Great Southern

Warm clothes for Outback Experiences as mornings and evenings in the Outback can be cool. Hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes for your Off Train Experiences.

Short term parking is available at all terminals so you can have your family or friends see you depart at the beginning of your journey.

We do not recommend leaving your car at our terminals for extended periods of time.

As each terminal provides a different experience, it depends on where you are departing from.

Luggage can be checked into all terminals 2 hours prior to departure.

Adelaide, Perth, Darwin, Alice Springs: You are able to store your luggage 2 hours prior to departure at the terminal.

Sydney: There are luggage storage facilities available through NSW TrainLink at their luggage check-in area adjacent Platform 1 at a cost of $4.40 per person.

The Ghan, The Ghan Expedition, Indian Pacific and Great Southern trains check-in opens 2 hours prior to departure time and closes 1 hour prior to departure.

The Overland check-in time opens 1 hour prior to departure time and closes 30 minutes prior to departure in Melbourne and Adelaide. For guests joining at intermediate stops it is recommended to be at your pick up location at least 30 minutes prior to the trains scheduled arrival time.

Please bring your travel itinerary and Photo. I.D.

We want you to enjoy your journey without concerns over flight times. We therefore would recommend you allow for an overnight stop before connecting to domestic or international flights. Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions does not accept liability for any missed connections due to late train arrivals.

Yes, you are able to request forward facing-cabins aboard The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern at the time of booking; however, as approximately half of our cabins face forward, we are unable to guarantee a forward facing cabin depending on the number of requests we receive for any given departure.

Seats aboard The Overland can be turned to face either direction, depending on your preference.

You will receive your cabin and carriage number upon check in. While cabin and seat numbers are assigned as a behind-the-scenes process in the weeks leading up to departure, this allocation can occasionally change in the lead up to your departure due to operational reasons.

You will receive your travel documents at the time of booking with Journey Beyond or through your travel agent. Your Final Travel Documents will be sent to you or your travel agent 30 days before departure. We recommend you have a printed or digital copy of these Travel Documents with you when you check in and throughout your journey.

Journey Beyond follows state guidelines and health authority advice regarding social distancing and masks in terminals and on board trains.

As our journeys are all-inclusive you will not need to buy anything unless you choose to purchase an Off Train Experience upgrade or souvenirs, which you can do onboard utilising our EFTPOS or credit card facilities. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any cash out on our trains.

It’s your holiday and we want you to be comfortable so smart casual attire is recommended.

We also recommend:

• Warm clothes for Outback Experiences as mornings and evenings in the Outback can be cool
• Hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes for your Off Train Experiences.

No, smoking is not permitted on any of Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions services.

Limited Wi-Fi is available in the Outback Explorer Lounges and Platinum Club carriages.

Please note that Wi-Fi availability is dependent on mobile network coverage, and as we travel through some remote locations it may not always be available.

No, the only animals permitted on Journey Beyond Rail Expeditions rail journeys are specially trained dogs for the vision and hearing impaired.

Travelling The Ghan, Indian Pacific, and Great Southern, 240v household outlets can be found in the cabin.

Travelling The Overland, a limited number of outlets are available in Café 828.

*As our electricity is supplied from diesel generators and may be subject to fluctuations, we recommend the use of a surge protector when plugging in your devices.

In your cabin when you first board the train, you will find a card with the breakfast, lunch and dinner meal times for your journey. Your On-Board Attendant will advise you of the process. If you have any special requests regarding meal times, please speak with a member of our On-Board team.

Most special dietary requirements can be accommodated – including vegetarian, gluten free, lactose free and vegan. Please ensure this is advised at the time of booking. 

To ensure your safety and well-being, our staff members onboard are trained to administer basic first aid. We also have a specially modified wheelchair onboard for those who have mobility issues or require a carer. You can also check in your wheelchair, walking frame or scooter to be stored as luggage to save you arranging alternate assistance yourself.

For guests requiring mobility assistance onboard, please review and complete our Fitness to travel form

The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern have a Gold Access Cabin available for wheelchair bound/physically impaired guests travelling in Gold Service. This cabin is subject to availability and assessment of the guest’s Fitness to Travel.