7-Nights Australia's Ghan Rail Expedition from $4,912

Goway Travel

OFFER ID 1722359

Epic Scenery, Iconic Landmarks, Rural Charm, Unique Accommodation Journey coast to coast through Australia’s red heart on this Private-guided trip, from Darwin’s tropics to Coober Pedy’s underground world and Barossa’s vineyards.

Trip Overview :

This 8-day vacation from Darwin to Adelaide is a coast-to-coast journey like no other, exploring the best of the Northern Territory and South Australia.

After a few nights in Darwin, climb aboard for the first leg of your adventure, which takes you to Katherine Gorge. An off-rail tour lets you experience one of Australia’s most diverse national parks. You can learn about its traditional owners, the Jawoyn people, or take a scenic flight to enjoy the park from the air.

After a spectacular outback sunrise and a delicious breakfast, you’ll explore Alice Springs, the unofficial ‘capital’ of outback Australia. Take a helicopter ride of the McDonnell Ranges for a real appreciation of the desert’s vastness, or opt for an aerial view of iconic Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Sink your teeth into an authentic bush barbecue, then end your day on a scientific note, enjoying a night sky that only the Australian outback can offer.

Your next destination, Coober Pedy, is one of Australia’s true frontier towns, with a history steeped in opal mining. Explore the tunnels and caves of this underground world, including its famous Serbian Orthodox church, hollowed into the rock. Climb back aboard the Ghan for an elegant farewell dinner, then overnight to Adelaide.

Finish your vacation with a few days in South Australia’s culture-loving capital, and venture out to the Barossa Valley for a taste of Australia’s finest reds.

Highlights:

Discover Darwin’s rich heritage and Aboriginal art before unwinding at the lively Waterfront precinct.
Journey aboard The Ghan through the heart of Australia, from tropical Darwin to the Red Centre.
Cruise Nitmiluk Gorge and dine under the desert stars during your stay in Alice Springs.
Explore Coober Pedy’s underground wonders and the surreal outback landscapes of South Australia.
Arrive in Adelaide to savour Barossa Valley wines and stroll through the city’s vibrant East End.

Included Services:

Private arrival and departure transfers in Darwin and Adelaide
2 nights premium accommodation in Darwin
2 nights premium accommodation in Adelaide
3 nights Gold Service Cabin on the Ghan, including a private cabin, meals, wine, and other beverages
Half-day Highlights of Darwin Tour
Off-train excursions in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy
Small group Best of Barossa tour (max 5 guests)
3 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners

Excluded Services:

Travel insurance
International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
Meals and beverages not explicitly listed as included
Gratuities
Optional excursions
Items of a personal nature
Passport & Visa fees, if applicable

7 nights from $4,912 per person

Itinerary

Click here for Full Itinerary Details

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Arrive in Darwin

Transfer: Darwin Airportto Darwin - City Centre

Hotel: Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront (4 Star Rating)

If you want to be in the middle of the action and close to the Darwin CBD, Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront is the place for you. Choose to stay in one of the hotel's 121 well-appointed guest rooms.

Perfectly positioned amongst the entertainment and dining hub of Darwin’s seafront promenade, Vibe Hotel Darwin Waterfront is surrounded by great shopping, a range of Territorian pubs, as well as some of the most amazing restaurants and cafés in the NT. Whether you're tasting craft beers at The Precinct Tavern, enjoying hand crafted menus at Il Lido or Wharf One, or trying NT favourites at the Oyster Bar or Hot Tamale, you'll feel right at home at this picturesque location.

Day 2: Half Day Darwin Highlights Tour

Embark on a captivating tour of Darwin, immersing yourself in the city's rich history. Your tour includes the Darwin Aviation Museum, where you'll delve into the fascinating world of aviation history. Admire the impressive collection of 19 aircraft on display, including the iconic B-52 Bomber on loan from the United States Air Force. Continue to the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT), a treasure trove of artistic and scientific excellence. Explore its internationally renowned collections and research programs, the highlight being the largest permanent display of Aboriginal Art in Australia. Stroll through the tranquil Darwin Botanic Gardens, one of the few in the world that has marine and estuarine plants naturally in its grounds.

Day 3: Depart Darwin on The Ghan

Your journey aboard the legendary Ghan begins in Darwin, where you'll take the small but momentous step from platform to carriage. Friendly staff will lead you through corridors to your comfortable private cabin where you can take your time settling in and exploring the amenities as the view outside your window begins its smooth and spectacular transformation. Lunch in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant is bound to satisfy and delight with culinary wonders prepared onboard by the talented chefs.

All food is included in your fare, from a hearty full cooked breakfast to a delectable 3 course dinner. And as you sit back and loosen your belt, you'll have arrived in Katherine ready to experience your first included Off Train Excursion to the magnificent and spiritual Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. Enjoy a leisurely cruise on the idyllic Katherine River, gazing in awe at the towering sandstone cliffs, learning the Aboriginal and geological history of the area. Take time to soak up the ancient beauty and inspiring silence of one of the world's untainted natural wonders. Or gain a moving insight into the culture and ways of the traditional owners of Nitmiluk, the Jawoyn people, with an exclusive tailor-made cultural experience. If you'd prefer to ramp it up a notch, you're welcome to upgrade your excursion with a helicopter flight or scenic flight over Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks, providing unparalleled views of the geographic wonders that gave rise to many of the aboriginal Dreamtime stories

Back on board you'll return to the Queen Adelaide Restaurant, enjoying dinner as the sun sets over the outback. Then back in your room you'll find your bed turned down with a cheeky nightcap waiting on the bedside table. As the train rolls soothingly onwards, fall asleep in awe of wonders seen, and excited by those yet to come.

Meal(s): Dinner, Lunch

Hotel: The Ghan (4 Star Rating)

The legendary train was named after the hardy Afghans and their camel trains which provided the only means of transport into "The Red Centre" in the early days. The journey is now a comfortable world class train trip!

Transfer: Darwin - City Centre to Darwin Berrimah Terminal

Day 4: Exploring Alice Springs

Wake up to a new view outside your window, in a world which feels a million miles from home. An outback sunrise could be one of the most spectacular you'll ever see, setting the tone for the day ahead. After coffee, a juice and a sumptuous breakfast you'll arrive in Alice Springs ready for another day of exploration. Here you have the opportunity to embark on one of the included off Train Excursions, taking in the delights of this famous outback town. A full day in Alice Springs gives you ample opportunity to visit the town landmarks, get up close and personal with Australia's incredible flora and fauna or explore the Alice at your own leisure.

At this point you may choose to upgrade your excursion with a helicopter ride over the spectacular MacDonnell Ranges or with the ultimate outback experience; an intimate scenic flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. There really is no better way to comprehend the vastness of the Northern Territory. Come the evening you'll dine beneath a canopy of stars at an authentic Outback Bush Barbecue set in a strikingly lit quarry.

This is a truly unique experience with live Australiana music and a feast of mouth-watering steak and traditionally made damper. After dessert, cast your eyes skyward and ponder life, the universe and everything with an informative astronomical talk. And with a full belly and deep sense of wonderment, it's back on the train to rest up and roll out of Alice Springs, fulfilled in every sense of the word.

Hotel: The Ghan (4 Star Rating)

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Day 5: Discovering Coober Pedy

After breakfast this morning you'll wake up and rub your eyes with disbelief as you pull into the middle-of-nowhere stop at Manguri. Here, a friendly tour guide awaits ready to whisk you away for the day. Your destination - the sun-scorched opal mining capital of world, Coober Pedy, where more than half of the residents live underground.

Venture into the tunnels and caves of this underground town, where you may even catch opal fever as you mine for riches, visit the otherworldly underground Serbian Orthodox church and glimpse the famous Coober Pedy Golf Course - the only course in the world boasting reciprocal rights with St. Andrew's course in Scotland. Below the earth's surface, you'll enjoy a gourmet lunch in the most unique of locations before setting off to the stunning outback moonscape that is the Breakaways.

After an eye-opening action-packed day - if you haven't chosen to stay and find your fortune - it's back on board with plenty of time to ease into a slower gear and prepare yourself for your final evening onboard The Ghan. Dine in style in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant, meet and share stories with new friends in the Outback Explorer Lounge (open until late) or simply head back to the privacy of your cabin to wind down, read a book and plan your next epic journey.

Hotel: The Ghan (4 Star Rating)

Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch

Day 6: Arrive in Adelaide

Transfer: Adelaide Parklands Terminal to Adelaide - City Centre

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Adelaide (4 Star Rating)

Enjoy a culturally-rich and inspiring escape at Crowne Plaza Adelaide with stunning views from the city's tallest building in design-led rooms. Stay in the East End- Adelaide's sweet spot- close to Lot Fourteen and Adelaide Botanic Garden with easy access to the casino, Adelaide Convention Centre and Adelaide Oval. Indulge in fresh experiences beginning with check-in on Level 10 that seamlessly lets you segue from business to leisure and back again at this urban haven in the sky.

Looking out of your window this morning you'll notice a dramatic change in landscape as the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the beautiful green fields and pastoral lands of South Australia. After breakfast you'll have time to reflect on your journey before The Ghan rolls into Adelaide.

Here, you may wish to extend your stay with trips to the Barossa Valley or Kangaroo Island topping the to-do list. Or stay close to the city, nibbling, sipping and munching your way through the famous Central Market, perusing the revitalised Riverbank precinct (including the updated Adelaide Oval and free Donald Bradman Exhibition), before exploring a myriad of chic laneway restaurants, bars and entertainment venues in this, Australia's City of Churches.

Meal(s): Breakfast

Day 7: Full Day Barossa Valley Tour

Your journey begins with a city orientation tour. You travel through the scenic Torrens Gorge to the Barossa Valley. Perhaps you'll stop at a local bakery to taste the best of the fine German pastries. Travel over the Jacobs Creek for your first tasting of the fine wines at the Peter Lehmann winery. Then visit Torbreck wine cellars, a small winery with rustic charm, making wines in traditional Barossa methods. After, you'll stop for a stroll in the German town of Tanunda with time to discover the small shops. Before lunch take the picturesque drive up to Menglers Hill for an unsurpassed view over the entire Valley. Continue into historic Angaston - one of the more English villages in the Barossa. Lunch will be alfresco under the vines or at Vintners restaurant just out of Angaston. Your next stop may be Henschkes winery in Keyneton, a fifth generation German winery or the historic Yalumba, the biggest family run winery in Australia. If time permits you may visit small boutique producers such as Charles Melton or Turkey Flat.

Day 8: Depart from Adelaide

Transfer: Adelaide - City Centre to Adelaide Airport

Featured Destinations

Adelaide

Adelaide

This elegant city is known for its colonial stone architecture, expansive parklands, lively festivals and incredible sense of space. Explore the museums and libraries of North Terrace, dine on dedicated 'eat streets' or picnic in gardens that sprawl over almost half the city. Go bike riding in Botanic Park or row past rose gardens in Rymill Park. Swim with dolphins or learn to sail in Glenelg or fish from the jetty in Henley. Just beyond the city centre you'll find the picturesque Adelaide Hills and the world-class wineries of the Barossa Valley.

Five ways to immerse yourself in Adelaide:

1. Hit the eat streets

Sample everything from Asian fusion to Argentine cuisine in the exotic, bustling foodhalls of Chinatown. Embrace the alfresco ambience of Rundle Street in Adelaide's East End or live it up in one of the city's many elegant wine bars and fashionable restaurants. Enjoy a beach sunset with your meal in the coastal suburbs of Glenelg and Henley Beach or wind down with a wine at the National Wine Centre. If you're a fresh food addict, Adelaide Central Markets offer premium produce from growers across the state.

2. Feel green and serene in Adelaide's parks

Hire paddleboats and bikes in Elder Park or row past formal rose gardens in Rymill Park. Picnic in the local's beloved Botanic Park or cycle from the hills to the coast in River Torrens Linear Park. For serious tranquility, head to the classic Japanese oasis of Adelaide-Himjei Garden. Adelaide's 29 parks take up almost half of the city, and come with walking trails, quiet spaces and sporting fields for everything from football to archery.

3. Head for the coast

Swim with dolphins or learn to sail in Glenelg, which bustles with sidewalk cafes, alfresco dining and summer entertainment. In the beach suburb of Henley, you can fish from the jetty or go on a culinary world tour at the ethnic food stores and eateries. Explore the museums, markets and historic harbour of Port Adelaide, the city's maritime heart. Or see heritage buildings and colourful summer sideshows in family-friendly Semaphore. Further along the spectacular Le Fevre Peninsula, you can swim on protected beaches and walk one of the state's few heritage-listed jetties at Largs Bay.

4. Soak up Aboriginal and European heritage

Do a cultural tour of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens with traditional custodians the Kaurna people. You'll learn how native plants have been used for sustenance, shelter, ceremonies and medicines for thousands of years. Browse the world's largest collection of Aboriginal antiquities at the Aboriginal Cultures Gallery at the South Australian Museum and visit Tandanya, the National Aboriginal Cultural Institute. Adelaide also has a proud European heritage for you to explore -in the museums and libraries of North Terrace, in Adelaide Town Hall and in Port Adelaide, the state's first declared heritage area.

5. Escape to the hills

Drive to the Adelaide Hills, where the picturesque farmlands and charming villages have inspired many generations of artists. Stay in Bavarian-inspired chalets and browse the bakeries, craft shops and galleries of Hahndorf, Australia's oldest surviving German village. Visit The Cedars, once the gracious old home and studio of famous landscape artists Sir Hans Heysen. Then hit the markets of Lobethal, a fairytale town which celebrates Christmas with metres and metres of colourful lights.

Coober Pedy

Alice Springs

Darwin

Darwin

Soak up Darwin's balmy weather and the melting pot of food and cultures in the city's many outdoor festivals and markets. Then explore the region's dramatic history - from World War II air raids to Cyclone Tracey - in the museums and galleries. Sail Darwin harbour at sunset, cruise next to crocodiles and bushwalk through monsoon forest. Swim in the crystal-clear waterholes of Litchfield National Park and visit the colourful communities of the Tiwi Islands. This vibrant, tropical capital has a youthful energy you'll find hard to resist.

Five ways to discover Darwin and its surrounds:

1. At festivals, markets and on the harbour In Darwin, the action happens outside - in markets, parks, by the beach or on boats. You can join the locals with a crate and a plate of sizzling satay at The Mindil Beach Sunset Markets from May to October. Or watch them build boats out of beer or soft drink cans at the annual Darwin Beer Can Regatta in July. At the Deckchair Cinema from April to November you can watch movies under a canopy of stars with a drink from the bar and a picnic dinner. Soak up Darwin's tropical weather with a harbourside dinner at Cullen Bay Marina or a sunset harbour cruise complete with a history lesson.

2. With wildlife and in tropical parklands

Cycle past orchids and bromeliads and traditional Aboriginal plants in George Brown Botanic Gardens. Swim, have a sunset barbecue and explore sacred Aboriginal sites at Casuarina Coastal Reserve. In Berry Springs Nature Park, you can spot birds in monsoon forest and fish in the crystal clear swimming holes. Get up close to fish, birds-of-prey, nocturnal animals and reptiles in the Territory Wildlife Park, a 45-minute drive from Darwin. Have a close crocodile encounter at Crocodylus Park, the Darwin Crocodile Farm or on a crocodile cruise along Darwin's coastal fringe and rivers.

3. Hot on the heels of history

Learn more about Darwin's rich Aboriginal heritage in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. Here you can also relive the tragic Cyclone Tracy which hit Darwin on Christmas Eve in 1974. See the Chinese Temple it nearly destroyed in Litchfield Street. Darwin endured 64 Japanese air raids in World War II, and you can watch dramatic footage of the bombings and visit the bunker where Top End defense strategy was planned at East Point Military Museum. See original B52 bomber planes at the Aviation Heritage Centre and a network of walking trails leading to World War II oil tunnels around the Wharf Precinct. In Myilly Point Historical Precinct you can see some of the few surviving cottages designed by architect B.C.G Burnett in the colonial style popular before World War II.

4. Under the waterfalls of Litchfield National Park

Make time for a day trip to the waterfalls and plunge pools, wildlife and birdlife, ranges and rainforest of Litchfield National Park, a one-and-a-half hour drive from Darwin. Swim in the crystal-clear swimming hole at the base of Florence Falls and bush-walk through monsoon rain-forest to Walker Creek. Picnic next to roosting fruit bats at Wangi Falls and see sweeping valley views at Tolmer Falls. Take a wildlife cruise on the Reynolds River, part of a working cattle station. Explore this Tarzan landscape with traditional Aboriginal owners the Wagait people or peer into a pastoral past in the ruins of Blyth Homestead.

5. On a trip to the Tiwi Islands

Join in the excitement of the Tiwi Islands Grand Football Final, held every March in Nguiu. Browse and buy Tiwi art, distinctive for its strong design, decorative features and vivid colours. Take billy tea and damper tea with Tiwi ladies as they demonstrate traditional weaving and painting. Then watch them perform a traditional dance and a smoking ceremony to clear bad spirits. Catch big barramundi on a fishing tour on the Tiwi coast. You'll find a warm welcome and a lush landscape of rainforest, beaches and rock pools on Melville and Bathurst Islands, together known as the Tiwi Islands. Explore them on a day or overnight tour, traveling a 20-minute flight or two-hour ferry from Darwin.

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

09/23/2026 - 12/31/2028

from $4,912 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $4,912 per person

Length

7 Nights

Air City

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe

Remarks

Pricing is dynamic and subject to change based on specific travel dates, room categories and availability. Prices are "from" per person based on twin/double share accommodation and for travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges and blackout dates may apply. Limited seat/spaces and all pricing is subject to change and availability. Rates for single or triple travelers are available on request - please inquire with your Travel Advisor.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1722359

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