Australia’s The Ghan

Your Australian expedition begins today in Adelaide, where you will be transferred to your hotel. Choose from our four-star and five-star B&B hotels. The capital of South Australia welcomes you with sandy beaches, hills for hiking, and chic city restaurants and bars. The city's National Park City status tells you all you need to know about the character of Adelaide. It is a city blooming with green spaces, meaning you never have to walk far from the busy city streets to find a park or garden for some quiet downtime. The day is yours to discover these allures as you please.

On your first full day in Adelaide, enjoy an included full-day excursion into the Barossa Valley wine region, allowing you to taste your way through the area. A Small Batch Wine Tours vehicle will pick you up from your hotel, and then, the shared group wine tour heads into the lush Barossa Valley. See the beautiful vineyards during the drive, and then delve into the incredible wines of this region. Your tour includes tastings at four boutique wineries and a restaurant lunch, which will be a chef's choice shared menu with beer or wine included.

Returning to Adelaide, you can get to know the city better this evening, perhaps visiting some of the city's fine restaurants and hip bars. 

Today, you'll embark on a highlight of your tour: boarding The Ghan train from Adelaide to Darwin. Simple and elegant in design, The Ghan gives you a sense of the golden age of travel as soon as you step aboard. Get to know your fellow travelers over a drink in the Outback Explorer Lounge, and enjoy a two-course lunch and three-course dinner, accompanied by regional fine wines, in the dining car.

Choose from a Gold Twin cabin, which provides a quiet oasis for two guests, or a Gold Single, ideal for solo relaxation. Upgrading to Gold Premium gives you access to the Gold Premium Lounge and Gold Premium Dining Carriage, while the Platinum accommodations offer an additional touch of luxury in plush and sophisticated cabins. Whatever option you select, settle in as the train begins its journey through the "Red Centre" to the tropical north of Australia. Watch the rolling pastoral lands of South Australia drifting by your window, and enjoy views of some of the oldest rock formations in the world, the Flinders Ranges, as they come into view. 

Relax with a freshly brewed coffee or tea early this morning as your day begins at Marla, an outback outpost in the remote reaches of South Australia. Here, you'll enjoy a unique experience: watching the sunrise over the desert. As the train makes its way through the MacDonnell Ranges to Alice Springs, the "capital of the outback," you'll enjoy brunch onboard.

Alice Springs is more than 930 miles from the nearest major city and a Red Centre Outpost. Its beauty lies in its remoteness, and you'll find the environment singular while providing a rich history and interesting landscapes. Enjoy a lavish dinner in the onboard dining car, then hang out in the lounge car with a drink, chatting about the day's adventures before getting cozy in your cabin for your second night onboard. 

Today begins in the tropical north, where the wild landscapes of Katherine greet you over breakfast. On arrival, step off the train for an exceptional excursion that combines nature and history as you cruise the spectacular Nitmiluk Gorge and learn more about its ancient Indigenous rock paintings. You will delve into the culture of the traditional owners of Nitmiluk, the Jawoyn people, before heading back onboard for your sumptuous dinner.

The Ghan arrives in Darwin this evening, where it is time to disembark for the final time and say goodbye to the train's luxury. Choose from our four-star and five-star hotels on a B&B basis, and enjoy an included transfer. 

Dive into the vibrant seaside city of Darwin on a half-day tour and while exploring on your own. Your excursion takes you to the Marrakai wetlands, home to crocodiles, 117 species of reptiles and 280 types of birds. Australia's Top End sees over 100,000 saltwater crocodiles, mostly living in and around the Darwin, Adelaide River and Mary River areas. On this tour, you'll get a look at the oldest species to walk the planet and the world's biggest reptile, growing up to 19 feet in length and weighing up to 2,200 pounds. The crocodiles are fed buffalo meat as you explore to witness their powerful hunting techniques.

During your free time in Darwin, you could sample some of the city's famous Asian cuisine at stylish local restaurants and food markets. Although it is unsafe to swim in the sea here because of the crocs and jellyfish, the beaches are lovely for relaxing, and you can swim in the city lagoon.

Your incredible adventure comes to its end today as you are transferred from your hotel to the airport for your overnight flight back to the United States. Having seen both coasts of Australia and traveled through its vast "Red Centre" aboard the ultra-luxurious Ghan, you arrive home filled with inspiring memories that will last a lifetime.