By rail, ship and on foot - 8 epic ways to explore Australia
Dreaming of an Australian adventure? With over 2.9 million square miles to explore, this vast stretch of land has a journey to suit almost everyone's travel taste.
With trips to please cruise aficionados, veteran hikers, rail enthusiasts or road trippers, here are some of the continent's greatest journeys.
1. Ride The Ghan railway
Journey through Australia’s “red centre” on this 1,851 mile line from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs. The Ghan has been dubbed Australia’s Greatest Train Journey by Telegraph Travel – and it's a comfortable ride. The name is said to honour the Afghan camel drivers that arrived in Australia in the late 19th century with animals imported from India. Along the way you’ll see the farming country of the Adelaide Plains, the Spencer-Gulf inlet and sand hills and scrub forest.
Telegraph Travel writer Anthony Lambert calls the country’s red centre “one of the most charismatic wildernesses in the world”. In Katherine, you can stop for a lengthy boat ride between the limestone walls of Nitmiluk Gorge and Alice Springs. The journey is 54 hours long, so settle in for the ride.
The Ghan, between Adelaide and Darwin, starts from $1,919/£1,067 (journeybeyondrail.com.au).
2. Take the Australind to lunch
Travel in style on this narrow-gauge railway service, which travels twice a day between Bunbury (the gateway to Australia’s South West) and Perth, is 112 miles and two and a half hours long. Soak up the window views of an area renowned for its fruit growing and wildflower collection – it has over 12,000 species. Catch the blanket of colour during the six-month flowering season, which starts around June.
Then, enjoy a leisurely meal about half way along your route at Pinjarra, the junction for the Hotham Valley Tourist Railway. Here, you’ll find a 1919-built dining-car train serving five-course meals. Banbury itself offers up historic buildings and a centre for bottlenose dophins.
The Australind runs twice daily between Banbury and Perth and costs £38 return (transwa.wa.gov.au).
3. Cruise the Murray on a paddlesteamer
Nearly 1,600 miles long, the Murray river is steeped in aboriginal history (with more to be unearthed). It’s also ripe for wildlife spotting. The river winds through New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
Forming the border between Victoria and New South Wales is the Barmah-Millewa forest. Here you could enjoy the sound of the kookaburra in gum trees or watch kangaroos bounce along the banks. With 236 bird species and 50 mammals in this region there's plenty of wildlife spotting to be done. Drink it all in on one of the world’s last wood-fired cruising paddle steamers – the Emmylou, which has all the trappings of a 19th-century vessel.
Four-night round-trip cruises from Echuca on the Murray River are available aboard the PS Emmylou, starting from £1,519 (murrayriverpaddlesteamers.com.au).
4. Trek the Larapinta Trail
Itchy feet? Take to a trail instead, specifically the Larapinta Trail. This 140-mile hiking route is ideal for those seeking to escape the crowds. The route cuts west from the outback town of Alice Springs to Mount Sonde. When not clocking up the miles, you could take a dip in a cool waterhole, before setting up camp beneath the stars. Make it (relatively) easy for yourself on Australian Walking Holidays' six-day trek. You’ll stay in semi-permanent camps, while still putting in the rigours of a long walk.
The Australian Walking Holidays' six-day Classic Larapinta Trek in Comfort costs $2,895/£1,618 (australianwalkingholidays.com.au).
5. Take an expedition voyage
Step on board expedition ship Coral Discoverer for an art-focused cruise. The 11-night Coral Expeditions’ Cape York and Arnhem Land cruise explores Australia’s top end. Highlights include a stop at the continent’s northern-most point, Cape York, where you’ll be served champagne at sunrise.
A stop at Lizard Island will give you the chance to swim and snorkel and to visit the Lizard Island Research Station where you can learn about the work scientists are doing to preserve the Great Barrier Reef. Come away from your voyage with a better understanding of Australia's indigenous people, the oldest civilsation on Earth.
Coral Expeditions Cape York and Arnehm Land 11-night cruise costs $10,890/£6,073 (coralexpeditions.com).
6. Walk the Great Ocean Road
Travel through the contintent at your own pace on the Great Ocean Road. It’s just an hour’s drive from downtown Melbourne and is 151 miles long. Running from Torquay to Allansford it was built in the Twenties. "It doesn’t fit any of our preconceived notions of the Australian wilderness,” writes Telegraph destination expert Mark Chipperfield. Enjoy views of the 12 Apostles – limestone rock stacks – and unspoiled surf beaches. You could also make detours along the way for adventure sports or wildlife watching in the ancient rainforest.
Non-drivers can take an organised tour with an operator such as Sightseeing Tours Australia (greatoceanroadmelbournetours.com.au).
7. Conquer the Arkaba Walk
One of Australia’s newest great walks, this South Australia trek is a prime opportunity to learn more about aboriginal culture. Among its treasures is Wilpena Pound, the 10.5-mile-long and almost five-metre wide amphitheatre of rock at the heart of the Flinders Ranges. Telegraph Travel writer Phoebe Smith, who tackled the walk, describes visiting the Arkaba Station, which has been the focus of a conservation project to return 64,000 acres of Arkaba to its pre-European state.
Arkaba Walk’s three-night/four-day programme costs from $2,900/£1,630 (arkabaconservancy.com/arkaba-walk).
8. Sail the Kimberley
There's wonder-incucing views throughout this voyage of Australia's 'Last Frontier'. Take an expedition cruise to explore the steep terrain of this region in Western Australia. Its sights include tropical greenery, craggy gorges, and the 'Horizontal Falls'. The luxury cruise line True North was among the first to offer cruises of this area, and provides activities such as hiking and fishing, as well as plenty of sightseeing.
True North's Kimberley Ultimate 13-night voyage starts from $22,995/£12,788 (truenorth.com.au).
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