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™
Tour Program:

SILVER CITY AURORA™ Discover an ancient land, natural wonders, outback colours & adventures Thursday 13 to Mon 17, August, 2009

See the 'best of the west' on a scenic rail adventure through the desert to Broken Hill, the 'Silver City' aboard the Southern Aurora®. Travel westwards via Dubbo, the Western Plains Zoo, The Dish and Parkes; 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 - all in one unique, relaxing rail experience.

NORTH-SOUTH-WEST AURORA™ October Long Weekend Rail Cruise™ through the north, south & heart of NSW Friday 2 to Tuesday 6, October 2009

Relax through remote & rural NSW – from the wide plains of the north west's Big Sky Country, to the Central Ranges, the Riverina and Southern Tablelands. Travel rarely seen rail lines - visit Moree and the rural industry of the north west, explore Dubbo's heritage, cross the wheatfields on the rickety route to Coonamble, walk through goldfields-era Forbes, visit the bustling city of Wagga Wagga, taste Riverina regional produce and visit Junee's famous haunted Monte Christo homestead - all in one unique, relaxing rail experience.

MELBOURNE CUP AURORA™ By rail in style to the Cup & the Wine, Heritage & High Country of N-E Victoria Sunday 1 to Wednesday 4, November, 2009

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 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.