Northbound: Sydney - Brisbane - Cairns
Saturday. Depart Sydney early afternoon on board the Great South Pacific Express while your Steward serves afternoon tea in your compartment. Settle into your lavish surroundings, explore the luxury of the train and watch the changing landscape from the open Observation Car before dressing for dinner to enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner and entertainment.
Sunday/Monday. Breakfast is served in your compartment before your morning arrival in Brisbane. Disembark for one night in this the Capital of Queensland. Filled with restaurants and galleries and surrounded by lakes, mountains, islands and wildlife sanctuaries, Brisbane offers you sophistication in the sub-tropics.
Monday. Depart Brisbane mid-afternoon. Later, dress for dinner and enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner and entertainment before retiring for the night.
Tuesday. Breakfast is served in your compartment before a morning arrival at Proserpine to begin your Great Barrier Reef experience.
A scenic drive to Shute Harbour near Airlie Beach
is followed by a helicopter transfer to Hardy Reef on the Outer Barrier
Reef. From this platform reserved exclusively for guests of
Orient-Express, you can snorkel, scuba-dive, swim or simply watch the
marine life from the special viewing chamber. Marine biologists and diving
experts will be on hand and all the necessary equipment will be provided.
A barbecue lunch is provided during the visit to the Reef.
Re-board the GSPE in the early evening to relax and enjoy an evening with
dinner and entertainment.
Wednesday. Breakfast is served in your
compartment as the GSPE travels up through the Atherton Mountains along
the Kuranda Scenic Railway. Alight at Kuranda to an Aboriginal cultural
welcome before a thrilling Skyrail cable-car ride for a bird's eye view of
the Queensland tropical rainforest.
Following the Skyrail a transfer is provided to Freshwater station to
arrive at around midday.