The Spirit of the Outback

The Spirit of the Outback runs from Brisbane to Longreach. The train route follows the Queensland coast north to Rockhampton before heading inland and through outback Queensland to Longreach. The Spirit of the Outback takes 26 hours to complete the 1325km route.

Spirit of the Outback train route map

The main stops en route between Brisbane and Longreach are Maryborough West (where you can get a connecting bus to Hervey Bay), Bundaberg, Gladstone, and Rockhampton.

You can get connecting bus, coach and rail transfers at the following stations:

  • Brisbane: local bus and rail services including trains to the Gold Coast, Trainlink NSW trains to Sydney (the Discovery Pass rail pass is valid on these trains) plus the Spirit of Queensland train to Longreach and the Westlander train to Charleville (the Queensland Coastal Pass is valid on the Spirit of Queensland and the Queensland Explorer Pass is valid on both the Spirit of Queensland and the Westlander)
  • Nambour: local buses to Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast (rail passes not valid on these buses)
  • Cooroy: local buses to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast (rail passes not valid on these buses)
  • Maryborough West: buses to Hervey Bay (rail passes are valid on this bus)
  • Miriam Vale: Greyhound coaches to Agnes Water/Town of 1770
  • Rockhampton: buses to Yeppoon (rail passes not valid on this bus) and ferries from Yeppoon to Great Keppel Island. Also transfer to the Spirit of Queensland train to Cairns (the Queensland Coastal Pass and the Queensland Explorer Pass are valid on the Spirit of Queensland)
  • Longreach: buses to Winton (rail passes are valid on this bus)

Highlights of this train journey include side trips from Maryborough West to Fraser Island (via the bus connection to Hervey Bay), Rockhampton to Great Keppel Island (via the bus connection to Yeppoon) plus the Tree of Knowledge at Barcaldine, the Qantas Founders Museum and the Stockmans’ Hall of Fame in Longreach.

Did you know that the first Qantas flight was between Longreach and Winton?

The Spirit of the Outback features:

  • restaurant and bar
  • drinking fountains
  • showers and toilets at the end of each carriage
  • on demand entertainment available on tablets

Economy seats

The Queensland Explorer Pass rail pass allows you to travel in economy seats on the Spirit of the Outback.

Economy seats are available to holders of the Queensland Coastal Pass (between Brisbane and Rockhampton only) and the Queensland Explorer Pass (for the full length of the Spirit of the Outback route).

Economy seating on the Spirit of the Outback train

Passengers in economy seating can enjoy meals from the Shearers Rest Servery in the Economy Lounge.

Meals are available from the Shearers Rest

First class sleepers

Customers travelling first class have comfortable accommodation in private sleeper compartments and also have access to an exclusive Tuckerbox restaurant car as well as the Shearers Rest lounge car.

First class sleeper accommodation is not available to travellers using either the Queensland Coastal Pass or the Queensland Explorer Pass. Travellers with either of these rail passes will need to travel in an economy seat.

First class passengers can sit in the Shearers Rest lounge car (above) while economy class passengers can sit in the economy lounge.

Rail passes

You can use the Queensland Coastal Pass and the Queensland Explorer Pass to travel on the Spirit of the Outback.

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