What is the best way to cross Australia? Many people attempt the Big Lap, but the thought of spending 6 to 24 months in a camper van or motorhome, off-roading across the Outback, didn’t seem like the way I would want to cross the continent. When taming a wide-open continent, taking the train seems like a more civilized way to see the continent, one that can easily fit in the time frame of most travelers. Fortunately, Journey Beyond Rail offers four cross-continental journeys across Australia.
The Ghan Route
The Ghan Route goes north to south, starting in Darwin at Australia’s northern tip and cutting south through the center of the continent, stopping in Alice Springs and several other locations along the way. The train journey includes meals, excursions, a sleeper car, and eventually ends on the south coast in Adelaide.
The Indian Pacific Route
The Indian-Pacific Route goes east to west, starting in Sydney on the Pacific Ocean and heading west through the southern part of the continent, stopping in Adelaide and multiple other locations along the way. The train journey includes meals, excursions, a sleeper car, and eventually ends on the west coast in Perth.
The Great Southern
The Great Southern Route goes around the southeastern corner of Australia, starting in Adelaide on the South Coast and heading west through Victoria and New South Wales, before ending up in Brisbane. The train journey includes meals, excursions, a sleeper car and a stop in Melbourne.
The Overland
The Overland is a day route connecting Adelaide to Melbourne, passing through a very scenic area of Australia between these two cities.
Pairing one or more of these journeys seems like a great way to see a continent larger than the diameter of Pluto. I hope to pair a couple of these options to make the trip to the Land Down Under memorable.