The Ghan: Darwin to Adelaide

Overview

In March and November, The Ghan’s southbound journey from Darwin to Adelaide is a three-day experience. During the all-inclusive north to south journey, The Ghan travels through the heart of the country, stopping in Katherine, Alice Springs and Manguri, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore the remote pocket of Australia you find yourself in with immersive Off Train Experiences.

* Note: Only operates during March & November only. For travel onboard The Ghan between April - October, please refer to The Ghan Expedition itinerary.

Inclusions

Welcome Experience at Darwin Convention Centre

Transfer from Welcome Experience to Darwin Rail Terminal

2 nights aboard the Ghan - Darwin to Adelaide

All-inclusive meals, fine wines and beverages

Immersive Off Train Experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs and Marla

Cruise the Nitmiluk Gorge or learn more about Katherine’s ancient Indigenous rock paintings

Itinerary

Download Itinerary Expand All

Intro Map

The Ghan - Darwin to Adelaide

Day 1 The Ghan Journey: Darwin to Katherine

Celebrate the start of your journey with a welcome drink and canapes and 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.

Overnight stay aboard The Ghan.

Lunch, Dinner

Nitmiluk National Park

Day 2 Alice Springs

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. After dinner on board The Ghan, stop at a remote outback location for an evening experience under the Milky Way.

Overnight stay aboard The Ghan.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Alice Springs Terminal

Day 3 Arrive Adelaide

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 journeys.

Breakfast

Accommodation

The Ghan

Upgrade available

The Ghan offers more than transit between cities. Onboard you will find sumptuous dining, elegant private cabins, attentive service, and the camaraderie of your fellow travellers and when the train stops, the adventures begin. Choose from a huge range of included off-train experiences to create your own rich and rewarding personal journey through Australia’s outback and beyond.

GOLD

Immerse yourself in the world of romance that epitomises rail travel with Gold Service.

Choose between Gold Twin or Single cabins, both of which provide the perfect place to relax and recharge after a day’s journey. After a day of off-train activities, your cabin provides the perfect place to relax and recharge before heading for the lounge or dining carriage. With room to stretch out and all the comforts of home, Gold Service is the most popular level of service aboard The Ghan. You’ll enjoy private cabin accommodation together with all-inclusive dining, beverages and a range of fascinating Off Train Excursions at key stops.

Gold includes hearty breakfasts, two-course lunches and three-course dinners. You may also choose to complement your meal with our selection of premium wines and beverages, all included in your fare.

Gold Twin Cabins

Gold Twin offers a comfortable sleeper cabin featuring private en suite and upper and lower berths that convert to a three-seater lounge by day

Features include

Power outlets in cabin
In-cabin music channels and journey audio commentary available
All-inclusive dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant
All-inclusive Australian wines, beers, base spirits and non-alcoholic beverages
All-inclusive Off Train Excursions and Short Stops
Luggage allowance is 60kg per guest
Complimentary Shuttle bus transfers available in Darwin to selected hotels in the city centre

Single cabins available – or upgrade to the highest level of service onboard, Platinum Service.

Room Upgrades

Gold Single Cabin

A compact sleeper cabin featuring a bed that converts to a seat by day, private vanity, with shared shower/toilet facilities located at the end of the carriage. Gold Service Single is a comfortable sleeper cabin option that offers all the luxurious inclusions of the Gold Service Twin such as fully inclusive dining with three gourmet meals per day, all-inclusive Australian wines, beers, base spirits and non-alcoholic beverages, and your choice of Off Train Experiences as you travel.

Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.

Gold Premium

For travellers who want that little bit more. Accommodated in newly designed, contemporary cabins, guests have exclusive access to the Gold Premium Lounge and Gold Premium Dining carriage for meals and socialising. The Gold Premium Lounge is your social hub. Think luxe leather banquettes and swivel chairs made for sinking into, and mood lighting creating an elegant ambiance that references the romance inherent in train travel.

Gold Premium Dining is a feast in multiple ways, with a contemporary design that respects Art Deco as the setting for carefully curated meals, from hearty breakfasts to two-course regionally inspired lunches and delectable four-course dinners, featuring the finest ingredients from local suppliers, farmers and providores. Naturally, this is accompanied by a selection of premium Australian wines.

Gold Premium Twin

A newly designed, contemporary cabin that converts from a lounge by day into sleeping berths at night.

Gold Premium Suite

The Gold Premium Suite has a three-quarter-size double bed plus a fold-down upper berth and a lounge area, with extra room to relax.

Gold Premium (Twin & Suite) service includes:

Premium amenities, luxuriously soft linen and silk eye masks
Exclusive access to the Gold Premium Lounge and Gold Premium Dining carriage
Two-course, regionally inspired lunches and four-course dinners
All-inclusive premium Australian wines, beers, spirits and non-alcoholic beverages
All-inclusive Off Train Experiences and preferences on tour selections
75kg checked luggage allowance per guest (3 x 25 kg each)
Priority luggage check-in
Power outlets in cabin
In-cabin music channels and journey audio commentary
Complimentary shuttle bus transfers available in Darwin and Brisbane to selected hotels in the city centre.

Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.

Platinum

Nothing enhances the romance of rail travel quite like Platinum Service. Tailored for the discerning traveller, Platinum Service adds a new level of sophistication to your journey. Stylishly appointed and spacious cabins are complemented by discreet, personalised service and access to the exclusive Platinum Club carriage for meals, relaxation and socialising. As you’d expect, the food and wine are of the highest standard. Enjoy hearty breakfasts, two-course lunches and four-course dinners, all regionally inspired and paired with champagne and premium wines.

And it all begins before you’ve even stepped aboard. Platinum guests receive private transfers before and after the journey, beginning the adventure in style. Platinum cabins offer premium extras, like a full-size en suite, expansive window views from the train, and exclusive use of the Platinum Club carriage. Add to that the luxurious linen, French Champagne, Bracegirdle’s chocolates, a nightcap at turndown and more, and you’re in for an exceptional experience.

Platinum service includes:

All-inclusive dining, beverages, and Off Train Experiences
Spacious Double or Twin cabin almost twice the size of a Gold Service Twin cabin
By day, cabins are set up lounge-style with a moveable table and two ottomans
By night, lounges are converted to double or twin beds
En suite equipped with separate shower, vanity with cupboard space, toilet and Australian bathroom amenities
Power outlets and in-cabin safe
In-cabin music channels and journey audio commentary
Panoramic windows offering views from both sides of the train
Access to the exclusive Platinum Club for dining and socialising
Freshly prepared continental breakfasts served upon request in-cabin
Refreshments served in-cabin
Transfers at the start and end of your journey available for guests within 60 km of the terminal
90 kg checked luggage allowance per guest (3 x 30 kg each).

Prices are dynamic based on travel dates. Please proceed to Book Now or Contact Us for details.

FAQs

Can I request a forward-facing seat?

Yes, you are able to request forward facing-cabins aboard The Ghan at the time of booking; however, as approximately half the cabins face forward, we are unable to guarantee a forward facing cabin depending on the number of requests received for any given departure.

Can someone with mobility limitations travel on the The Ghan?

The Ghan, Indian Pacific and Great Southern have a Gold Access Cabin available for wheelchair bound/physically impaired guests travelling in Gold Service. This cabin is subject to availability and assessment of the guest’s Fitness to Travel. Please ask us for more information.

What are the meal times onboard the train?

In your cabin when you first board the train, you will find a card with the breakfast, lunch and dinner meal times for your journey. Your On-Board Attendant will advise you of the process. If you have any special requests regarding meal times, please speak with a member of the On-Board team when travelling.

Does the train have Wi-Fi?

Limited Wi-Fi is available in the Outback Explorer Lounges and Platinum Club carriages.

Please note that Wi-Fi availability is dependent on mobile network coverage, and as we travel through some remote locations it may not always be available.

What special dietary requirements can be accommodated on board the train?

Most special dietary requirements can be accommodated – including vegetarian, gluten free, lactose free and vegan. Please ensure this is advised at the time of booking.

Is there a dress code when onboard The Ghan?

It’s your holiday and we want you to be comfortable so smart casual attire is recommended.

We also recommend:

Warm clothes for Outback Experiences as mornings and evenings in the Outback can be cool
Hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes for your Off Train Experiences.

Can I smoke onboard?

No, smoking is not permitted onboard The Ghan.

Do I need to check-in prior to arrival?

Check in opens approximately 2 hours prior to your scheduled departure time.

We ask all guests to check in at least 60 minutes prior to departure to be welcomed onboard. Please bring your travel itinerary and Photo I.D.

Are there luggage restrictions?

Luggage limits apply for both carry on and checked luggage. These limits vary depending on the level of service you are travelling in and by train.

While on board The Ghan, you can access one piece of hand luggage plus a garment bag, cabin bag or briefcase per person, and store this within your cabin.

Checked luggage cannot be accessed during your rail journey and will be stored on a separate part of the train. Checked luggage limits apply:

Platinum Service (per person): 3 x 30kg
Gold Service (per person) 2 x 30kg

Will I need travel insurance?

As with all holidays and trips abroad, we strongly recommend that you have travel insurance. Please consult with our agents at time of booking and we can assist you with this.

The Ghan: Darwin to Adelaide (Tour code: 12968)

Highlights

Overview

Inclusions