This luxury Aussie rail journey just ranked among the world's best

This isn’t just a train trip – it’s an experience of a lifetime.

Luxury train travel is well and truly on the rise. In recent years, both Australian and international brands have been expanding their offerings to welcome an influx of guests from around the world.

In light of this surge, the experts at Japan Rail Pass have analysed and compared thousands of reviews, Instagram hashtags and global search volumes to determine which ones you should add to your bucket list. But you won’t have to book a flight to jump onboard – one of the best rail journeys in the world is right here in Australia.

What is Australia’s best luxury train journey?

It won’t come as a shock to anyone that The Ghan came out on top as Australia’s best rail journey, ranking fifth in the world overall. The Ghan, as we know it today, was launched by Australian experiential tourism company Journey Beyond and traverses the vast expanse of red-dirt country between Darwin in the Northern Territory and South Australia’s capital city of Adelaide.

The Ghan travelling through Marla in South Australia — The Ghan has ranked among the world’s best luxury train journeys.

But its lore extends well beyond that, going much deeper than its current identity as a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. The history of The Ghan goes back as far as the late 1800s, when the first cameleers arrived in Australia. The camel drivers, primarily from parts of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Türkiye and Egypt, were vital to the development of Australia’s outback.

Often referred to as ‘Afghans’ or ‘Ghans’ – hence the train’s name – the men transported goods across thousands of kilometres. They worked tirelessly, connecting remote towns with coastal cities and facilitating crucial infrastructure projects and major rail lines.

the exterior of Broken Hill Mosque — The Broken Hill Mosque Museum holds the history of the cameleers. (Image: Steve Madgwick)

While the workers were eventually replaced by automobiles and trains, they have since been honoured by companies like Journey Beyond for their significant contributions to Australia’s trade, agriculture, mining and transport industries. Learn more about the cameleers with a visit to the Broken Hill Mosque Museum.

What can I expect from a trip on The Ghan?

Australians have always known The Ghan is one of the country’s most memorable rail journeys. And while being recognised among the world’s best is a new feat for the train, take a closer look and it’s not hard to see why.

Over the years, The Ghan has undergone numerous upgrades to ensure the best experience for guests. From railway extensions and offboard inclusions to the recent introduction of brand-new cabin configurations, it’s no wonder it has made the list. If you’re keen to book, you can expect the journey of a lifetime.

Gold Service cabin onboard The Ghan — Watch the world go by from your cosy Gold Service cabin.

Trips are flexible, with multiple options to choose from. If you only want one night onboard, book a trip travelling between either Darwin or Adelaide to Alice Springs. After a little more? Go from Adelaide to Darwin (or vice versa) over two nights and three days. Or go all out with The Ghan Expedition, a four-day, three-night journey exploring the wonders of Australia’s heartland.

Onboard, you’ll find a dining carriage offering delicious food (two-course breakfast, a two-course lunch and a three-course dinner) and premium wines, as well as a range of cabins to choose from depending on your price point. Opt for the Gold offering to enjoy a twin or single cabin and access to the Outback Explorer Lounge. Get a little more with the Gold Premium and Platinum packages, such as priority check-in, tour preferencing and a private en suite.

The new Aurora Australis suite on The Ghan — The opulent Aurora Australis suites will be available from 2026.

Those joining The Ghan in 2026 should also consider splurging on the all-new Aurora Australis suites. In an Australian first, the ultra-luxe rooms will include butler services, an in-suite bar, private chauffeur, access to the Platinum Club Lounge and much more.

Don’t forget about the offboard experiences either. Guests can visit some of Australia’s coolest destinations, from famous outback towns such as Katherine to award-winning wineries in McLaren Vale. For a little extra, why not add on a scenic cruise of Nitmiluk Gorge, or a private helicopter flight over Uluru? Take your pick.

Offboard experiences with The Ghan in Alice Springs, NT — Choose from a range of unforgettable offboard experiences.

What other luxury train journeys made the list?

Coming in as the world’s best luxury train is the Rocky Mountaineer out of Canada , with a final rating of 8.88/10. This was followed by California’s Napa Valley Wine Train and the GoldenPass Express in Switzerland. Fourth place went to South Africa’s Rovos Rail, with The Ghan rounding out the top five with an impressive overall rating of 8.54/10.

Located just an hour north-west of Melbourne, the largely undiscovered Macedon Ranges quietly pours some of Australia’s finest cool-climate wines and serves up some of Victoria’s best food.

Mention the Macedon Ranges and most people will think of day spas and mineral springs around Daylesford, cosy weekends away in the countryside or the famous Hanging Rock (of enigmatic picnic fame). Or they won’t have heard of the Macedon Ranges at all.

But this cool-climate destination has been inconspicuously building a profile as a high-quality food and wine region and is beginning to draw serious attention from oenophiles and epicureans alike.

The rise of Macedon Ranges wine

liquid gold barrels at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — Barrels of liquid gold at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

With elevations ranging from 300 to 800 metres, Macedon Ranges vineyards are among the highest in the country. This altitude, combined with significant day/night temperature swings, makes for a slow ripening season, in turn nurturing wines that embody elegance and structure. Think crisp chardonnays, subtle yet complex pinot noirs and delicate sparkling wines, along with niche varietals, such as gamay and nebbiolo.

Despite the region’s natural advantages – which vary from estate to estate, as each site embodies unique terroir depending on its position in relation to the Great Dividing Range, soil make-up and altitude – the Macedon Ranges has remained something of an insider’s secret. Unlike Victoria’s Yarra Valley or Mornington Peninsula, you won’t find large tour buses here and there’s no mass marketing drawing crowds.

Many of the 40-odd wineries are family-run operations with modest yields, meaning the wineries maintain a personal touch (if you visit a cellar door, you’ll likely chat to the owner or winemaker themselves) and a tight sales circle that often doesn’t go far beyond said cellar door. And that’s part of the charm.

Though wines from the Macedon Ranges are just starting to gain more widespread recognition in Australia, the first vines were planted in the 1860s, with a handful of operators then setting up business in the 1970s and ’80s. The industry surged again in the 1990s and early 2000s with the entry of wineries, such as Mount Towrong, which has an Italian slant in both its wine and food offering, and Curly Flat , now one of the largest estates.

Meet the new generation of local winemakers

the Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. — The Clydesdale barn at Paramoor. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Then, within the last 15 years, a new crop of vignerons like Andrew Wood at Kyneton Ridge Estate , whose vineyard in 2024 was the first in the Macedon Ranges to be certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Australia; Geoff Plahn and Samantha Reid at Paramoor , who have an impressive cellar door with a roaring fire and studded leather couches in an old Clydesdale barn; and Ollie Rapson and Renata Morello at Lyons Will , who rapidly expanded a small vineyard to focus on top-shelf riesling, gamay, pinot noir and chardonnay, have taken ownership of local estates.

Going back to the early days, Llew Knight’s family was one of the pioneers of the 1970s, replacing sheep with vines at Granite Hills when the wool industry dwindled. Knight is proud of the fact that all their wines are made with grapes from their estate, including a light, peppery shiraz (some Macedon wineries purchase fruit from nearby warmer areas, such as Heathcote, particularly to make shiraz) and a European-style grüner veltliner. And, as many other wineries in the region do, he relies on natural acid for balance, rather than an additive, which is often required in warmer regions. “It’s all about understanding and respecting your climate to get the best out of your wines,” he says.

farm animals atKyneton Ridge Estate — Curious residents at Kyneton Ridge Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Throughout the Macedon Ranges, there’s a growing focus on sustainability and natural and low-intervention wines, with producers, such as Brian Martin at Hunter Gatherer making waves in regenerative viticulture. Martin previously worked in senior roles at Australia’s largest sparkling winemaking facility, and now applies that expertise and his own nous to natural, hands‑off, wild-fermented wines, including pét‑nat, riesling and pinot noir. “Wild fermentation brings more complexity,” he says. “Instead of introducing one species of yeast, you can have thousands and they add different characteristics to the wine.”

the vineyard at Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The estate’s vineyard, where cool-climate grapes are grown. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Most producers also focus on nurturing their grapes in-field and prune and pick by hand, thus avoiding the introduction of impurities and the need to meddle too much in the winery. “The better the quality of the fruit, the less you have to interfere with the natural winemaking process,” says Wood.

Given the small yields, there’s also little room for error, meaning producers place immense focus on quality. “You’re never going to compete in the middle [in a small region] – you’ve got to aim for the top,” says Curly Flat owner Jeni Kolkka. “Big wineries try to do things as fast as possible, but we’re in no rush,” adds Troy Walsh, owner and winemaker at Attwoods . “We don’t use commercial yeasts; everything is hand-harvested and everything is bottled here, so we bottle only when we’re ready, not when a big truck arrives.” That’s why, when you do see a Macedon Ranges product on a restaurant wine list, it’s usually towards the pointy end.

Come for the wine, stay for the food

pouring sauce onto a dish at Lake HouseDaylesford — Dining at Lake House Daylesford is a treat. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

If wine is the quiet achiever of the Macedon Ranges, then food is its not-so-secret weapon. In fact, the area has more hatted restaurants than any other region in Victoria. A pioneer of the area’s gourmet food movement is region cheerleader Alla Wolf-Tasker, culinary icon and founder of Daylesford’s Lake House.

For more than three decades, Wolf-Tasker has championed local producers and helped define what regional fine dining can look like in Australia. Her influence is palpable, not just in the two-hatted Lake House kitchen, but in the broader ethos of the region’s dining scene, as a wave of high-quality restaurants have followed her lead to become true destination diners.

the Midnight Starling restaurant in Kyneton Ridge Estate Winery — The hatted Midnight Starling restaurant is located in Kyneton. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

It’s easy to eat well, whether at other hatted restaurants, such as Midnight Starling in the quaint town of Kyneton, or at the wineries themselves, like Le Bouchon at Attwoods, where Walsh is inspired by his time working in France in both his food offering and winemaking.

The beauty of dining and wine touring in the Macedon Ranges is that it feels intimate and unhurried. You’re likely to meet the winemaker, hear about the trials of the latest vintage firsthand, and taste wines that never make it to city shelves. And that’s worth getting out of the city for – even if it is just an hour down the road.

Delicate dishes on the menu at Midnight Starling. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

A traveller’s checklist

Staying there

the accommodation at Cleveland Estate, Macedon Ranges — Stay at the Cleveland Estate. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Soak up vineyard views from Cleveland Estate near Lancefield , embrace retro charm at Kyneton Springs Motel or indulge in lakeside luxury at the Lake House .

Eating there

Enjoy a four-course menu at the one-hatted Surly Goat in Hepburn Springs, Japanese-inspired fare at Kuzu in Woodend or unpretentious fine dining at Mount Monument , which also has a sculpture park.

Drinking there

wine tasting at PassingClouds Winery, Macedon Ranges — A tasting at Passing Clouds Winery. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Settle in for a tasting at Boomtown in Castlemaine, sample local drops at the cosy Woodend Cellar & Bar or wine-hop around the many cellar doors, such as Passing Clouds .

the Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar signage — Boomtown Winery and Cellar Bar. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Playing there

a scenic river in Castlemaine — Idyllic scenes at Castlemaine. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

Wander through the seasonal splendour of Forest Glade Gardens , hike to the summit of Hanging Rock, or stroll around the tranquil Sanatorium Lake.

purple flowers hanging from a tree — Purple flowers hanging from a tree. (Image: Chloe Smith Photography)

This luxury Aussie rail journey just ranked among the world’s best