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Home Travel Queensland’s top 7 rail journeys

Queensland’s top 7 rail journeys

With 4000km of regional track, Queensland Rail Travel can deliver you all the way to Cairns in the state’s north, Longreach, Charleville and Mount Isa in the west and even to tourism hotspots in the Far North and the Gulf Savannah. You can also take advantage of its RailBus connections to explore don’t-miss coastal havens such as Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. With Queensland Rail Travel you can leave the car at home, and enjoy the unique luxury of time and space to sit back and enjoy the ever-changing landscapes. Here are our top picks.

SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND

Brisbane–Cairns (1681km)

This train travels the coast of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1681km, in 25 hours and has two travel options – economy seats, which are great if you are stopping along the way, and the RailBed, a spacious seat during the day that folds out to a lie-flat bed at night, with all-inclusive in-seat dining. The train passes through canefields and rainforest and stops at some of the Queensland coast’s biggest regional cities, including Mackay, Rockhampton, Proserpine (the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands) and Townsville.

SPIRIT OF THE OUTBACK

Brisbane–Longreach (1325km)

Launched in 1993 by combining the Capricornian and Midlander train journeys, the Spirit of the Outback travels 1325km between Brisbane and Longreach in about 24 hours. The perfect introduction to outback Queensland, the Spirit takes its passengers deep into the engine rooms of the Queensland economy. It follows the coast to Rockhampton, then turns inland and passes through the heritage mining towns of Blackwater and Emerald, and the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party, Barcaldine, before arriving in Longreach, a town that has been saved from the clutches of a never-ending drought by its burgeoning tourist trade.

Townsville–Mount Isa (977km)

A historic trip from the major northern Queensland port city of Townsville to the mining centre of Mount Isa. Over a leisurely 21-hour journey, covering 977km, the Inlander offers the opportunity to experience the heritage and natural treasures of northern Queensland’s ruggedly beautiful inland.

From Townsville, the train travels through picturesque Charters Towers, across the Great Dividing Range and through the mining towns of Hughenden and Julia Creek, before delivering passengers into Queensland’s dry western reaches. Introduced in 1953, the Inlander was Queensland’s first air-conditioned train.

KURANDA SCENIC RAILWAY

Cairns to Kuranda (37km)

Imagine all that natural wonder so close that you can almost touch it, your senses alive with the heady organic fragrance and untamed sounds of the dense rainforest. That’s what it’s like aboard Kuranda Scenic Railway as you unwind your way through a tropical paradise framed by rugged mountains with waterfalls tumbling forever into deep ravines.

Rising from sea level to 328m, the journey to Kuranda passes spectacular waterfalls and into the stunning Barron Gorge. Meandering through picturesque scenery, you travel through 15 handmade tunnels and a​cross 37 towering bridges that stand as a monument to the pioneers of the north.

Being one with the rainforest as you undertake an unforgettable journey is what makes Kuranda Scenic Railway such a must-do experience.

Normanton to Croydon (151km)

​​​​​​​​​Take a journey through frontier country from Normanton to Croydon as you step aboard the iconic Gulflander. Also known as the ‘Tin Hare’, this legendary rail motor is one of the last great characters of the rail world.

Affectionately said to go from ‘nowhere to nowhere’, the Heritage Listed Normanton to Croydon line was never connected to the state rail network and remains the only line in Queensland still measured in miles. From wetlands and grasslands to arid Savannah territory, the Gulflander travels through countryside that most people will never see. This nostalgic rail journey is the perfect way to discover an area steeped in pioneering history and heritage. 

As a working tribute to the Gulf of Carpentaria’s early pioneers, the Gulflander is a once in a lifetime experience.​

Brisbane to Charleville (740km) ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Venture to the natural wonders of Queensland’s southwest outback onboard the Westlander. From Brisbane travel across the Great Dividing Range, through the rich farmlands of the Darling Downs to Charleville, this scenic journey travels through some of the state’s most picturesque outback regions. 

Depending on the travel sector a complimentary in-seat snack pack will be delivered to each seat at meal times. Light refreshments can be purchased from the Economy Lounge.

Experience this unforgettable journey into Queen​sland’s western frontier as you follow in the footsteps of the early pioneers on Westlander. Unwind, as you sit back relax and watch the striking scenery pass you by.

THE SAVANNAHLANDER

Cairns–Forsayth (425km)

The Savannahlander’s unique experience departs Cairns weekly, winding through the Wet Tropics area of the Kuranda range and out through the savannah to Forsayth and back, taking four days. The highly personalised tours, in a 1960s classic Silver Bullet rail-motor, offer passengers the opportunity to see remote Queensland at a sleepy 50km/h. Drivers provide running commentaries and there are options for short tours and visits to Cobbold Gorge, Undara Volcanic National Park, and overnight stops in country hotels. This is train travel at a relaxed pace.

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The new Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options with the romance of long distance rail travel. Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation, the newest addition to the Queensland Rail Travel fleet has two dedicated RailBed Cars, a shared Club Car and three Premium Economy Seat Cars.

SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND TIMETABLE

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Outback Towns and Drives

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When you take an Outback adventure, you don’t want to miss a minute of the breathtaking scenery. Onboard the train you can relax, enjoy the stunning landscapes and blue skies as you journey through Queensland’s Outback. Queensland Rail Travel  offers a choice of three rail journeys across Queensland’s Outback with twice weekly return services to each region as well as the iconic Gulflander, a 1950 railmotor in the Gulf Savannah region.

Spirit of the Outback

• Route:  Brisbane to Longreach with a coach connection to Winton
• Distance:  1325 kilometres
• Departs Brisbane:  Tuesday at 6:10pm and Saturday at 1:55pm, arrives Longreach 3.30pm next day
• Departs Longreach:  Monday and Thursday at 10:00am, arrives in Brisbane 11.55am next day

Spirit of the Outback offers a unique insight into the history and culture of Australia with a journey between Brisbane and Longreach – with a direct coach connection to Winton. Experience travel in a private Sleeper cabin with a comfortable seat during the day that converts into a bed at night. Enjoy freshly prepared meals in the restaurant and relax in the Shearers Rest Lounge. Travel is also available in an Economy Seat with a selection of take-away meals, light refreshments and drinks are available to purchase from the Lounge. Whether you are travelling all the way or stopping in between, there is plenty to explore. From fossicking sapphires and gems near Anakie, exploring ancient Aboriginal rock art in Carnarvon Gorge, (450 kilometres from Emerald), or further west to towns of Ilfracombe and Barcaldine.

• Route:  Brisbane to Charleville with coach connections to Quilpie and Cunnamulla
• Distance:  777 kilometres
• Departs Brisbane:  Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:15pm
• Departs Charleville:  Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:15pm

Westlander travels between Brisbane and Charleville through the diverse farmlands of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs and the Mulga country of southwest Queensland. Travel in the comfort of an Economy Seat, you can hop up and stretch your legs throughout the journey. Head to the lounge where you can relax, buy a drink and watch the wide-open landscapes roll by. You could stop over in Roma and explore the Carnarvon Range with its ancient Aboriginal rock art or travel further west to the Mulga country of Charleville – with coach connections further to Quilpie or Cunnamulla – to fossick for an opal of your own, or just wind down with a soak in some Artesian baths.

• Route:  Townsville to Mount Isa
• Distance:  977 kilometres
• Departs Townsville:  Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12:40pm
• Departs Mount Isa:  Sundays and Thursdays at 1:30pm

In north Queensland, take the Inlander to explore natural and prehistoric treasures from Townsville to Mount Isa. Travel in the comfort of an Economy Seat you can hop up and stretch your legs throughout the journey. Head to the lounge where you can relax, buy a drink and watch the wide-open landscapes roll by. Hop off and explore the historic town of Charters Towers, the fossil collections in Hughenden and the ancient underwater marine reptile collections in Richmond. As you venture further west, you’ll travel through the towns of Julia Creek, Cloncurry before arriving in the city of Mount Isa.

• Route:  Normanton to Croydon
• Distance:  152 kilometres
• Departs Normanton:  Wednesday at 8:30am
• Departs Croydon:  Thursday at 8:30am
• Duration:  5 hours
• Shorter excursions available from Normanton and Croydon, generally between April to October.

Discover the Gulf Savannah region aboard the Gulflander, a 1950 railmotor. Travel through countryside most people would never see – from wetlands, grasslands to the arid Savannah. Experience the full journey from Normanton to Croydon along the Heritage-listed railway line. Along the way, your Savannah Guide driver will provide commentary on the local history, plant and animal life.

The Savannahlander

• Route:  Cairns to Forsayth
• Distance:  Various (depends on tour route)
• Check out the tours:   Click here
• Phone:  1800 793 848
• Email:  [email protected]

The SavannahLander invites travellers to be a part of one of the great rail journeys in Australia. This unique outback rail experience departs Cairns weekly, winding its way through the wet tropics area of the Kuranda range and out through the Savannah country to Forsayth. It is the perfect train to take if you are wishing to experience the natural beauty of the the award winning Cobbold Gorge.

Contact Queensland Rail Travel

Website:   www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au Phone:  1800 872 467 (within Australia)

Queensland Explorer Pass

The Queensland Explorer Pass gives you unlimited travel on most Queensland Rail Travel Train services in Queensland. Queensland has the best trains in Australia and this pass is valid on the fast Tilt Trains between Brisbane and Rockhampton and the new Spirit of Queensland trains that run between Brisbane and Cairns.

Where can I use this rail pass?

This pass is valid for unlimited travel on Queensland Rail Travel Train services including the following rail services:

• Tilt Train (Brisbane–Rockhampton)
• The Spirit of Queensland  (Brisbane–Cairns)
• The Spirit of the Outback (Brisbane–Longreach via Rockhampton)
• The Inlander (Townsville–Mount Isa)
• The Westlander (Brisbane–Charleville)

This pass includes the following connecting coach services:

• Maryborough–Hervey Bay
• Proserpine–Airlie Beach
• Barcaldine–Winton
• Charleville–Quilpie
• Charleville–Cunnamulla

The Queensland Coastal Pass includes one journey on Brisbane’s City rail network to connect with a Queensland Rail Travel Train service. This includes travel as far south as the Gold Coast.

When is the Queensland Explorer Pass valid?

This pass is valid for one or two months travel in economy seating. This rail pass is good for unlimited rail travel for the entire validity of the pass (not a set number of travel days or a set itinerary like many other rail passes). Travel must commence within six months of the date of purchasing this pass. The one or two-month travel period begins on the date that the pass is first used.

Who can use this rail pass?

The Queensland Coastal Pass is only available to overseas visitors to Australia. People travelling with this rail pass must be able to prove that they are not an Australian resident (a passport or drivers licence issued outside Australia will usually be sufficient proof).

More details about the Queensland Explorer Pass

Click below for the latest prices for the Queensland Explorer Pass and details about ordering your rail pass online.

Other important details about this rail pass

After purchasing the Queensland Coastal Pass you will receive a voucher that you need to exchange for the actual travel pass at a ticket office exchange location in Australia prior to commencing your first journey. Your exchange voucher will be emailed to you but it is best to allow 3–5 business days for your order to be processed prior to emailing your voucher.

Seat reservations must be made prior to each leg of travel.

The Queensland Coastal Pass is valid for economy class travel on most rail services. However it does cover premium economy travel on the Spirit of Queensland for bookings made within seven days of travel. Seat bookings made outside this time will incur an upgrade charge.

Pass holders may upgrade to business seats on the Tilt Train (between Brisbane and Rockhampton), RailBeds on the Spirit of Queensland and available sleeping berths upon payment of an upgrade fee.

Travel on the fast Tilt Train is only available between Brisbane and Rockhampton (and intermediate stops).

This rail pass cannot be used on heritage railways and tourist services such as the Kuranda Railway.

The Queensland Coastal Pass is only valid for travel on services operated by Queensland Travel Train. It is not valid for travel on Great Southern Railway, NSW TrainLink, V/line or TransWA services.

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Pelorus Private Island Is One of Australia’s Most Exclusive Hotels — Here’s What It’s Like to Stay

The private island retreat has five bedrooms, incredible views, and activities galore.

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Jason Ierace/Courtesy of Pelorus Private Island

On the 30-minute helicopter commute from the northern Australian city of Townsville to Pelorus Private Island, sharp-eyed pilot Will Owens points to sharks and turtles in the coral-mottled seas below. I ask him what the most incredible sight he’s seen while flying over the Great Barrier Reef is. "In July and August, you can get a big whale breach right in front of you and then smash down on the sea’s surface,” he says.

When the choppers powered down on the parakeet-green lawns in front of the Pelorus beach house, hosts Kate Hawkins and Grant Logan greet me with Champagne and strawberries, which I nurse during a brief orientation of the ocean-edge pavilion’s five bedrooms, its airy lounge with gabled roof, horizon pool, and the open bar-slash-teppanyaki grill. Common to all spaces are walls of glass framing the tropical paradise outside. 

The house beach is a white crescent of crushed coral sand. From here, guests can slip straight into the house reef with its walls of soft corals, myriad fish, and all manner of rays and turtles. Motorized and pedal- or paddle-powered toys allow guests to explore their waterworld from every vantage point. 

Rambler, the resort’s motorboat, stands by for island explorations and excursions to the outer reef, including the Museum of Underwater Art .

But this being a classic Australian beach house, taking it easy is encouraged. Linger over sunny breakfasts and Hawkins’ excellent espresso coffees, tap into the wine wall (mostly Australian labels, plus Champagne) at lunch, and then see where the afternoons lead you — perhaps lounging poolside, taking a siesta, or hiking nearby Hinchinbrook Island.

Pelorus Private Island is the latest addition to Computershare founder Chris Morris’s $270 million Northern Escape Collection tourism portfolio, which includes the recently inaugurated Ardo Hotel — a sleek seaside tower handy for stays before or after Pelorus — as well as neighboring Orpheus Island and the 28-guest lodge Mount Mulligan Lodge , set beside a billabong on a 70,000-acre outback cattle station.

Pelorus Private Island

• The exclusivity, privacy, and isolation of the house and its location in the heart of the World Heritage-protected Great Barrier Reef are exceptional.
• The private beach is rigged with all manner of motorized and pedal- or paddle-powered aquatic toys for exploring the house reef and beyond.
• The next-level activities, from diving expeditions to the outer reef to rigorous hikes on nearby Hinchinbrook Island, are top-notch.
• The white sands, swaying palms, and translucent sea add to the perfection of Pelorus’s setting.

The house’s five almost-identical bedrooms share a relaxed, Pacific aesthetic inspired by the Queenslander houses of northern Australia, including louvered windows and screen doors for cooling ocean cross-breezes and a visceral connection to your surroundings. Oiled New Guinea rosewood adds tonal warmth while crisp Italian cotton bedding, fans, and air-conditioning keep things comfortable in Australia’s notoriously steamy north. 

Pendant egg chairs hang from sea-facing decks for swinging in the breeze like the palm fronds in front of you.

Walls clad in whitewashed shiplap and custom-designed, neutral furnishings keep guests’ focus firmly on the surrounding natural paradise — the brilliant blues and greens of sky and sea and the blinding intensity of the Australian light. 

Galley-style bathrooms are stylish and textural with limestone floors, spotted gum benchtops, and sea views from showers. The fifth room can be configured with three single beds, twin beds, or a king, and connects to room four to form a family compound. There are no minibars in rooms, but Pelorus staff will happily cater to all your earthly desires.

After several years’ cheffing aboard Morris’s chartered superyacht in the Med, there are few cuisines, cultures, or dietary quirks Logan can’t cater to. At Pelorus, he likes to keep things relaxed and family-style, serving copious platters of proteins, vegetables, and salads that showcase the freshness and luxury of Australian ingredients.

Hyperlocal offerings include seafood line-caught from the Coral Sea by local fisherman Chris Bolton, prepared as charry, grilled coral trout and nannygai (snapper) sashimi with pickled jalapeño. Morris insisted on a classic teppanyaki bar, so Logan has been busy honing his hotplate skills with teriyaki-grilled Tasmanian sirloin and jumbo shrimp. He’s also proficient in pizza oven and barbeque.

All guests are sent pre-arrival preference sheets to note any dietaries or special requests, such as caviar (at extra cost). The bar, too, can be curated to residents’ tastes. Still, with two house Champagnes, a cellar of fine Australian wines, and a cocktail bar equipped with premium domestic and international liquors, there’s no need. Hawkins takes care of sunset cocktails and, come morning, fresh-squeezed juices and espresso coffees that would even pass muster in Melbourne.

The house sits in beautifully landscaped gardens surrounded by almost a thousand acres of pristine but inaccessible wilderness. There are plans to hack hiking trails through the bush, but for now, all the action is on the UNESCO-listed reef — Pelorus’s greatest asset and raison d’être. 

There’s an array of watercraft at your disposal — jet skis, sea-bobs, kayaks, paddleboards, and water bicycles — for reef explorations and close encounters with turtles, rays, exotic fish, and centuries-old bommies (columnar corals, an indigenous word) submerged beneath the sea.

For adventures further afield, hail the motorboat Rambler for dive and snorkel excursions to the outer reef and visits to the Museum of Underwater Art, a collection of submarine installations at John Brewer Reef, about 40 miles off the coast of Townsville. Rambler is also available for fishing charters to nearby green zones (Logan will happily cook your catch) and outings to the island’s Bat Cave, which Chris Hemsworth made Instagram-famous.

Nearby Hinchinbrook Island or Munamudanamy lies northwest of Pelorus, offering privileged access to Australia’s largest island national park. Hike its untamed wilderness to Zoe Falls, a rainforest oasis of tumbling cascades and crocodile-free lagoon swimming. Dugongs often graze the fringing seagrass beds.

If the weather closes in, there are board games, yoga, and cooking classes, an open bar (that’s an activity, surely?), and a TV the size of a small cinema screen. 

There is no spa, but local therapists can be called in for massages. Guests can also pop over to Orpheus Island’s Gwandalan Spa for massages, facials, and body wraps using riverbed mineral salts and native botanicals.

Family-Friendly Offerings 

As a private island experience, activities are tailored to each guest, including children. The Pelorus team can take young ones snorkeling or see-through boogie boarding on the house reef for joy rides on jet skis or beachcombing. Beach picnics, barbeques, and pizza nights cater to the whole family. 

One room has been adapted for wheelchair access, but the resort and most activities are unsuitable for people with advanced mobility issues.

Solar panels and batteries fully power the residence; freshwater comes from the sky and an on-site desalination plant. 

Laidback Townsville is North Queensland’s largest city and the gateway to Pelorus. It’s a two-hour flight north of the Queensland capital, Brisbane, with direct air links to the U.S. with United Airlines, Qantas, American Airlines (and, from December, Delta), or from Vancouver with Air Canada.

Northern Escape also operates the just-opened Ardo, Townsville’s first five-star hotel, for pre- or post-island seaside stays, ardohotel.au.

Rather boldly, Pelorus Private Island is priced at $12,000 a night for two people. But each extra room is just $1,300, so gather a group of 10, split the cost, and that’s a much more reasonable $1,800 per person per night to stay in glorious isolation on the Great Barrier Reef.