Australia By Rail - The Ghan

The most iconic of Australia’s great rail journeys, The Ghan traces a route pioneered by the early travellers from south to north across this vast continent. Red Service enjoys compact sleeper cabins with upper and lower sleeping berths, two facing lounge chairs, private washing facilities and shared toilet and shower. Gold Service cabins have a three seater lounge converting to upper and lower berths with compact en suite facilities. Platinum Service enjoys spacious cabins with double beds and full en suite. Dining is included for Gold and Platinum Service passengers.

MEAL PLAN
Gold and Platinum Service - dining is included in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant.
Red Service - purchase light meals in the diner.
Platinum Service - complimentary tea and coffee served to cabin, nightcap and turndown, in-room continental breakfast or full breakfast in restaurant, transfers to/from train in Darwin (charged for Red).


ACCOMMODATION
Red Service - twin seats or compact sleeper cabins with upper and lower sleeping berths, two facing lounge chairs, private washing facilities and shared toilets and showers at the end of each carriage. Gold Service - twin cabins have a three seater lounge that converts to upper and lower berths with compact en suite facilities and complimentary toiletry bags. Luxurious Platinum Service - more spacious cabins with double beds and full en suite.

DAY 1
Make your way to the suburb of Keswick and the Adelaide Parklands Terminal for embarkation onto the historic Ghan in time for a lunchtime departure. Sit back and relax as the city fades into the distance and observe the landscape turning from urban to agricultural, to pastoral and finally to the vast Outback scrub and desert. Enjoy a kaleidoscopic colour display as the sun finally sets and the gentle motion of the train’s passage serenades you to a restful sleep.

DAY 2
Awake early and share in a remarkable Outback sunrise as an undisturbed landscape reveals itself before you. After lunch, The Ghan will sidle serenely into Alice Springs, gateway to Australia’s burnt red interior. Passengers to Alice Springs depart here. For passengers to Darwin, there is plenty of time to get a flavour of the city with a selection of optional tours. On the Essential Alice Springs town tour take in attractions such as The Royal Flying Doctor Service, Telegraph Station, The Reptile Centre and the lookout from Anzac Hill. Discover the indigenous secrets of the region on the Aboriginal Sacred Sites and Cultural Tour, or perhaps visit the fascinating Alice Springs Desert Park, take a camel ride or a helicopter flight over Simpson’s Gap. Alternatively, take a few days to stop and enjoy a once in a lifetime trip to magnificent Uluru (Ayers Rock). Re-board the train early this evening and continue the journey north.

DAY 3
The train arrives after breakfast in the small country town of Katherine, gateway to one of the ‘Top End’s’ most spectacular attractions, the impressive gorges in Nitmiluk National Park. There is time here to enjoy an optional cruise of Katherine Gorge, or perhaps a spectacular helicopter flight over it. At one o’clock, the train departs on the final leg of the journey before arriving into Darwin in the early evening.

NB - This journey is also available in reverse.