Without question, one of the great train journeys of the world is that between Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory and Adelaide in South Australia. From the tropical climbs of what Australians call ‘The Top End’, through the continents’ red centre and finally into the lush surrounds of the Great Australian Bight, The Ghan train has been making the journey for more than 90 years.
In November 2025 we’ll be part of this iconic 3 Day/2 Night 2979km adventure. The Ghan journey will take us to some of the most remote and captivating parts of Australia in style and comfort. For The Ghan offers more than just transit between Darwin and Adelaide. Onboard you’ll find sumptuous dining, elegant private cabins, attentive service and the ‘espirit de corps’ of like-minded fellow train travellers. A legendary train and an unforgettable experience.
Time in both Darwin and Adelaide will bookend the train journey itself, combining to become 12 days of exploration and relaxation.
THE TRAIN
Originally dubbed the Afghan Express, The Ghan train was named for the pioneering cameleers who blazed a permanent trail into the vast interior of Australia more than 150 years ago.
The Ghan is a 3 Day/2 Night traverse of the continent where, once you board, you simply put down your suitcase and let your journey unfold. From world-class food and wine to a range of immersive off-train experiences, the hardest decision you’ll need to make is what to have for lunch and which experience to take.
Your Gold Twin cabin has everything you need to feel right at home. With an ensuite bathroom and upper & lower berths that convert into a lounge by day, your cabin is the perfect sanctuary in which to lose yourself as the scenery glides by your window or a place to recharge after an off-train activity before heading to the Lounge or Restaurant carriages. With in-cabin music channels and journey audio commentary accessible throughout the train, no matter where you are, you won’t miss a thing. Gold Twin cabins are available for either Double or Single bookings.
The Queen Adelaide restaurant, with its Art Deco ambience, salutes the golden era of train travel and features superb all-inclusive menus for breakfast lunch and dinner, classic beverages and seamless service. The Outback Explorer Lounge (left) is the social hub of the train. Get to know your fellow-travellers, enjoy a coffee, snack or pre-dinner drink or simply kick back and watch the passing landscape through the huge picture windows.
OFF TRAIN EXPERIENCES
There are opportunities to explore beyond the train on two of the days on the great train journey. Both days offer a selection of experiences to choose from.
Train Day 1: We depart Darwin in the morning and after lunch we stop at Katherine, a region renowned for its jaw-dropping natural beauty. Here enjoy a cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge. If you’d like to enjoy the sights from above there’s an optional upgrade of a helicopter flight.
Train Day 2: Enjoy a good breakfast onboard before we arrive into Alice Springs ready for a day off the train. ‘A Town Called Alice’ tour gives you an insight to the history of the town. Alternatively, the ‘Alice Springs Desert Park’ tour showcases the hugely diverse wildlife of the region from reptiles to raptors. Looking to learn more about Indigenous culture? The ‘Simpsons Gap’ tour offers a unique blend of nature and culture. For those who love a good bike ride, you can enjoy cycling along the Ilentye Trail. Or perhaps take the ‘Road & Rail’ tour which explores the expansion of transport throughout The Red Centre by truck and train. Here too, you have an optional upgrade of a scenic helicopter flight over The Red Centre.
BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE!
This tour is by no means limited to a mighty train journey. We’ll explore tropical Darwin and ‘The Top End’ before we board The Ghan and historic and genteel Adelaide and the Barossa Valley when we get off. Lots of fabulous highlights at these iconic locations too.
Here comes a summary of the itinerary;
Days 1 & 2 – Hawke’s Bay to Darwin
Our odyssey begins as we make our way to Darwin via Auckland and overnight in Sydney staying in the heart of things near Circular Quay at the wonderful Radisson Plaza Hotel. The following morning, we fly north to Darwin and our home for the next 4 nights, the spectacular Mindil Beach Resort.
Days 3, 4, 5 & 6 – Darwin
These four days are a perfect mix of group activities and individual leisure time. Our half-day City Sightseeing Tour would lead easily to an afternoon at the Museum & Art Gallery Of The Northern Territory which is right next to our resort. A relaxed morning wandering the fabulous Darwin Botanic Gardens, across the road from our resort, could be just the thing before our afternoon tour to see the enormous saltwater Jumping Crocodiles so famous in these parts. Not to be missed are the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, again, conveniently right beside our resort. Although with 2 pools, 4 restaurants, 4 bars, a café and the legendary Darwin Casino all part of the resort complex, not to mention Mindil Beach itself, you need not leave the premises at all.
Days 7 & 8 – The Ghan – Katherine, Alice Springs & The Red Centre
Day 9 – The Ghan & Adelaide
This morning the landscape changes dramatically as the train enters South Australia with its lush green hinterland. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as we pass through the Flinders Range before arriving in Adelaide. A fascinating guided sightseeing tour of the city awaits us before we arrive at the sparkly new Crowne Plaza Adelaide Hotel. Has the gentle rocking of the train left you yet?
Day 10 – Adelaide
A FREE DAY today to explore this most elegant of Australian cities. Get in a bit of shopping in Rundle Street Mall, perhaps lunch at one of the dozens of food stalls at Adelaide Central Market. Take the tram out to the beach at Glenelg or enjoy wandering one of the many city parks or art galleries just minutes’ walk from our hotel. There’s so much to do on a Saturday in vibrant central Adelaide.
Day 11 – Hahndorf & The Barossa Valley
Today we head away from the city and first visit the charming village of Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German settlement. Browse the incredible range of German-influenced shops, cafes and smallgoods outlets on the village main street. A delicious lunch and wine tastings in the Barossa Valley wine region awaits us and a picturesque journey back to town.
Days 12 – Adelaide to Hawke’s Bay
We travel home to New Zealand today, and thanks to Air New Zealand adding an extra daily flight to Hawke’s Bay from Auckland, we’ll have you back in your own place by the end of the day.
This exciting tour is an opportunity to not only experience one of the great train journeys of the world, but to also explore some of the most unusual environments and habitats on earth.
