LITTLE LUXURIES
Cheers to That!
The journey through Australia’s vast landscapes is best savoured slowly, with a glass of champagne in hand and the hum of the rails beneath you.
WORDS Tatyana Leonov
The sound is soft but unmistakable – a pop, followed by a gentle fizz – then golden bubbles rising in a flute. The train rolls forward. Outside, the land shifts slowly: ochre dunes, silver saltbush, shadows stretching long across the plains. Inside, guests raise glasses, and the mood shifts. Something has begun.
Champagne is often used to toast new beginnings, but for Platinum guests on board, it’s more than a drink reserved for milestones. Across Journey Beyond’s iconic rail journeys – The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern – it’s the spark of celebration, a shared ritual that transforms moments into memories.
“It’s that sense of awe combined with a feeling of being truly spoilt,” says Journey Beyond’s Executive General Manager of Sales and Partnerships, Alicia Triggs.
“You feel connected – to the people around you, the moment and to the land you’re moving through.”
Each route reveals a unique side of Australia: The Ghan crosses the Red Centre from Adelaide (Tarntanya) to Darwin (Garramilla); the Indian Pacific spans coast-to-coast from Sydney (Warrane) to Perth (Boorloo), cutting across deserts and mountains; and the Great Southern links Adelaideand Brisbane (Meanjin) on a coastal and inland journey taking in cities, vineyards and beaches. These journeys are perfect backdrops for celebration.
For Platinum guests, the experience is elevated from the first pour. In the Platinum Club, Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée sets the tone – rich, refined and celebratory. Golden bubbles catch the amber light as vast landscapes roll by the wide windows. Just as every journey is unique, it’s these little luxuries that transform time onboard into something truly unforgettable.
Alicia explains it’s not just the drink, but the memories it creates. “My favourite champagne moments have been set against the most incredible Australian backdrops,” she says.
“There were clinks of glasses atop the pristine white sand dunes at Ningaloo Reef, surrounded by hundreds of turtles, and moments spent watching the sun dip below the horizon over the shimmering waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Each experience is a beautiful memory, made even more special with a glass of bubbly in hand.”
And while Platinum guests savour a glass of the Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée on board, they’ll carry with them the feeling long after they have ended their journey: the cool touch of the glass against the warmth of the land, conversations that linger deep into the night, and of course, the clink of flutes as the vast landscape rolls by.
“Champagne Bollinger is one of the most prestigious Champagne houses in the world.”
Emma Healy
For those seeking the next level of indulgence, the new Aurora Australis Suites will elevate the journey further. In 2026, guests staying in these suites will be served with La Grande Année, a vintage expression crafted from a single, exceptional year. It’s an experience designed to match the suite’s quiet luxury – considered, generous and full of character.
“Champagne Bollinger is one of the most prestigious Champagne houses in the world,” says Marketing Manager at House of Fine Wine, Emma Healy. “We’ve built our reputation on craftsmanship, legacy and authenticity, and that aligns beautifully with Journey Beyond’s sense of timeless and elevated travel.”
Emma knows the match firsthand. She travelled on The Ghan during its 90th anniversary, which coincided with Bollinger’s 190th, and loved how the two brands shared such natural synergy. “We enjoyed many beautiful tastings onboard, but what stayed with me was that slow rhythm … moving through the Red Centre with a glass of La Grande Année in hand, then dining under the stars. It felt like the golden age of travel … but transformed into something more grounded and luxurious.”
She notes that Australian luxury differs from its European counterpart. “It’s not about white gloves or formalities. It’s about atmosphere, connection. And when you bring in something like Champagne Bollinger, it creates that sense of occasion, without ever feeling out of place,” she says. “You’re not being served; you’re being welcomed.”
And that welcome lingers – not just in a single moment or a single glass, but in the rhythm of the journey itself. From the first pop to the final pour, champagne marks time on the rails. It’s present at departures, at golden hour, at dinners in the Outback beneath star-studded skies.
And while Platinum guests savour a glass of the Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée on board, they’ll carry with them the feeling long after they have ended their journey: the cool touch of the glass against the warmth of the land, conversations that linger deep into the night, and of course, the clink of flutes as the vast landscape rolls by.