What to Expect from the Perth to Sydney Train

Discover what free things you can do once you arrive in Sydney

The three-day railway journey from Perth to Sydney consists of 4,352km of mountains, native bushland, desert landscapes, and a variety of flora and fauna. You may be wondering—why travel such a long distance by train when you can simply take a quick flight? Well, traveling this way rather than taking a cramped flight is an experience in itself. By the end of the journey, you’ll have witnessed the many different landscapes that this country has to offer and come away with a better understanding of the sheer size of it.

Read on to find out more about what you can expect from the Perth to Sydney train ride.

The hotel on wheels experience

When the Indian Pacific train began operation in 1970, it was used as a cheaper alternative to air travel. However, now that budget airlines have been introduced, train travel has become about the experience rather than saving money. You definitely don’t take it if you’re in a rush to get from one place to the next!

The cabins offer bunk beds that fold into a lounge in the day time, with Gold and Platinum classes including en-suite bathrooms.

Luxurious dining

While a Gold class ticket may seem like a lot of money to fork out, it actually isn’t the worst deal in the world since it includes all meals and drinks for the duration of your trip. The food is also out of this world, with local ingredients from the area the train’s passing through at that time. And hey, it wouldn’t be a train journey without a full-service bar, would it?

The diverse landscapes

I guarantee you’ll be wanting a window seat on the Perth to Sydney train journey, with so many diverse and jaw-dropping landscapes to be seen along the way. Some of these landscapes include the Blue Mountains outside of Sydney, the golden fields east of Perth, and rolling hills and green countryside through Adelaide.

One of the most amazing sights you’ll witness from your cabin window will be the Nullarbor Plain, an unchanging view for 478km—the world’s longest stretch of dead-straight landscape. You would think you’d be bored of a view that boasts, well, nothing—but it is quite an amazing thing to witness as you’ll probably feel like you’ve stepped inside another galaxy.

Testimonials

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Caryn CallistaChinese University of Hong Kong student, Future17 participant

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Tanika DuivenvoordenUniversity of Queensland student, Future17 participant

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Abhinav Singh BhalChinese University of Hong Kong graduate

Unique stop-overs

If the idea of spending three full days stuck on a train sounds awful, you don’t have to worry: you’re definitely not expected to spend the entire journey onboard, with many stop-overs along the way, making the experience that much better. Among these stops are art galleries, bush reserves, lookout points, wine tastings, and cheese and chocolate tastings (uhm, yes please). There’s even a drag queen performance at the Palace Hotel in Broken Hill. These excursions will definitely keep you on your toes.

The price tag

Unfortunately, the three-day journey from Perth to Sydney certainly doesn’t come cheap, with a price tag of AU$2,000 for one way, although you’ll find that fares tend to be lower in off season. Many people will say it’s worth the price though, as an experience that can’t be beat.

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Australia