SA company’s luxury train suites come with a price tag not for the faint of heart
Architecturally-designed cabins and luxury amenities are at the centre of an SA company’s offering for wealthy travellers looking to see Australia in a unique way – with a price tag to match.
Journey Beyond has unveiled its brand-new luxury suites for cashed-up guests on the India Pacific, The Ghan and the Great Southern in its latest pitch to upmarket travellers looking to see Australia in a unique way.
The new Aurora Australis suites are covered in sheepskin and leather, characterised by a heritage-first approach and designed by SA-headquartered design firm Woods Bagot.
Amenities one might expect from a top-tier hotel chain are present too, including a personal butler who will pour Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année during the trip, private in-suite dining, and a curated in-room bar.
While on board, guests will be treated to an indulgent menu starring Australian ingredients like tuna tartare, Kangaroo Island lobster tail and premium Wagyu beef.
The suites debuted on tracks for the first time on Saturday aboard the Indian Pacific departing Perth and arriving in Sydney yesterday.
SA-based Journey Beyond said in a statement the suites were the “most significant evolution” of its onboard rail offering, introducing “an unprecedented level of space, design and service”.
The new suites place the rail operator among the world’s leading luxury rail providers. Other lines operated by Journey Beyond include The Ghan, Great Southern and The Overland.
There’s a price tag to match the opulence, with fares starting from $16,790 per person for the top-tier Australis Suite and $11,190 for the Aurora Suite for a three-day journey.
And they’ve been snapped up fast: 95 per cent of departures in the 2026 season are sold out, and 2027 departures are already open for booking.
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Journey Beyond CEO Chris Tallent said the launch marked a defining moment for Australian experiential travel.
“The debut of the Aurora Australis Suites represents a new chapter for Journey Beyond and for luxury travel in Australia,” Tallent said.
“Our iconic trains have long connected guests with some of the country’s most extraordinary landscapes, and these suites elevate that experience to an entirely new level.
“They offer guests a private sanctuary on board, a place to unwind and fully immerse themselves in the journey across this remarkable continent.”
Global design firm Woods Bagot blended Art Deco style with materials inspired by the Australian landscape.
Woods Bagot director Rosina Di Maria said the design references Australia’s pastoral history, including wool and leather merchants.
“The luxury interiors are characterised by an artisanal, heritage-driven approach to detail and meticulous craftsmanship,” Di Maria said.
“Featuring a palette of decorative timber, stone surfaces, and accents of sheepskin and leather, the interiors create a rich and layered experience that reflects both heritage and landscape.”
The luxury experiences continue off the train, with eastbound guests enjoying a visit to Paddy Yannan’s Mine with a scenic flight over the vast Super Pit.
Those heading west to Sydney will stop in South Australia and enjoy Mount Lofty Sips and Summits in the Adelaide Hills, featuring SA wines and a dinner at Hardy’s Verandah restaurant.
For Aurora Australis guests on The Ghan, those heading northbound will hop into a helicopter to view all 13 gorges of Nitmiluk National Park before enjoying a private champagne moment in the outback. They’ll also be treated to a bespoke dining experience created by Watervale owners Chef Nicola Palmer and Sommelier Warrick Duthy.
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Those going south to Adelaide will journey by charter flight to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park for a private champagne lunch and a guided tour of sites, including the Mutitjulu Waterhole.
Journey Beyond executive general manager of rail David Donald said guests were asking for more time to immerse themselves in the nation’s “remarkable landscapes”.
“By extending the northbound journey from two to three nights, we’re allowing travellers to slow down, deepen their connection to Country, and discover Outback Australia in a way that is both immersive and unforgettable,” he said.
“Its an exciting evolution for this iconic journey in its 95 year history. The new three-night four-day itinerary will offer guests unprecedented time to explore the vast beauty, culture and connections of outback South Australia and the Red Centre.”
Journey Beyond’s luxury journey
The official unveiling of the luxury suites comes as Journey Beyond has expanded further into top-tier travel experiences in recent months.
A new luxury tourism experience at Monarto Safari Resort called Safari Lodge welcomed its first guests in early April.
The luxury accommodation experience sits deep within the Mallee Plains of the Wild Africa precinct of Monarto, and gives guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in wildlife.
We set out to create something that doesn’t exist anywhere else in Australia, an all-inclusive safari lodge where you can experience Africa’s most magnificent wildlife without leaving the country,” Monarto owner Gerry Ryan said.
“The luxury lies not just in the accommodation and world-class dining, but in the complete immersion: watching a tower of giraffe from your private deck, looking out to the horizon and seeing zebra graze, knowing that every moment has been designed for you to connect deeply with nature.
“This is the kind of transformative experience that guests travel halfway around the world for, and we’ve brought it home to South Australia.”
The business also operates other premium travel experiences like the eco-luxury lodge at Ningaloo Reef, while its cruise business focuses on some of the most beautiful parts of the world like the Whitsundays, Rottnest Island and the Sydney Harbour.
Last year, a landmark agreement between South Australian travel company Journey Beyond and the Federal Government saw huge parcels of land returned to Traditional Owners, and half a billion dollars’ worth of rent paid.
Journey Beyond has acquired the operational assets of Ayers Rock Resort in Central Australia and Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre in Far North Queensland, while the transaction formalised the transfer of land and buildings to the traditional owners: Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara of Yulara and the Kuku Yalanji of Mossman Gorge.
The company also recently acquired $161 million worth of fellow SA-based travel company Kelsian’s assets.
The portfolio includes its Adelaide Sightseeing business, which operates bus tours to the Barossa, Hahndorf, Adelaide, Victor Harbor and on Kangaroo Island.
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