Experience a short break in style on the Southern Aurora® ...

See it all from the Southern Aurora - explore the mountains, coast or outback, travel forgotten rail lines, go interstate.

Great scenery and escorted sightseeing by day, overnight aboard sleeping carriages on a glamorous night express.

•		enjoy fine dining in the elegant Restaurant Carriages,
•		relax with a drink in the comfortable Lounge / Bar Carriages,
•		travel overnight in cosy Sleeping Cabins with en suites,
•		journeys from 1 to 5 nights - inclusive sightseeing and regional cuisine.

The Southern Aurora - a 1960s icon of the nation

The gleaming, stainless steel Southern Aurora® pioneered luxury overnight rail travel on the Sydney - Melbourne standard gauge rail line in the 60s.

Now, restored to its former splendour, the Southern Aurora's elegant and comfortable Lounge / Bar, Restaurant and Sleeping Cars are reawakening the romance of rail on the Heritage Express™ collection of Southern Aurora® Rail Escapes™.

Designed for travellers who appreciate heritage and the finer things in life

Our tours feature great heritage insights and natural wonders, fine food and relaxing travel. We take you on researched itineraries, using local guides, to the unique and interesting places other operators ignore - and you travel in style and comfort.

'Dinner in the Diner'

The Southern Aurora is renowned for its hospitality and fine food. Meals in the two stylish air-conditioned restaurant cars are a journey highlight, providing a unique and civilised culinary experience, accompanied by panoramic views.

Quality table d’hôte modern Australian meals are prepared by experienced chefs and served by our friendly, efficient waiters.

Breakfasts are typically hearty and feature fresh fruits, bircher muesli, cereals, juices, a hot savoury course, toast and preserves.

Luncheon and dinner are fine two-course meals, freshly cooked on board - superb main courses, followed by tempting desserts, tea, coffee and chocolates. Select one of our range of premium Australian wines to enjoy with your meal.

Relax in the Lounge / Bar Cars

The two licensed Southern Aurora Lounge / Bar cars provide a pleasant, spacious and social environment to relax in comfort and enjoy the views with a wide range of between meal snacks, alcoholic and soft drinks.

A night out aboard the Southern Aurora

Overnight Rail Escapes on the Southern Aurora feature restful travel in cosy sleeping cabins. The well appointed sleeping cabins provide a private and comfortable wide vision sitting room by day and are easily converted to a cosy bedroom at night. The air-conditioned Southern Aurora Sleeping Cars offer single ('Roomette') and twin ('Twinette') cabins with en suite toilets, wash basins and hot showers.

Sleeping berths are prepared with freshly laundered bed linen and blankets, all cabins have towels, soap, luggage storage, power points, main, reading and night lights, cupboard and mirror.

Complimentary tea, coffee and biscuits are available on board throughout the rail journey.

Value for money

Our tours are generally all inclusive - providing quality meals, private train travel in style and escorted sightseeing in modern air-conditioned coaches.

You will need to pay any costs for communications, incidentals, laundry and meals / entry fees not included in the itinerary.

Single travellers

Few travel operators offer a 'no single supplement' option. We do! Single travellers on Southern Aurora Rail Escapes  generally do not pay a single supplement for travel in Roomette / single-berth sleeping cabins (when available).

Single supplements do apply for off-train accommodation, or when only twin-berth sleeping accommodation is available on-board.

Small group advantage

Enjoy your rail heritage experience in comfort - our tours have a limited number of participants allowing interaction with fellow travellers and exploration at a relaxed pace. And you'll generally only need to unpack once during the tour!

Book early and save

Look out for our great value 'early bird' fare discounts on most Southern Aurora Rail Escape packages. Simply book and pay in full by the 'early bird' fare cut off date and save!

Southern Aurora® Rail Escapes™
Winter & Spring 2008:

OUTBACK AURORA™
Wednesday, August 6 to Sunday, August 10, 2008

Discover an ancient land … natural wonders … outback colours and adventures … escape to the outback on the Southern Aurora® …

See the 'best of the west' on a scenic rail adventure through the desert to BROKEN HILL, the 'Silver City' - travel westwards via DUBBO, the Western Plains Zoo, Parkes and Forbes; return through the CENTRAL HIGHLANDS and BLUE MOUNTAINS.

Explore Broken Hill's mining heritage and rich artistic culture - inspect the mines, museums and galleries; see the vivid sunsets and colours of the outback; abundant birdlife and native animals; visit the MENINDEE LAKES and famous SILVERTON ghost town; see magnificent rock formations and aboriginal art - tour the outback in comfort.

THE GOLDEN WEST AURORA™ RAIL ESCAPE™
Friday to Sunday, September 12 to 14

See the best of the Central Highlands on an indulgent Southern Aurora® Rail Escape™ to the famous Mudgee Wine Celebration and the historic goldfields villages of the Central West.  Wine, honey and history all in one compact weekend rail escape.

Inspect the heritage village of GULGONG - travel remote into the Central Ranges to explore the goldfields history of HILL END and SOFALA - marvel at the early farming and steam equipment at the Turon Technology Museum.

Visit the land of Wine and Honey - wander among the vines, taste the wines and local produce - relax with a quality lunch at Blue Wren wines.

Unpack once and relax aboard - see it all from the Southern Aurora - the Hunter, western wheatfields, remote villages, the pretty Central Ranges and the spectacular rail crossing of the Blue Mountains.

... Hunter wine and cheese tastings, fine cuisine in the Restaurant cars and at specially selected venues showcasing fine regional produce.

Optional travel in the classic ‘EAM’ Edwardian Sleeping Car.

THE MELBOURNE CUP SOUTHERN AURORA™
Sunday, November 2 to Wednesday, November 5

Bookings now open!

Get a rails run to the MELBOURNE CUP aboard our ever popular, annual Southern Aurora® tour to the 'race that stops a nation' ...

Relive the excitement and glamour of stylish rail travel aboard the famous Southern Aurora on a relaxing, feature-packed Rail Escape™ to the Melbourne Cup - with a day sampling the wine, heritage and high country of NORTH EAST VICTORIA ...

The Melbourne Cup in style …

The Cup Carnival is a renowned spectacle of food, fun, fashion, glamour and horse racing – don’t miss being there for the race that stops a nation.

Our stylish, all inclusive package makes it easy, with exclusive access to the prestigious Carbine Marqueé, attractively situated on the banks of the Maribyrnong River – a great atmosphere and grandstand seats.

A comfortable coach transfer takes you direct to Flemington - enjoy a sparkling wine on arrival at the Carbine Marqueé ... reserved seats undercover ... morning and afternoon tea and a buffet lunch ... a grandstand view of The Cup ... cash bar, outdoor riverbank seating and betting facility access ... course admission and a racebook are included. There’s plenty of time and space to soak up the excitement – and you’ll have a great vantage point for the big race.

MID-WEST SANTA TRAIN
Santa rides the Southern Aurora® through NSW's rural heartland
Friday November 28 to Monday December 1

Join Santa on Safari - come with us on a unique four-day Rail Escape™ as the Southern Aurora® Santa Train tours mid-west country and outback NSW, bringing Christmas cheer to the children of rural and remote communities.

Take the Spirit of Christmas on a Southern Aurora rural Rail Escape:

Escape from the city on the Southern Aurora – enjoy great country hospitality and fabulous scenery – meet the locals and participate in an uplifting community event – see NSW's heartland from a new perspective. Experience a truly memorable expedition, taking NSW's rail heritage to distant communities and spreading the joy of Christmas to the children of the bush.

Unwind and enjoy life at a slower pace on a rolling hotel. Take a grand circuit around rural and outback NSW:

Sydney, Robertson, Cootamundra, Bribbaree, Forbes, Narromine, Dubbo, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Binnaway, Werris Creek, Sydney.

Santa will stop to greet country kids from his specially decorated, verandahed carriage at remote sidings and distant communities along the lines. Don’t miss being a part of this uniquely inspiring community event – share the joy and help make it happen!

Step off and explore at small towns, see the sights at major centres along the way. Go in airconditioned comfort - participate in the excitement at each stop, or simply relax aboard - spend time in the airconditioned Lounge Cars, or get some fresh air with Santa aboard his specially-decorated carriage.