 Day 51: Sydney to Perth by Train |
I should maybe dedicate the next year of my life to riding the rails. As of late, I’ve had nothing but epic train journeys rolling through the part of my brain that focuses on travel plans, and they rolled over into the part of the brain that thinks about work. Lucky for me, that part of the brain actually gets to focus on travel, too!
Since I arrived in Australia, one of my goals has been to ride the Indian Pacific train across the country, from Sydney to Perth; since I got the job writing for WhyGo Australia, I’ve made it a priority. I mean, a girl has to travel Oz to write about traveling in Oz.
I got word today that I will be supported on my journey through the Great Southern Rail company, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about the opportunity. This trip is going to be epic.
How epic, you ask?
Uhm… three nights on a train epic; all the way from Sydney to Perth epic; 2698 miles epic; across the barren and vast NULLARBOR epic.
I will see places many Australians will never see. I will have the chance to stop along the way at Broken Hill, Adelaide and Kalgoorlie. I will take my very first whistlestop tour.
Best of all, I will do this a month from now, which means I am back at the healthy level of travel plans to keep me satisfied for several months to come.
I still have plenty of planning to do in the meantime, including trying to decide how long I want to spend in Adelaide and Perth — although Pat will not be going so I would suspect I’d want to come back sooner rather than later. What can I say?
Have you done, or wanted to do, the cross-country trains in Australia? I want to hear about it!
American girl left to travel the world in 2007. Studied languages, slept in a yurt, taught English, met Aussie guy and fell in love. Moved to Australia. Calls Sydney home. Wants a puppy. Still loves to travel. Read more 
Even though I’m from Perth I’ve never done the Indian Pacific journey! I’ve heard great things about it though so I’m sure you’ll have an awesome time.
Have you been to Perth before? It’s a small city so a couple of days would be fine to explore and also visit Fremantle, my favourite beach – Cottesloe or even venture to Rottnest Island to see quokkas.
If you have a chance to stay longer, you could head ‘down south’ and check out the amazing wineries in Margaret River. Anyway, if you’d like more specific tips I’d be happy to share.
Haven’t been yet! Very excited to finally hang with the quokkas
Cheers for the tips!
That’s awesome! I wish you were going sooner so we could meet up, but I’m leaving Perth on March 17
You really only need a few days in Perth…one dedicated to the city, one in Fremantle, maybe another if you want to go out on a day tour to Swan Valley and do some wine tastings. But over everything I would highly recommend going out to Rottnest! If you have the money, maybe do two days one night (they have a hostel) but even just a day trip would be worth it. I was just out there this weekend so I’ll be writing a post on it soon. And of course there are a lot of other cool things to do within a few hours’ drive from Perth, if you did decide to spend more time (Margaret River in the south, Pinnacles & such in the north).
As for Adelaide, from my experience I’d say you really only need a day or two. It’s a nice town, but not a ton to do. Unless you want to take a day trip out to McLaren Vale (probably my favorite wine region in Oz, tied with Hunter Valley) or Barossa.
Anyway, we drove across from Sydney to Perth and it was really awesome. You’re going to love it! Feel free to ask me anything, I’d love to talk more about it!
Thanks for the tips! I’ll definitely be heading out to Rotto to hang out with some quokkas!
I’m heading out to Perth this Thursday. Doing a 7day tour from perth-exmouth and back to Perth, then 9days in Perth, then another tour from Perth-Adelaide. Going across the nullarbor plains via bus and in the opposite direction. I arrive in Adelaide on march 21. We should meet up somewhere along our travels if possible and grab a coffee or something! So jealous you’re doing the train! Sounds so cool!
Oh, looks like you’ll be in Adelaide before I leave Sydney. Heading out on the 23rd as of now. Bummer.
So awesome! Look forward to hearing more about it at Travel Tribe.
What an exciting adventure! I have always wanted to see Perth and am very excited to read your planning and travel posts about your trip! Way to go!
I have a feeling most of my planning will take place on the train itself haha. Yay so excited!
Taking a train across Australia would be epic! I’ve never done it, though I would like to.
The closest I’ve ever come is taking the train from LA to New Orleans, which took 48 hours. It was such a relaxing, slow way to travel, and I saw parts of the United States I never would have seen otherwise.
I love the idea of riding trains, especially across the States… highly underutilized there.
This is incredible!!! Good for you Brooke – it’s going to be epic for sure and I can’t wait to read about it – yah!!!
Yeah exciting! I’m a little worried about Internet access on the trip, though… silly Oz.
I have been on the Indian Pacific but “only” from Adelaide to Perth, not all the way from Sydney. Even though I didn’t sleep at all (I got the cheapest ticket and I really can’t sleep in the normal seats) I still loved it. The landscape of the Nullarbor was amazing, and funny as well when you make this stop in the place called Cook. Where you have like 3 houses and 1 souvenir shop. I liked Perth a lot, especially Kings Park and the nearby Rottnest Island.
Adelaide to Perth is still an epic trip! I can’t wait to cross the Nullarbor
This sounds really exciting! Can’t wait to hear more about it.
Thanks, Jill — will definitely be updating when I get the confirmed details, etc all worked out.
Good title!
Have a great trip, I’d love to do this or the Ghan someday.
It’s done, and it was great
But all the train workers told me they thought the Ghan was better.