Journey Beyond’s Great Southern will return this summer, with the rail journey running for an extended 12-week season from 2 December 2022 to 23 February 2023, with a new offering – the Southern Wines & Wildlife package.

Travelling from Brisbane to Adelaide, guests on the Great Southern will travel down the coast, pausing for a beachside dinner in Coffs Harbour, exploration of the Hunter Valley, Port Stephens or Newcastle, and a choice of Melbourne city experiences or time in the Moorabool Valley. Once in Adelaide, guests depart on a journey through South Australia’s wine region. The package is rounded out with two nights on Kangaroo Island.

Next year marks 90 years since The Ghan embarked on its inaugural journey.

Rail Plus has launched the new booking season for Great Southern Rail with an incentive programme where agents can win prizes.

Great Southern Rail (GSR) has just opened bookings for travel 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

One of the highlights of the new timetables is the introduction of a Blue Mountains off train excursion for the eastbound Indian Pacific to Sydney.

Dave Atherton, general manager – international sales with Experience Australia, says that the past year July to June, has seen a tremendous boost in Kiwi travellers on GSR’s trains with the largest growth being on The Ghan Expedition.