10 Day Great Southern Rail & Iconic Islands
This tour is categorised as 1 out of 5
Explore at your own pace: Discover your destination at your own pace with our self-guided itinerary. Options include driving, rail, or cruising (excluding expeditions). Enjoy included guided day trips for sightseeing as outlined in your itinerary.
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
On these packages you will travel from city to city on your own, exploring at your own pace. We have arranged transportation in most cases and day tours for you to see the destination. Enjoy the time and flexibility to linger longer or pick up the pace and see as much as possible.
Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognised and awarded for its handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation.
We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.
Australian owned and operated with 100% Australian Customer Service support
We are proudly 100% Australian owned and operated, with our head office located in Melbourne, Victoria. When you make your booking, you will receive dedicated and ongoing support from our team of travel professionals throughout your booking, up until you are due to depart.
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
✓ Incredible sightseeing, travel on the Great Southern through rugged wilderness and spectacular coastline, explore the beauty of two of Australia’s most iconic islands - Kangaroo Island & Fraser Island, discover the nation’s capital, explore the Grampians and Coffs Harbour
✓ 2 nights on board the Great Southern train in a Gold Twin cabin (upgrades available). All-inclusive meals, fine wines and beverages. A regionally-inspired menu paired with a selection of local wines
✓ 6 nights accommodation in deluxe 4-star accommodation
✓ 16 meals throughout, including 9 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches & 2 Dinners
✓ Visit South Australia’s premier tourism destination, Kangaroo Island, on a full day guided tour
✓ Take a guided walk on the beach among a colony of rare and wild Australian sea lions with a National Parks Ranger at Seal Bay Conservation Park.
✓ Included off-train experiences in The Grampians, Canberra and Coffs Harbour
✓ Spend three incredible nights on World Heritage-listed Fraser Island
✓ Enjoy a full day ranger-guided beauty spots tour of Fraser Island, including Lake McKenzie, 75 Mile Beach and Maheno Shipwreck
✓ 4 Day Hertz Group H Car Hire for travel to Fraser Island, including Max Cover (NIL Excess)
✓ Return passenger ferry to Fraser Island
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Adelaide! On arrival, make your way to your centrally located hotel and enjoy the afternoon at leisure.
Check in & arrival information.
A taxi or Uber from Adelaide airport to your hotel is approximately $25 per car. Hotel check in is at 2pm. Should you arrive earlier than this, hotel staff will do all possible to check you in as soon as possible. If your room is not available before check-in time, you are welcome to leave your luggage in storage and explore the surrounding area.
See the highlights of South Australia’s premier nature-based tourism destination, Kangaroo Island. From Remarkable Rocks to playful fur seals, your guides will take you to the Kangaroo Island’s natural highlights.
Take a guided walk on the beach among a colony of rare and wild Australian sea lions with a National Parks Ranger at Seal Bay Conservation Park. Get up close and see these wild creatures frolic and laze about – a truly amazing and unforgettable experience. Enjoy a delicious 2-course lunch at the Parndana Hotel before visiting the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park to feed some kangaroos and get up close to the Kangaroo Island Koalas while listening to the Keeper talk about the cuddly mammals.
Spend the afternoon in the Flinders Chase National Park, which was devastated in the worst fire to ever hit the island in January 2020. You’ll see that the regeneration of the native bush occurs so quickly after the event and there will be many opportunities to take photos. As you travel through the park, keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies, reptiles, and koalas.
See the rugged coastline from walks around Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Remarkable Rocks provide great photographic opportunities, and the Admirals Arch boardwalk takes you down a rugged cliff face to reveal the spectacular rock archway, a natural nursery and safe haven for playful Long-nosed Fur Seals.
From Adelaide, this tour is a 16 hour day that includes travel to and from Kangaroo Island. You do get time to rest during your ferry transfers & coach travel between attractions.
Today is yours at leisure to enjoy all that Adelaide has to offer. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the Barossa Valley.
We start the day at a relaxing 9am picking you up at your accommodation. Our first winery is the historic Château Yaldara, this is one of the most photographed buildings in South Australia and no trip to the Barossa Valley is complete without getting a photo in front of this iconic building.
Our trip continues with a cruise through some of the most picturesque scenery in the Barossa Valley. We cross the world-famous Jacobs Creek as we head toward the heart of the Barossa Valley, the beautiful and historic township of Tanunda. We have time to wander up the main street and visit some local shops and points of interest, a perfect place to find a souvenir or a coffee.
Lunch is a regional highlight. While we enjoy some of the Barossa’s most internationally acclaimed wines at the beautiful Peter Lehmann winery a platter of the best meats, cheeses, olives, assorted vegetables and freshly baked bread the Barossa Valley has to offer is brought to your table. (There is a great vegetarian regional plate option also). Stopping to take in in the breath-taking panoramic views of the Barossa from Mengler’s Hill Lookout, we head onwards to our next wine-tasting experience at Lambert Estate Wines. Nestled on top of the Barossa Ranges, this family owned winery showcases a unique range of wines while taking in spectacular views.
We then head to our final destination, Wolf Blass Wines. From humble beginnings Wolfgang Blass has created one of the world’s most iconic wine brands. We enjoy sampling some of his extensive award winning wines with time to explore the state of the art cellar door.
Tour departs - approx 9am
Tour concludes - approx 5.30pm
Tour includes - Lunch and Wine Tasting
As the train leaves Adelaide at 08:40am, take your time to settle in and get familiar with your cabin. Enjoy morning tea and then savour a relaxed lunch on board while watching the ever-changing landscape glide by. In the afternoon, the train will arrive in regional Victoria where you’ll have a chance to experience the spectacular wilderness of the Grampians region. Choose from a range of Off Train Experiences.
Today is yours to spend in Australia’s political and cultural capital, Canberra. After breakfast on board, enjoy a scenic coach ride to Canberra to experience a truly memorable lunch and immersive touring at your pick of cultural institutions, including the National War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House, before returning to the train in time for dinner. Enjoy another sumptuous dinner on board before retiring to the lounge for a nightcap.
Choose your own adventure today with a variety of options to suit your fitness level and interests. Opt for the Boardwalk to Beach excursion, stopping at the small station of Urunga to take in the spectacular coastline views and Great Dividing Range along the Urunga Boardwalk before travelling to Coffs Harbour for a relaxing morning wandering around the Harbourside Markets, historic jetty or simply relaxing by the seaside.
The Coffs Explorer experience travels up to Sealy Lookout offering views for miles from the Forest Sky Pier before travelling back to Coffs for time to explore the markets, historic jetty or relax by the beach. Otherwise, simply make the most of Coffs Harbour’s beautiful beaches with an entire morning spent at the seaside. Wander along the coast, have a dip in the ocean, explore the markets or simply relax on the sand.
After your Coffs Harbour morning, enjoy a final lunch on board with your fellow travellers before arriving into Brisbane.
This morning, collect your rental vehicle from Hertz Brisbane (approximately 5 minute drive from your hotel), and start your journey towards Fraser Island.
Continue on through Hervey Bay to River Heads, where you will leave your vehicle and board the ferry to Fraser Island. The ferry journey is approximately 50 minutes and takes you directly to Kingfisher Bay Resort. On arrival, check in to your resort, surrounded by forest on one side and the stunning ocean on the other.
Note: Your ferry ticket does not include your vehicle and the island is only accessible to 4WD, except parts of the Kingfisher Bay Resort where 2WD access is available. If you wish to bring your vehicle for resort access, please discuss with our team.
Approximate distance driven: 300km
After breakfast this morning, embark on your full day ranger-guided 4WD adventure of Fraser Island. The Fraser Island Beauty Spots Tour takes you to all of the iconic sites on the island. Discover gorgeous Lake McKenzie, a perched lake famous for its pure white sand and crystal clear water. This is one of the most memorable swimming experiences you will ever have! Continue on to Central Station and Wanggoolba Creek, before wandering through Pile Valley’s impressive Satinay and Brush Box forests. No trip to Fraser Island is complete without a drive on the iconic 75 Mile Beach highway. Along the route, we stop at Maheno Shipwreck before having a dip in the cool waters of Eli Creek. Lunch and refreshments are included.
Today is yours at leisure to enjoy Fraser Island and your stunning resort. You may wish to spend the day by the pool, or book one of the many activities on offer at the resort (at your own expense).
After breakfast, board the ferry back to River Heads and collect your vehicle. There are plenty of places to see en route to Brisbane, including the famous seaside town of Noosa and the idyllic beaches of the Sunshine Coast. On arrival in Brisbane, your incredible journey comes to an end.
Departure information.
Depending on your onward travel plans, you may drop off your rental vehicle at Brisbane Airport or central Brisbane.
Approximate distance driven: 300km
Gold Service (Included)
Platinum Service - From $1,800 per person additional
Platinum Service promises and delivers a journey beyond expectations, it includes deluxe extras such as Platinum Transfers, access to the Platinum Club plus a superior food and wine offering.
Platinum cabins are almost twice the size of Gold Twin Cabins in both your room and private en suite. By day your cabin is configured as a private lounge with deluxe lounge seating, a table and two ottomans, by night the lounges convert into two comfortable twin beds.
From an additional $1,800 per person and is subject to availability upon booking. Please note, there are no single rooms in the Platinum category.
The Great Southern offers a range of included off train experiences which can be viewed HERE.
Off Train Experiences are included in your fare and can be booked on boarding the train (no pre-booking available).
Car Hire Information
All Renters and any additional drivers must present a full, valid national Drivers License that meets the following requirements:
a.Is valid for driving the vehicle;
Digital Drivers License
A Digital Drivers License is not accepted. Drivers require a hard copy license until further notice.
Deposit
All rentals are subject to a deposit to cover additional costs. A min of AU$200 applies for Metro Locations, $200 for Remote Locations, $200 for Licensee locations and $400 for 4WD locations in Sydney and Melbourne if using a credit card in the name of the renter. A cash deposit is not accepted.
Rates Include
Group H vehicle (Toyota Corolla or similar), Unlimited Kilometres, Maximum Cover (MAX), One Way Fees, Admin Fee Recovery (AFR), 24Hr Breakdown Roadside Assistance, Goods & Service Tax (GST)
Rates Exclude
Airport/Ferry Concession Fee Recovery (ACFR), Fuel, Optional Extras (baby seats, snow chains etc), applicable Locations Fees, Parking.
Damage Excess for Cars
NIL
Young Renters Fee
Where a renter is aged between 21-24 a young driver fee of $16.50 inclusive of GST (Capped at $115.50 in each 30 day period) will apply for Standard passenger vehicles.
Hertz Standard Terms and Conditions can be found here
Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognised and awarded for its handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation.
We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.
Australian owned and operated with 100% Australian Customer Service support
We are proudly 100% Australian owned and operated, with our head office located in Melbourne, Victoria. When you make your booking, you will receive dedicated and ongoing support from our team of travel professionals throughout your booking, up until you are due to depart.
Cooling off period
If you change your mind within 7 days of making your booking online, you can request a refund of your initial deposit payment as part of our cooling off period. Once your purchase date falls outside of the 7 day period, our standard terms and conditions will apply.
Please ensure that any request to cancel your booking is received via email to [email protected]
Deposit & Payments
Booking Process
Booking On Request
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online or speaking with your Dedicated Support Agent for assistance.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 65 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability. We appreciate your understanding.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving early or staying longer upon conclusion of the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre and post tour accommodation
COVID-19
Due to COVID there maybe disruptions to standard operating schedules of particular components of this itinerary. Should a component be effected a substitute will be confirmed prior to departure.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a “2”.
2 – Leisurely Paced Tour: This itinerary will be conducted at a relaxed pace. You will typically spend several nights at one location which means less time spent packing and unpacking, and more sightseeing. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and handling your own luggage. While on this itineray you will need to be able to walk in and out of train stations (Adelaide & Melbourne) carrying your own luggage.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement on the Great Southern Rail.
There is no single supplement for the Great Southern if utilising a Single Room. Single Rooms on the Great Southern are very limited and pricing is subject to availability. If the single cabins are not available at the time of booking, you will need to pay for a twin cabin at an additional cost of approx $2,700 for a Gold Twin in addition to the package price. This price is subject to change and as such, cannot be confirmed until after a booking has been made. If you are not happy with the price of the single supplement provided, you can request to cancel and receive a refund of your deposit. If the single supplement cost is suitable, this will be added to your invoice and part of the final balance payable. For an indicative cost prior to purchase, you are welcome to contact our Customer Service team.
Single Supplement for the hotels
Single supplement is $880 per person in addition to the twin-share price. Please see above regarding The Great Southern.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Group Size
This package is made up of multiple components which will be provided by different operators throughout your trip. As such, group size will differ between operators and can be as intimate as 2 people or as lively as up to 60 people, depending on the activity and advertised inclusions. There may be unique cases where your selected travel date exceeds the expected group size for special events or types of activities, particularly during popular times of travel. For packages that include a train or cruise, you will be travelling with other passengers up to the capacity of this component.
When travelling with a group, no matter the size, we ask you to be understanding of the various needs and preferences of your group - patience with your fellow travellers is sometimes required for the benefit of everyone's travel experience.
Bedding requests
We do our best to meet your bedding preference, however, bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only and cannot be guaranteed. All efforts will be made to meet your preference, however, any changes are beyond our control and limited by the hotel facilities and availability.
Tour Styles - This package is an Independent style.
To meet the needs of various types of travellers, we choose to operate various types of tours and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
Who is operating this package
We have partnered with a wide range of third party operators who assist in fulfilling your booking and delivering an enjoyable on-tour experience. Each package will consist of multiple operators meaning both guides and fellow travellers may change day to day. But don't worry, regardless of the operator, you'll be in good hands to experience the most out of each destination.