Journey Beyond has unveiled a new “next-level platinum” era of rail travel in Australia with the introduction of its most luxurious and largest cabin class yet – the Aurora and Australis suites – on The Ghan and Indian Pacific.
The luxury suites were announced to a select group of media and partners at Melbourne’s Reine & La Rue French bistro, by Journey Beyond CEO Chris Tallent, and will launch on three trains in April 2026.
“You can have Bollinger in your Weeties if you like, in the morning. That’s how it works on our trains. You can just have it all day,” he said to a round of applause.
“This is taking luxury rail travel, globally, to the next level, which is really exciting for Australia and exciting for us.”
The journey starts at departure with private chauffer for your arrival and departure of the train. The Australis suite is three platinum cabins in size, while the Aurora is two platinum cabins, and there will by only two suites to each carriage. They will also feature personal butlers pouring signature Champagne Bollinger La Grand Annee.
The Woods Bagot-designed Aurora and Australis suites will feature personalised bars for guests who can be filled up with what they want throughout the journey, plus a dedicated bedroom with a queen bed – no fold down – plus an en suite bathroom with double vanity.
“The suites are unparalleled, a premium, elevated luxury offering. Luxury in an Australian context takes on its own definition,” says Woods Bagot Principal Rosina Di Maria. “Australian luxury is characterised by quiet confidence, quality, comfort, and attention to detail.”
The announcement coincides with Journey Beyond’s Australian Open tennis sponsorship in which The Ghan and Indian Pacific feature heavily.
“This next sort of level of platinum is at another whole level in terms of refinement and luxury,” Tallent said, clarifying that they offered an Australian sense of luxury.
“It’s not over the top, it’s not all the bells and whistles, but it is got that sense of quiet confidence,” he said.
“It is high-quality intention to detail, but it’s always relaxed and comfortable. I think that’s very much what Australian luxury represents, and that’s very much what we strive for.”
The experience also features a Platinum club in the dining lounge area which includes a new wine bar where guests can congregate.
Prices start from $11,890pp for the Australis suite and $7,990pp for the Aurora suite for a three-day journey on The Ghan. Suites will also be available on the Great Southern.
Journey Beyond’s aces at Australian Open
The suite launch is part of Journey Beyond’s The Ghan immersive activation in the heart of Melbourne this summer, coinciding with it being broadcast sponsor on Nine’s Summer of Tennis and the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.
Tennis fans visiting Melbourne can step inside a reimagined Ghan train carriage and embark on a sensory journey through the legendary landscapes of Australia’s outback, thanks to creative agency Town Square.
The activation is the centrepiece of a broader integrated media campaign, developed by Town Square, that launches Journey Beyond’s 2026 season.
Journey Beyond has been leveraging its tennis sponsorship on metro and regional TV with 30- 15- and 10-second TVCs, including an in-show sponsorship and live cross with the Today Show, outside broadcast and competition with 3AW, BVOD, OOH, print, radio, digital, social media, and live event coverage.
Feature image: The larger suites are the equivalent of three normal sized platinum cabins.
