settled by European immigrants since the end of the 19th century and is characterized by fruit and vegetable growing and cattle breeding. From the train station, you set off into the untouched wilderness of Nitmiluk National Park. On a boat trip through the breathtaking gorges of the Katherine River, you can admire ancient rock paintings. Then it's on to the last leg of the journey, a 300 km train ride from Katherine to Darwin. You will reach the idyllic oceanfront capital of the Northern Territory in the evening. You will spend the night in a comfortable hotel. (FM)

Today you’ll travel to Kakadu National Park, which spans 20,000 km² and is one of Australia’s most fascinating places and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is home to one of the world’s most beautiful and extensive collections of rock art. Sandstone plateaus, red cliffs, roaring waterfalls and rivers, floodplains, and the coastline are home to giant crocodiles, flying foxes, dingoes, kangaroos, wallabies, and numerous other animals. On your drive through the national park, you’ll admire fantastic Aboriginal rock art at Ubirr Rock and Nourlangie Rock—dating back over 20,000 years—a testament to how long the Indigenous people have lived in this region. In the evening, experience the unique atmosphere of the Australian bush in the heart of Northern Australia—you’ll spend the night at a lodge in Kakadu National Park. (B)

Early in the morning, you’ll take a boat ride on the famous Yellow Water River, when the wildlife of Kakadu National Park is particularly active. Afterward, you’ll leave Kakadu National Park and head back toward Darwin. Along the way, you’ll visit the impressive Litchfield National Park, known for its spectacular waterfalls, dense rainforests, and gigantic termite mounds. On walks, you’ll discover the beauty of this tropical landscape and—weather permitting—have the opportunity to take a refreshing dip in one of the natural pools. In the afternoon, you’ll arrive back in Darwin, the laid-back tropical city in northern Australia. (B)

Early in the morning, a short domestic flight from Darwin will take you to Cairns on Australia’s Pacific coast. Cairns was founded in 1876 as an export port for gold and other natural resources. Upon arrival in Cairns, a special experience awaits you: From the historic Freshwater Station, you’ll board the nostalgic Kuranda Scenic Railway for an adventurous 37-kilometer mountain journey over bridges and past waterfalls to Kuranda. Through the open windows, you’ll watch tropical greenery and tunnels pass by as your train climbs a total elevation of 328 meters. In the former hippie village of Kuranda, enjoy the unique atmosphere among the bird park, markets, and trendy boutiques. In a gondola on the Skyrail Cableway, you’ll glide over the rainforest canopy and return to Cairns in the early evening. (B)

Take a day trip to the Great Barrier Reef today (optional), or spend the day doing whatever you like. In the evening, you can reflect on your trip during your farewell dinner. (FA)

In the morning, you’ll explore the city on a sightseeing tour between Marlin Marina and the saltwater lagoon. Along the way, you’ll have some free time for last-minute shopping before heading to the airport. Return flight from Cairns via Singapore to Germany. (B)

(If you booked without flights, your trip ends on Day 17)