Images: Frankie The Creative
Luxury rail travel in Australia has reached a new level, with Journey Beyond officially unveiling its highly anticipated Aurora Australis Suites.
Designed by global firm Woods Bagot, the Aurora and Australis Suites blend Art Deco-inspired rail elegance with textures and tones drawn from the Australian landscape. The result is a space that feels both timeless and distinctly local, with every detail carefully considered.
“Luxury is in the details,” said Journey Beyond’s Executive General Manager of Rail, David Donald. “From personalised butler service and private in-suite dining to a curated in-room bar tailored to each guest’s preferences, every element has been thoughtfully considered.”
Designed to redefine the onboard experience, the new Aurora and Australis Suites bring a fresh level of space, style and service to rail travel, positioning Australia alongside some of the world’s leading luxury train experiences.
Guests travelling in the Aurora Australis Suites can expect a fully inclusive, high-end experience from the moment they step onboard. This includes premium dining, bespoke service, and free-flowing Champagne Bollinger La Grande Année served throughout the journey.
The suites will feature across Journey Beyond’s renowned rail experiences, including The Ghan and The Indian Pacific, offering travellers a new way to explore Australia’s vast and varied landscapes in comfort and style.
A key highlight of the new offering is the expansion of exclusive off-train experiences. For those travelling northbound on The Ghan, this includes a helicopter flight over Nitmiluk National Park, soaring above all 13 gorges before landing for a private champagne experience in the heart of the outback.
The recently announced four-day northbound Ghan itinerary also introduces a signature dining experience in a traditional Australian woolshed. Curated by Nicola Palmer and Warrick Duthy from the Watervale Hotel, the experience will showcase a thoughtful, sustainable approach to food and wine, grounded in local produce and regional storytelling.
Journey Beyond’s Executive General Manager of Marketing, Justine Lally, said, “The new Australis Suite and Aurora Suite set a new benchmark for space, design and service, elevating Australia’s iconic rail journeys and placing them firmly among the world’s leading luxury rail experiences.”
With strong demand already and future departures filling fast, the Aurora Australis Suites are set to become one of Australia’s most sought-after travel experiences, offering a new way to see the country, where the journey itself is just as memorable as the destination.
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