Welcome Aboard

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 flavours. Spend the rest of the day settling into life on train and getting to know your fellow travellers, and as afternoon turns to evening, dinner service begins with another chef-prepared gourmet meal and selection of Australian wines, beers and non-alcoholic beverages for you to choose. (L,D)

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 kilometres 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-coloured 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.(B,L,D)

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. (B,L)

Celebrate the start of your journey with a welcome drink and canapes. Before you board, you’ll have the opportunity to take photos with The Ghan’s bold red locomotive. Settle into the comforts of The Ghan, relax in your cabin, or mingle with fellow travellers in the Outback Explorer Lounge. As The Ghan begins to travel south, enjoy a chef-prepared lunch ahead of your Off Train Experience in Katherine. In a region renowned for jaw-dropping natural assets, Katherine boasts one of the Top End’s best – the incredible Nitmiluk Gorge and a cruise is on offer to showcase the beauty of this spot. Alternatively, the Katherine Outback Experience lets you into the lives of those who call the outback home, while the Cutta Cutta Cave system is home to a variety of native wildlife and is rich in Indigenous culture and modern European history. Or, take it all in from the air, with an optional upgrade helicopter flight over Nitmiluk. (L,D)

Wake up in the Australian outback as the train drawers closer to the iconic town of Alice Springs. Enjoy a big breakfast on board before your arrival into the Alice, ready for a day of Off Train Experiences. There’s an experience to suit everyone, including an off-road e-bike adventure, the Alice Explorer tour that takes in The Historic Telegraph Station and Royal Flying Doctor Service, a cultural experience at Standley Chasm, meeting the wildlife at the Desert Park, or taking in the astounding beauty of Simpson’s Gap. Alternatively, spot Uluru and Kata Tjuta from the air, with an optional upgrade scenic flight.

In the evening, the hallmark experience of The Ghan Expedition begins. Dine under a blanket of stars at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, with red earth at your feet and white tablecloths at your fingertips. This will be a night to remember. (B,L,D)

From your morning stop at the remote Manguri, where you’ll see the sunrise, you’ll venture into the weird and wonderful opal mining township of Coober Pedy, where more than half of the residents live underground. Here, you’ll enjoy a day of discovery, and a gourmet lunch in the most unique of locations: underground. Off Train Experiences on offer include exploring the majestic Breakaways, touring the town, learning more about mining history on the Opal Experience, or an optional upgrade with the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre scenic flight.

For your final night on board The Ghan, dinner is served on the train, and afterwards enjoy a nightcap with fellow travellers who have now become friends as your journey continues towards Adelaide. (B,L,D)

This morning, you’ll see a dramatic change in landscape as the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the green fields of South Australia. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as you pass through the Flinders Ranges before arriving into Adelaide, completing one of the world’s great rail experiences. (B)