The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin

Adelaide is South Australia’s cosmopolitan coastal capital. Its ring of parkland on the River Torrens is home to acclaimed museums such as the Art Gallery of South Australia, displaying expansive collections of Indigenous art, and the South Australian Museum, devoted to natural history. The world renowned Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale wine regions are within driving distance, along with stunning beaches, national parks and riverland, making Adelaide an ideal base to experience South Australia's beauty.

This legendary train evokes a frontier spirit, and a romantic connection to the land, and travelling on it creates a moving and unforgettable life experience. The Ghan celebrates outback adventure, with its legend stemming from the 1930s when the first Afghan cameleers arrived in Australia. Departing Adelaide, travel through the Red Centre, experiencing Australia at its dramatic best on a three-day journey on The Ghan. Watch the landscape change from verdant greens to arid plans, where the colours of the outback saturate the landscape. Stop in Marla, Alice Springs and Katherine to learn about the history, culture, natural beauty and significance of each remote outpost as you travel on this legendary train.

Board The Ghan in Adelaide for an incredible showcase journey of inland Australia. As the train leaves the city heading for the Flinders Ranges and beyond, the dramatic changes in landscape from pastoral land to arid outback scenes will ignite your imagination. Lunch is served on board – this is the first of many superb, chef-prepared gourmet meals, showcasing regional flair and seasonal flavors. Spend the rest of the day settling into life on the train and getting to know your fellow travellers, and as afternoon turns to evening, dinner service begins with another chef-prepared gourmet meal and a selection of Australian wines, beers, and non-alcoholic beverages for you to choose.

After your first night enjoying the fine dining and relaxed comfort of this iconic train, you’ll wake to an unforgettable outback sunrise at Marla – a remote outpost 160 kilometers from the Northern Territory border that marks the start of the Oodnadatta Track. With red dirt at your feet and a bonfire warming the morning air, you’ll have some time to appreciate the remote part of Australia you find yourself in. Reboard the train for brunch and enjoy the magnificent scenery as you make your way onwards to Alice Springs. Here you’ll have a selection of Off Train Experiences to choose from. There’s an experience to suit everyone, from an off-road mountain bike adventure across ochre-colored earth, to the Alice Explorer tour taking you to the town’s major attractions, a cultural experience at Standley Chasm, meeting the wildlife at the Desert Park, or taking in the astounding beauty of Simpson’s Gap. Alternatively, take it all in from the air, with an optional upgrade helicopter flight. You’ll return to the train late afternoon where you’ll have time to rest and refresh before dinner is served.

This optional upgrade will see you experience the sheer magnitude of this ancient, sunburned land. Transfer to the Crowne Plaza Alice Springs and enjoy a drink by the pool while you wait for your flight. On boarding the helicopter, your pilot will take you up and over Alice Springs to experience once in a lifetime views and detailed commentary of the region's early explorers, now ingrained in Australian history and culture.

An optional camel tour upgrade that will take you into White Gums Station in the Australian outback. Your ride begins at the Pyndan Camel Tracks yards, following a track along an avenue Iron Bark and Mulga trees, across a clay pan flat, to reach sweeping views of the MacDonnell Ranges. On your return, sit back and relax with canapes, a cold drink, and the sounds of the bush lulling you to a sense of serenity.

Your day dawns in the tropical north and when the landscape transforms into rocky gorges and fast-flowing canyon streams, prepare to experience one of the Top End’s most impressive natural wonders on a boat cruise along Nitmiluk Gorge. Making this experience even more memorable is the commentary that explains the significance of Nitmiluk to the Indigenous Jawoyn people and the many stories that celebrate their spiritual connection to the gorge. There is also a helicopter flight upgrade available, for those wishing to see Nitmiluk from an aerial perspective. Alternatively, the Katherine Outback Experience lets you into the lives of those who call the outback home, with a fascinating day of discovery showing what it’s like to live and work on a huge cattle station. After the day’s activities, you’ll reboard the train and continue to Darwin, where your journey exploring Australia by train concludes

This optional upgrade will provide views of the magnificent Nitmiluk Gorge unlike any other. Arriving in Katherine, alight the train and be taken to your awaiting helicopter. The Dreamtime story of the Traditional owners of this land tells of the gorge system's creation by Bula, an important figure of the Jawoyn people, who is said to have carved these gorges with his two wives as they were hunted across the lands. Flying over all 13 gorges, see if you can follow Bula's path as you appreciate the enormity & complexity of this landscape.

Welcome to the Northern Territory's unhurried capital, Darwin. The city is a melting pot of cultures, with rich Aboriginal connections to country as well as strong Asian influences in its cuisine, thanks to its close proximity to Asia. Spend a balmy night at the buzzing night markets, see crocodiles up close, or slow things down with a cruise on the harbour.