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Journey Beyond to open “next level” safari resort & Platinum rail suites after record year

After a record 2024, in which it welcomed around 2 million passengers, Journey Beyond is gearing up for another massive year.

After a record 2024, in which it welcomed around 2 million passengers, Journey Beyond is gearing up for another massive year.

At its annual launch and season showcase, which this year took place in Melbourne, Journey Beyond announced that it would be adding a new luxury safari resort to its portfolio, rolling out a new platinum product for its rail journeys and even launching a book. And its CEO Chris Tallent, told Karryon at the event that there’s plenty more to come… so watch this space.

Journey Beyond leadership in Melbourne.
(L-R) Journey Beyond’s Justine Lally (EGM – Marketing & Product), Chris Tallent (CEO), Alicia Triggs (EGM) and Sture Myrmell (COO) in Melbourne. (Image Mark Harada)

“Next great thing for SA” 

Located at South Australia’s Monarto Safari Park and managed by Journey Beyond, the new safari resort will feature a 78-room hotel, which will open on 28 May, and a 20-tent luxury safari lodge, slated for a summer 2025 launch. 

Bookings for the hotel, which will boast animal experiences, restaurants, swimming pools and event venues, will open on 3 February. 

Speaking at the season launch, Journey Beyond chief executive Chris Tallent thanked the new resort’s investors, including Jayco Australia Founder Gerry Ryan, who have pumped around $60 million into the project. 

Monarto - Accommodation - 2024 - Mushroom Creative - 143
Monarto accommodation. (Image Mushroom Creative)
Monarto accommodation. (Image Mushroom Creative)
Monarto accommodation. (Image Mushroom Creative)

“We’re really looking forward to partnering with you… in delivering what will be, without question, the most incredible, iconic animal encounters and experiences in Australia,” he said.

Tallent said the safari park had expanded its facilities to 1,500 hectares and would add 500 animals, making it “we believe, the largest open plains African experience in the world, outside Africa, of course”.

“So this is going to be a whole new experience in South Australia… in Australia. So we’re very excited,” he remarked. 

“This is going to be a next-level experience in Australia.”

Monarto accommodation. (Image Mushroom Creative)
Monarto luxury lodges. (Image Mushroom Creative)

Tallent said the safari park would also boast new purpose-built, open safari vehicles, which would mark an Australian-first experience and an exceptional way to come within almost touching distance of wildlife like hippos, rhinos and cheetahs.

“This will be like nothing else in Australia,” he stated. “And not only will we have these incredible experiences, more importantly, the hotel and resort facilities include a world-class bar, restaurants, huge infinity swimming pools, conference facilities, weddings [venues]. It’s going to be the next great thing for South Australia.”

When luxury is not luxury enough

The Platinum cabin
The new Platinum Club common area (render).

Despite its large portfolio of accommodation, tours and cruises, Journey Beyond is still most known for its rail experiences. So not to be outdone, the group has also unveiled a new Platinum experience for its train journeys. 

The new products, Platinum Class Suites called Australis and Aurora, will be available on all three trains – The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern – from April 2026, with one of each suite on each train. 

The new cabins will be enormous. According to Tallent, the Australia Suite will be three Platinum cabins in size, while the Aurora will be two Platinum cabins.

They’ll also feature personal butlers, personalised bars, dedicated bedrooms with a queen bed, and an ensuite that you would “hardly believe is on a train” (think double vanities!). 

A new Platinum Suite.
A new Platinum Suite (render).
A new Platinum Suite.
The bedroom (render).

“This next level of Platinum is at another level in terms of refinement and luxury,” Tallent said.

“So this is taking luxury rail travel, globally, to the next level, which is really exciting for Australia, exciting for us.”

Speaking to Karryon at the event, Rosina Di Maria, Principal at design firm Woods Bagot, who created the new suites (as well as the previously existing suites), said the design was based around understated Australian luxury, which evokes the Aussie pastoral spirit and Federation verandahs. With horsehair lighting and “corrugated” wood finishing, it succeeds in that.

Journey Beyond’s Platinum product will also be boosted by a new Platinum Club, featuring new dining and lounge areas, including a wine bar, where you can consume as much Bollinger champagne as you like. And Journey Beyond’s customers do that in spades. Tallent even suggested that Journey Beyond is the biggest Bollinger customer in the Southern Hemisphere. 

A new Platinum Suite.
A new Platinum Suite (render).
A new Platinum Suite.
The new ensuite (render).

“You can have Bollinger in your Weeties, if you like, in the morning.” And that’s not entirely a joke, as Tallent explained.

“I think it’s really important we talk about luxury in the context of Australian luxury,” he said. 

“It’s not over the top. It’s not all bells and whistles. It’s high quality, attention 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.” 

Turning a page

JBRE Indian Pacific Hero Lake Hart SA 10
The Indian Pacific Lake Hart (SA).

Journey Beyond also launched a new book at the event called The Journey, which Tallent says reflects “on the whole history of rail in this country” across 40 regions.

“This book is a great reflection on rail in Australia, but more importantly, it’s a tribute to the pioneers of rail… who dreamt about connecting and linking this nation of ours.”

“It also pays tribute to the incredible people and communities that are out there in regional Australia… that continue to do incredible things and provide support and connect us all along the way, and really importantly for us… our crew and our people – they are absolutely what makes a difference for us as a business and in the experience. Their passion and dedication is extraordinary. 

“They’ll dance with you in the dirt at the Telegraph Station.”

The Melbourne launch event was attended by Journey Beyond partners and stakeholders, including travel industry legends Gerry Ryan and Phil Hoffman, along with Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia CEO Matt Cameron Smith, AAT Kings CEO Ben Hall, Bunnik Tours CEO Dennis Bunnik, and representatives from the Tourism Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission, Hamilton Island and Helloworld, among many others.

The Ghan in Melbourne

Journey Beyond's Ghan activation in Melbourne.
The Ghan activation. (Image Mark Harada)

Down the road, at Queensbridge Square, Journey Beyond’s The Ghan activation has attracted large numbers of passers-by as well as those who’ve come just to see the pop-up carriage, which takes guests on a quick virtual journey through the Aussie outback aboard the legendary train.

Drawing the attention of television and radio, the activation is part of Journey Beyond’s large presence in Melbourne this year, with the company also a major partner of the Australian Open. 

And this is just the start of another huge year for Journey Beyond.

Journey Beyond's Ghan activation in Melbourne.
Journey Beyond’s Ghan activation in Melbourne. (Image Mark Harada)

For more information on Journey Beyond, visit journeybeyond.com.

In November, Journey Beyond unveiled its first 2026 season release featuring iconic rail experiences, all-inclusive outback tours and eco-luxe resort escapes in Australia. Check those out here.