marsham

We want to cruise from Sydney then Melbourne to NZ but would like to start the vacation seeing more of Australia. Does a rail pass make sense? I'd like to fly from the US into Cairns (if possible), take a train to Brisbane and then another to Sydney, each with a two to three day stopover.
I really dislike flying and driving is too tedious a way to spend quality vacation time. So, are trains a good option?

Thanks in advance, for some help.

DownUnder

Most Aussies fly between destinations, but some of us and many tourists travel by train with the Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin and the Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth being the famous rail routes. Trains are a good way of seeing the countryside and meeting fellow travellers. The trains are very comfortable, but they are not fast due to inadequate rail infastructure.
You would have an enjoyable experience travelling by train if you have the time.

afterall

Oh, I agree about the flying and the driving and love trains. I've looked at that one running up the east coast more than once when planning a trip.

Thing is, on the way down from Cairns to Brisbane there are many interesting places to see but the train often stops/leaves at really unearthly hours - which is OK if you have family who will drive you to the station at 3.30 in the morning, but for tourists not good!

I admire your stamina but am not sure that doing such a trip would really let you see "more of Australia".

A bit of train would be great; a bit of stopping elsewhere would be great, but the trouble is that it's not easy to mix and match them because from most smaller places with an airport you can only fly to a capital city.

Do you have a particular desire to see Brisbane? If not you might consider training it to somewhere further south in QLD from Cairns - say Proserpine (for the Whitsundays) or Maryborough (I think) for Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. Then flying on to direct to Sydney.

You need to mix and match train times for convenience and flight schedules. Of course if you factor in Qantas for the flying and don't mind the cost, your options will be greater.

If you weren't focussed on the East Coast, then the Ghan is an experience and there are lots of other small routes inland that sound like fun but which I've never done.

DownUnder

The Tilt Train leaves at a reasonable hour http://www.traveltrain.com.au/2/expe...timetables.asp
and is the fastest in Australia. I haven't traveled it myself, but it sounds like an adventure.

margo_oz

The trip Brisbane to Cairns is not very interesting - don't expect great scenery.

marsham

So, I guess air travel is the recommended way. Going from Cairns to Alice Springs & then from Alice Springs to Sydney... best intra Australia airline?

DownUnder

For those distances flying is the only way to go. Qantas is Australia's best airline but check www.webjet.com.au for fares and alternatives.

Bokhara2

Hi Marsham,
I think Qantas is the only one which flies Cairns-Alice Springs - Sydney.
www.qantas.com.au
There are 2 other domestic carriers:
Virgin Blue www.virginblue.com.au which primarily flies the coastal routes and Jetstar, which is Qantas' budget subsidiary and flies into quite a lot of the holiday destinations, but not Alice Springs, as far as I can see.
www.jetstar.com.au

Time wise, I'd agree with the recommendations to fly, but if you REALLY don't like it and would REALLY like to do some train travel, I think your original plan to take trains Cairns - Bne - Syd would be fine. Or take a train for one leg and fly/drive the other. I have a friend who quite regularly takes the Maryborough - Gold Coast train trip & finds it fast, comfortable & very convenient.

Just make sure you book a sleeper cabin.
This link may be useful for you in making your decision.
http://www.seat61.com/Australia.htm

AustraliaZooIsGreat

Flying is cheaper and much less painfull than train travel. I wouldn't bother with trains. Also different states use different track guages. You can't actually get from Brisbane to Sydney on the same train.