Australia & New Zealand by train and luxury Silversea cruise

This morning, you’ll board your vessel at the jetty to start a full-day tour of Rottnest Island. After cruising to the island, you’ll disembark and collect your bike, the perfect way to explore the 11 km-long island as you please. You’ll have the chance to spot wildlife as you travel around the island and enjoy lunch in town before boarding the ferry to depart the island.

You have the day to explore Perth at your own pace. We suggest visiting the Art Gallery of Western Australia to view regional and local Noongar (Aboriginal) art, experiencing a gentle cruise along the Swan River, or visiting Fremantle for its food and drink scene.

Board the Indian Pacific this afternoon and get to know the other explorers on your train. You'll pull away from Perth, leave the Indian Ocean behind, and cruise toward the Pacific. Tonight, dinner is served on board, featuring contemporary Australian cuisine with seasonal and regional tastes.

Awake to see the sunrise unfold across Australia's largest Outback town, Kalgoorlie. This morning you'll delve into this mining town's fascinating past and present, visiting the region's gold-rush era, now modern-day 'super pit' mine. Decide how you would like to explore Kalgoorlie from your choice of off-train experiences, including morning refreshments. Re-boarding the train for brunch, the remainder of the day is spent on board at your leisure. Sit back and enjoy the hospitality as you take in the spectacular views of the seemingly endless expanse of the Nullarbar Plain. You'll cross borders and time zones, entering South Australia before dinner. Late evening, the train will pull into the almost-ghost-town of Cook for a nightcap, late-night bonfire and stargazing experience.

Crossing another border during the night, you'll wake up in Broken Hill. Enjoy a hearty breakfast and be ready for the day's activities in Silver City. You'll have a choice of off-train experiences, including guided history, art, and culture that showcase the highlights of Australia's first heritage-listed city. Returning to the train for lunch, admire the scenery as the Indian Pacific travels through regional New South Wales. Tonight, dinner is served on board as you make the most of your final night exploring Australia by train.

Spend the morning moving through the pastoral lands and communities of remote South Australia as the train cruises past the Flinders Range, Spencer Gulf, and the Adelaide Plains. Breakfast and lunch are both served on board. Mid-afternoon, the train pulls into Two Wells, where you'll disembark and transfer by comfortable coach for a short stop at the world-renowned wine region of the Barossa Valley. You'll spend the evening at Seppeltsfield Winery, delighting in a signature dining experience in the vintage cellar. After dinner, you'll return to the Indian Pacific, continuing your rail journey through the night.

The Blue Mountains are known for their soaring sandstone ridges wrapped in native flora and mark your final stop before arriving in Sydney. Say goodbye to the Indian Pacific after breakfast, to travel deep into the mountains for this afternoon's off-train experience. Complete your journey on the chartered New South Wales rail service (fully hosted by the Indian Pacific crew) into Sydney Central Station. Make your own way to your Sydney hotel, where you'll have the evening to relax.

Today you'll make your way to the Sydney Opera House, where you'll embark on a backstage tour. You'll have exclusive access to areas usually reserved for the stars and their crew, such as the dressing rooms and orchestra pit. Once the tour concludes, you'll enjoy breakfast as a small group in the Green Room. The rest of the day is yours to travel around Sydney. We recommend visiting Hyde Park Barracks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about the city's history.

Today you'll board your Silversea cruise. With its glorious harbour, stunning beaches and iconic landmarks, Sydney is one of the world's most dynamic cities. Creative and vibrant, you will discover the world-class cuisine, indigenous culture and irresistible beach life it offers. Sydney's sparkling harbour is the heart of a richly cultural city. Overlooked by the metallic curves of the masterpiece of an Opera House, and that grand arched harbour bridge.

With its glorious harbour, stunning beaches and iconic landmarks, Sydney is one of the world's most dynamic cities. Creative and vibrant, you will discover the world-class cuisine, indigenous culture and irresistible beach life it offers. Sydney's sparkling harbour is the heart of a richly cultural city. Overlooked by the metallic curves of the masterpiece of an Opera House, and that grand arched harbour bridge.

Days at sea are a great opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that’s going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

A former British penal colony, Australia's second-oldest city is now a place to live a free and easy life. Encircled by dramatic cliffs, landscaped gardens, and rolling vineyards, Hobart is also well-stacked with cultural pursuits, including museums and galleries with new and old art on their walls. With fresh sea breezes and a fabulous location, Hobart is a creative place, where you can browse the produce of local artisans in Saturday's massive Salamanca Market – which draws visitors from all across Tasmania and beyond. Eat at waterfront restaurants, or rise up Mount Wellington's slopes to appreciate the remoteness of Hobart's location. From this elevated platform, you can look down across views of flowing forests, undulating mountains, and the endless ocean swallowing up the city. Further away, animal sanctuaries introduce you to the island's famous inhabitants, including the famous Tasmanian devil. Hobart has a long brewing tradition – so enjoy a refreshing ale poured from the country's oldest brewery. The climate's blend of generous sunshine and cool Antarctic breezes also helps Hobart to produce its acclaimed wines, and thick clumps of pinot noir grapes hang from vineyards dotted along the valleys nearby.

Days at sea are a great opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that’s going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

Days at sea are a great opportunity to relax, unwind, and catch up with what you've been meaning to do. So whether that is going to the gym, visiting the spa, whale-watching, catching up on your reading, or simply topping up your tan, these blue sea days are the perfect balance to busy days spent exploring shoreside.

As with all of New Zealand’s fiords, Doubtful Sound is a masterpiece of nature. The only way to reach it’s by boat, crossing Lake Manapouri, so of the three Sounds (Dusky and Milford being the other two), Doubtful is the least touristy. Those who are lucky enough to experience Doubtful Sound deserve it. Because of the Sound’s inaccessibility, you’ll encounter very few people as you float through the silent waterways. Because of the lack of human interaction, Mother Nature has been given free rein here. The dense forest is rife with wildlife and birdsong is a constant soundtrack. In the water, you can expect to get up close and personal with fur seals, pods of bottlenose dolphins and some lucky souls have even sighted the occasional whale and albatross.

Within touching distance of the South Island's southern tip, the majority of New Zealand's third-largest island is a beautiful sprawl of National Park. Taking its name from the Māori word 'Rakiura' which means "land of the glowing skies", this is an island sanctuary of radiant beauty. Sunsets and sunrises are magical, but it’s the swirling patterns of light that dance across the heavens above that enchant above all else – as the Southern Hemisphere’s version of the northern lights dazzles overhead. Slow the pace on this island of leisurely fishing villages and swirling Māori legend. The majority of Stewart Island is covered by dense forests, which conceal wonderful wildlife-watching opportunities and reveal isolated coves and dramatic cliffs.

The south-easterly coast of New Zealand's wild southern island is a haven for outdoor adventures, with masses of raw scenic beauty and thrilling coastline. Dunedin is a cosmopolitan city of culture and architectural splendour, with a distinctly tartan flare. Settled by the Scots in 1848, the romantically misty valleys and moody landscapes continue to capture the hearts of visitors. Bagpipes echo down the streets in the Edinburgh of the South, which wears its Scottish origins proudly. Gothic revival architecture is scattered liberally, including the magnificent university – with its glorious clocktower.

With pretty painted cottages and overflowing verdant balconies, you could be forgiven for thinking that you have stepped onto the streets of Provence upon arrival in Akaroa. Yet, here you are, in New Zealand’s South Island, less than 50 kilometres from Christchurch. The French connection stems from 1838, when Captain Jean Francois Langlois acquired the land for six British pounds from the Maoris. Surrounded by natural wonders, the town (Maori for “Long Harbour”) stands on a peninsula formed by two volcanic cones, and is self-styled as nature’s playground.

Wellington is a vibrant and energetic seaside capital. A compact, well-stocked city of buzzing bars and cafes, New Zealand's capital is a bright and breezy place with an infectious, easy-going atmosphere. Known as the creative hub of the South Pacific, there are shows to see, art installations to enjoy, and rich flavours to savour here. The sounds of rare and beautiful birdlife fill the hills around the city, and the green belt provides an easy-to-access sanctuary for strolls and cycle rides. The Botanical Gardens break up the buildings, even more, while an iconic cable car rumbles up Wellington's slope to the city's best viewpoint, looking out over the city's scenic harbour.

Sip the fine wines of legendary producers, visit Cape Kidnappers's crowds of birdlife and wander the stylish streets of the world's art deco capital of Napier. Located on the huge arc of Hawke's Bay, Napier enjoys a generous Mediterranean-style climate and a breezy café culture. A green, outdoor town, wander Marine Parade, which borders the rich blue Pacific and invites you to stroll along a tree-lined two-mile seafront. Take the gentle hike up to Bluff Hill, for panoramic views over the lively Napier Port and out towards Cape Kidnappers. You'll encounter one of the world's largest mainland gannet colonies, creating a colourful cacophony by the sea. Set on sheer cliffs, the golden-headed birds are an incredible sight, swirling overhead and dancing.

With a population of around 35,000 and located on the North Island, Gisborne exudes history at every turn. Maori for "Great standing place of Kiwa", Kiwa was a leading figure aboard the Maori ancestral canoe, Takitimu, which ran aground in Gisborne around 1450 AD. After landing, Kiwa became a coastal guardian, eventually marrying Parawhenuamea, the keeper of the streams. The union point of three rivers and the first place to see the sun, the city is filled with light and laughter. Spectacular beach cliff views are part and parcel of everyday life here, and easy walks from the centre of town to the Titirangi Reserve will reward you with yet more 180-degree vistas from Poverty Bay to Gisborne City.

Tauranga is New Zealand's sunny capital with wide sweeping beaches and surfers curling across cresting waves. Climb to the top for spectacular views of the natural harbour, or take winding coastal footpaths to explore the unfolding scenery. Brooding, geothermal energy creates spectacular natural attractions across this region, while plunging waterfalls and fascinating Maori culture ensure that the Bay of Plenty has a lot to offer visitors. Said to receive New Zealand's highest amount of sunshine, the hanging kiwi, citrus fruit, and avocados add an exotic touch to the area's landscape. Mud pools bubble and steam rises from the earth in the stunning geothermal area of Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve. You can also enter New Zealand's fantasy world, with a visit to some of the country's celebrated filming spots – which have featured as doubles for J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth fantasy.

Disembark your cruise in Auckland before taking a private transfer to the airport to begin your journey home.