A gourmet à la carte breakfast with sweeping views across Piccadilly Valley is the perfect start to the day. From the estate, you have direct access to over 300km of walking trails through the adjoining Mount Lofty Botanic Gardens and Cleland Conservation Park. Take a gentle stroll through manicured gardens, or head deeper into the trails for lookout points that genuinely take your breath away.

For something truly special, head to Cleland Wildlife Park for the iconic Koala Experience (*additional charges apply). Back at the estate, the Gatekeeper’s Day Spa beckons, and the evening meal at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, award-winning cuisine framed by a sunset over the valley, rounds off the day beautifully.

This is the day your Australia luxury train tour really kicks into gear. You’ll board the Great Southern at Adelaide Rail Station, welcomed aboard the striking orange locomotive with all the ceremony an iconic journey deserves. Morning tea is served as the train winds through the South Australian countryside, followed by a leisurely lunch before your first Off Train Experience in the majestic Grampians.

Choose a guided coach tour through Halls Gap with panoramic views from Boroka Lookout, or a walk to Venus Baths to connect directly with the landscape. Wine lovers can opt for tastings at Pomonal Estate or Fallen Giants, sipping regional varieties while learning about local viticulture. Back on board, dinner is served as the train continues its journey north into the evening.

After breakfast, you arrive in Australia’s carefully planned capital for a day of culture and history that surprises most visitors. A memorable lunch at the historic Old Parliament House sets the tone before you choose from guided tours at the National War Memorial, Parliament House, or the National Portrait Gallery, each offering a distinctive lens on Australia’s story.

As the afternoon light fades, you reboard the Great Southern for another exceptional dinner in the dining car, trading stories over local wines as the train moves further up the east coast.

Wake to a leisurely breakfast before venturing out to explore the natural beauty of Coffs Harbour. Sealy Lookout and the Forest Sky Pier offer extraordinary panoramic views, or you can wander through the North Coast Regional Botanical Garden and take in the laid-back energy of the Sunday Markets. The historic jetty area is well worth a stroll, with live music often drifting across from nearby venues.

For something deeper, join an Indigenous-guided walk along the Urunga Boardwalk, learning about the Gumbaynggirr people’s culture, traditional tools, and bush tucker. Adventurous travellers can add an optional helicopter flight for sweeping views over the Great Dividing Range and coastline below. A final lunch on board follows, as your Great Southern Rail journey concludes in Brisbane.

Brisbane rewards the curious, and there’s plenty to keep you occupied at your own pace. The lush Brisbane Botanic Gardens and the South Bank precinct (home to the Queensland Art Gallery and GOMA) make for a wonderful morning. Afternoon options include a river cruise, a climb of the Story Bridge, or simply finding a favourite café and watching this warm, confident city go about its day.

Farewell, Brisbane, as a private transfer takes you to the airport for your flight north to Cairns. On arrival, another transfer brings you straight to the tranquil village of Palm Cove. The contrast with the city is immediate and wonderful, swaying palms, the Coral Sea just steps away, and a pace of life that invites you to slow right down. Spend the rest of the afternoon exactly as you please.

A blissful day in a tropical paradise. The golden sands of Palm Cove are some of the most beautiful in Far North Queensland, and the warm Coral Sea water is genuinely irresistible. The esplanade is lined with cafés and award-winning restaurants for a languid lunch, and the afternoon is yours. If you’re after something more active, book an optional excursion to the Great Barrier Reef or the ancient Daintree Rainforest, both of which are within easy reach and utterly unforgettable.

Another day to do exactly what you came here to do: relax. Indulge in a spa treatment at one of Palm Cove’s renowned wellness retreats, take a kayak across to Double Island for a unique perspective on the coastline, or simply browse the boutique shops along the esplanade before settling in for a sunset cocktail with nothing but ocean in front of you. There are no wrong choices here.

A seamless private transfer takes you to Cairns Airport for your onward journey. Take a last look at the brilliant tropical sky as an extraordinary 10 days through Australia comes to an end, from the sophistication of the Adelaide Hills all the way to the edge of the coral-fringed tropics.