Friday, 31 Dec 2010 - Saturday, 1 Jan 2011

Bookings Open July 2010

Special rail trip from Canberra and Queanbeyan to Sydney to welcome in the New Year. Leave Friday morning and enjoy lunch en-route to Sydney. No parking problems or accommodation worries, and a restful overnight journey home.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Come with us to Sydney to enjoy Australia's best New Year's Eve celebrations - there's nothing to beat the atmospherics of Sydney Cove and Darling Harbour topped off by the fabulous fireworks displays.

All the better if you have no need to find parking, or scarce and expensive overnight accommodation. In fact, we'll take you there and back with minimum fuss.

Our route to Sydney is a special delight as we avoid the Hume Highway and provide a bit of relaxation before the night's festivities. After our Friday morning 9.20am departure from Canberra (9.35am from Queanbeyan), settle into your sleeping compartment or take your reserved seats for mid-morning tea and coffee.

We travel through the Molonglo Gorge to Bungendore and Goulburn and then through the pretty Southern Highlands towns of Bundanoon and Exeter. A leisurely two-course meal commences as we travel through Moss Vale and Bowral.

Arrival is timed for around 5pm leaving plenty of time for the short walk to Darling Harbour. Alternatively, head towards Sydney Cove or the Domain, or maybe just rendezvous with Sydney friends for the evening. Walking will be easy as most central city streets will be closed for the evening. We suggest a light dinner downtown (at your cost).

After the celebrations

The streets will be full after the midnight celebrations, and we have allowed plenty of time for you to make your way back to Central Station. You will be welcomed back to your hotel on rails with supper prior to our 2am departure. Our licensed bar will remain open, while tea and coffee and champers will be available with our compliments.

Alternatively, you can retire for the night without further ado, as the berths in your sleeping compartment will have already been made up for the night. Our return journey will be made at a comfortable pace. Enjoy a continental breakfast from 7.45am as we pass through Tarago and the scenic Molonglo Gorge before our 10am arrival at Canberra (15 minutes earlier at Queanbeyan).

If you would like to be part of this great trip, we suggest you book early. Sleeping accommodation is limited to 120, and some categories will sell out early.

On-train accommodation

We offer two levels of on-train accommodation - both enjoy the same great on-train services.

Premier Class: Modern ex-Southern Aurora carriages, choice of two types of climate-controlled sleeping compartments, both with 240 volt power outlets - twinette (for two persons with en-suite toilet and shower) or roomette (single berths with own toilet, and showers at end of carriage).

Twinettes are normally in high demand - please book early.

Our trains are popular with and secure for single people of all ages - do get together a small group of friends and we'll be pleased to book you into adjacent roomettes.

Holiday Class: Non-climate controlled sleeping cars redecorated in the 1970s - all twinette compartments with showers and toilets at the end of the carriages. Hot and cold water to compartment basins .

We normally do not offer single supplements in these carriages - but please enquire. If you are travelling with a group of at least 4 people and you all book together, we'll allocate adjacent twinettes.

In addition to a sleeping berth allocation, all passengers will enjoy reserved seating in our comfortable sitting cars, and a leisurely single sitting for meals for the duration of the tour. You will be provided with tour notes on the train, including a Sydney CBD map.

Your fare includes mid-morning tea and coffee, lunch and an afternoon snack (cheese, cabanossi etc) on Friday, plus a welcome supper after midnight and a continental breakfast on Saturday. Tea and coffee is unlimited and free on board. Light and alcoholic drinks are available for purchase with on-train meals and at other times from the bar.

Fares:

Holiday Class: $TBA

Premier Class Twinette: $TBA

Premier Class Roomette: $TBA