More than one week
Tours
Long-form, self-guided railway itineraries with room for major destinations, additions and side trips.
Explore ToursTrain Brain Travels
Make a journey of it.
Go somewhere interesting by train.
Train Brain Travels is about using Australia’s passenger rail network to actually go places. From an afternoon on an interesting railway line to a two-week interstate adventure, these are practical trips built around trains you can actually catch, connections that work and fares we’ve researched.
Sometimes the quickest route is best. Sometimes the long way is the whole point.
Less than one week
Adventures
Multi-day railway itineraries that fit into a shorter break without reducing the trip to a dash between stations.
Explore AdventuresA full day to a weekend
Escapes
Short railway getaways that work as a full day, overnight stay or weekend.
Explore EscapesA day out from your base
Side Trips
Explore railways, museums and interesting connections from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and other stops, even without a longer itinerary.
Explore Side TripsThe railway is the attraction
Spectacular Stretches
Particularly scenic stretches of track, with details and the Tours, Adventures and Escapes that include them.
Explore Spectacular StretchesFind a trip
Search by destination, duration, trip type or interest.
Featured trips
8 guides shown
Escape
Adelaide–Melbourne Return Escape
Adelaide ↔ Nhill ↔ Melbourne
Start in either city. Compare Daylink via Nhill with rail-only choices for the Adelaide → Melbourne leg.
○ Researched by Main Train Brain
Open guideAdventure
Mid-North SA Rail Adventure
Adelaide • Peterborough • Quorn • Port Augusta • Adelaide
Five days tied to an Afghan Express Saturday, with a Steamtown visit after reopening.
◐ Based on MTB travels
Open guideEscape
Pichi Richi Escape
Adelaide • Port Augusta • Quorn • Port Augusta • Adelaide
A Friday–Sunday heritage rail getaway through Pichi Richi Pass.
◐ Based on MTB travels
Open guideTour
Southern Loop Tour
Adelaide • Broken Hill • Sydney • Junee • Melbourne • Adelaide
A two-week, no-car railway circuit built around the weekly Outback Xplorer, daylight XPT travel, Victorian rail days and The Overland.
✓ Travelled by Main Train Brain
Open guideAdventure
Swan Hill Triangle Adventure
Adelaide • Swan Hill • Melbourne • Adelaide
A compact, rotatable loop joining the direct Adelaide–Swan Hill coach, Victoria’s loco-hauled Swan Hill line and The Overland.
○ Researched by Main Train Brain
Open guideAdventure
Gulflander Circuit Adventure
Cairns • Normanton • Croydon • Cairns
A four-day Gulf Savannah adventure built around the weekly Gulflander, with a strategic-flight version that saves a day.
○ Researched by Main Train Brain
Open guideEscape
Echuca Rail and Paddlesteamer Escape
Melbourne • Bendigo • Echuca • Murray River Wharf
Ride the direct morning V/Line train to Echuca, explore its historic wharf and take a paddlesteamer cruise. Return that afternoon or spend a night by the Murray.
◐ Based on MTB travels
Open guideEscape
Toowoomba Westlander Escape
Brisbane • Toowoomba • Main Range • Brisbane
Coach from Brisbane to Toowoomba, stay as many nights as you like, then ride the Westlander down the range on a Thursday or Saturday morning.
✓ Travelled by Main Train Brain
Open guideEscape
Swan Hill Escape
Melbourne • Castlemaine • Bendigo • Swan Hill
Experience one of Victoria’s remaining regular locomotive-hauled passenger corridors, from either end or from a regional base.
○ Researched by Main Train Brain
Open guideTour
The Complete East Coaster Tour
Cairns • Rockhampton • Brisbane • Sydney • Melbourne • Adelaide
A flexible Cairns–Adelaide tour with adjustable stays in each city and a choice of daylight or overnight Sydney–Melbourne XPT.
○ Researched by Main Train Brain
Open guideAdventure
The Complete East Coaster (Express) Adventure
Cairns • Rockhampton • Brisbane • Sydney • Melbourne • Adelaide
From six days Cairns to Adelaide, with adjustable city stays and daylight or overnight Sydney–Melbourne XPT options.
○ Researched by Main Train Brain
Open guideHow Train Brain Travels works
We start with the services that actually run, particularly the awkward ones. Then we build the trip around them, checking connections, fares, booking requirements and things worth doing along the way.
Some trips have been travelled by Main Train Brain. Others are researched itineraries waiting to be tried. Every guide shows when its important details were last checked and what you should recheck before travelling.
✓ Travelled by MTB
Substantially travelled as described.
◐ Based on MTB travels
Built from personally travelled routes and connections.
○ Researched by MTB
Timetable and fare researched, but not yet personally tested.
Want us to work one out for you?
Like the idea but need something that fits your dates, starting point or interests? Personalised Train Brain Travels itineraries are coming soon.
Found something to correct?
We do our best to get the details right, but timetables, fares and attractions can change. If you spot an error or have trouble using Train Brain Travels, please let us know which trip and date you were looking at.