Overview
Few rail journeys cross a continent quite like The Ghan. Leaving Adelaide in the afternoon, the train heads north through South Australia's wine country, the ancient folds of the Flinders Ranges and the vast red desert, before rolling into the Northern Territory and on to tropical Darwin. From 2027 the journey grows to four days and three nights, adding a vineyard dinner in the Clare Valley and a full day in the Flinders Ranges to the classic outback route.
Life on board is fully inclusive. Your cabin becomes a lounge by day and a bedroom by night, meals are built around regional produce and paired with Australian wines, and drinks are served throughout the journey. At each major stop you step off the train for a guided experience included in your fare: dinner among the vines, a day exploring Quorn and the Flinders Ranges, sunrise around a bonfire at Marla, an afternoon in Alice Springs and a morning at Katherine, where most guests cruise the sandstone walls of Nitmiluk Gorge.
Choose from Gold twin and single cabins, the newer Gold Premium twin, spacious Platinum cabins or one of the train's two private suites, and let us arrange hotel stays in Adelaide or Darwin to round out your holiday.
Highlights
- Four days and three nights crossing Australia from south to north
- Vineyard dinner at a historic farm in the Clare Valley
- Full-day Flinders Ranges excursion with Quorn and the Pichi Richi heritage railway
- Outback sunrise and bonfire at remote Marla
- Afternoon in Alice Springs with a choice of guided experiences
- Nitmiluk Gorge cruise or another Katherine experience
- All meals, Australian wines, beers and spirits included
- Optional helicopter flights over Mt Gillen and Nitmiluk Gorge
Your Cabin
Gold Twin Cabin - A compact twin cabin with a three-seat sofa by day that converts to upper and lower berths at night, plus a private en suite. Meals are served in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant and guests share the Outback Explorer Lounge.
Gold Single Cabin - A cabin for solo travellers with a seat that converts to a single bed at night. Shower and toilet facilities are shared at the end of the carriage; dining and lounge access are the same as Gold Twin.
Gold Premium Twin Cabin - A newly designed twin cabin finished in walnut and brass with outback-inspired fabrics and a compact private en suite. Guests have their own dining car and lounge, four-course dinners, premium drinks, priority check-in and a larger luggage allowance.
Platinum Twin Cabin - Almost twice the size of a Gold cabin, with a choice of double or twin beds, windows on both sides of the train and a full en suite with separate shower. Meals and drinks are served in the exclusive Platinum Club, and transfers at each end of the journey are included.
Aurora Suite - One of only two suites on the train, about double the size of a Platinum cabin, with a separate bedroom, lounge and fixed bed. Includes butler service, a personalised in-suite bar, in-suite dining and exclusive experiences.
Australis Suite - The largest accommodation on board, around three times the size of a Platinum cabin, with a bedroom, lounge, writing desk and double-vanity en suite. Includes butler service, a private bar, in-suite dining, chauffeur transfers and exclusive experiences.
Photography: Tourism Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission and Tourism NT.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Adelaide - Clare Valley
Check in at Adelaide Parklands Terminal and board The Ghan for a mid-afternoon departure north. Settle into your cabin as the city gives way to farmland. By early evening the train pauses at Long Plains, where you transfer into the Clare Valley for dinner at a historic farm. The restored woolshed is the setting for a meal built on biodynamic farm produce, matched with the region's well-known Rieslings and red wines, as the sun goes down over the vineyards. Return to the train for your first night on board.
Port Augusta - Flinders Ranges
After breakfast the train reaches Port Augusta, the starting point for a full day in the Flinders Ranges, a mountain range shaped over some 600 million years. Visit the historic railway town of Quorn, once an important junction on the line across the continent, and see the heritage Pichi Richi railway. Lunch is paired with gin distilled in the Flinders Ranges from local botanicals. Later explore the stone ruins of Kanyaka Station and hear how early pastoralists tried to farm this demanding country. Rejoin the train for a relaxed evening and dinner on board.
Marla - Alice Springs
Wake before dawn at Marla, a small outpost about 160 kilometres south of the Northern Territory border, and step down to watch the sun rise over the desert beside a bonfire, with coffee and a bacon and egg roll. Back on board, a late brunch is served as the landscape turns deep red. The train arrives in Alice Springs early in the afternoon, where you choose one included experience: a town tour taking in the School of the Air and the Reptile Centre, the Alice Springs Desert Park, a guided walk at Simpsons Gap or Standley Chasm with an Arrernte guide, or a mountain-bike ride along the Ilentye Trail. A helicopter flight over Mt Gillen can be booked instead at extra cost. The train leaves Alice Springs in the early evening and dinner is served on board.
Katherine - Darwin
Overnight the scenery changes to the tropical savanna and rocky escarpments of the Top End. After breakfast the train stops in Katherine, where most guests take a boat cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge while a guide explains the gorge's natural history and its importance to the Jawoyn people. Seasonal alternatives include the Katherine Outback Experience with horse and working-dog demonstrations, a rock art cruise, or a visit to the limestone Cutta Cutta Caves. A helicopter flight over the gorge system can be booked at extra cost. Lunch is served as the train continues north, arriving in Darwin in the late afternoon or evening, where your journey ends.
Book This Tour
Fares
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Terms & Conditions
Fares for this journey are sold in different fare types, and the payment, change and cancellation conditions depend on the fare type booked. Your Palace Tours specialist will confirm the exact conditions of your fare in writing before you book.
- Flexible fare: paid in full at booking; fully refundable for cancellations received at least 24 hours before departure; date changes are free of charge.
- Everyday fare: a deposit of AUD 1,000 per guest (Gold and Gold Premium cabins) or AUD 1,500 per guest (Platinum) is due at booking, with the balance due 45 days before departure. Cancellations more than 45 days before departure forfeit the deposit amount; within 45 days of departure the full fare is charged. Date changes are permitted up to 45 days before departure for a fee of AUD 100 per guest.
- Advance Purchase fare: paid in full at booking. If booked more than 60 days before departure, a full refund is available for cancellations made within 14 days of the booking confirmation; after that the fare is non-refundable. Date changes are permitted up to 90 days before departure for a fee of AUD 250 per guest.
Suite fares carry their own deposit and cancellation conditions, which we will confirm with your quote. Amended dates must fall within 12 months of the original departure and are subject to availability and any fare difference. Timetables and departure dates are subject to change.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Three nights on board The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin in your chosen cabin
- All meals on board from dinner on day 1 to lunch on day 4, with regionally inspired menus
- Australian wines, beers, base spirits and non-alcoholic drinks throughout the journey (premium beverages in Gold Premium, Platinum and the suites)
- Signature dinner at a historic farm in the Clare Valley
- Full-day Flinders Ranges experience including Quorn, the Pichi Richi railway, Kanyaka Station ruins and lunch
- Sunrise stop at Marla with a bonfire and light refreshments
- A choice of guided Off Train Experiences in Alice Springs
- A choice of guided Off Train Experiences in Katherine, including the Nitmiluk Gorge cruise
- Checked luggage allowance (60 kg Gold, 75 kg Gold Premium, 90 kg Platinum per guest)
- Shuttle transfer to selected city-centre hotels in Darwin (Gold and Gold Premium)
- Private transfers at the start and end of the journey within 60 km of the terminals (Platinum and suites)
- Butler service and in-suite bar (Aurora and Australis Suites)
Exclusions:
- Flights to Adelaide and from Darwin
- Hotel accommodation before or after the rail journey (available on request)
- Station transfers in Adelaide for Gold and Gold Premium guests
- Optional helicopter flights at Alice Springs and Katherine
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
Fares are per person in Australian dollars and vary by season, cabin and fare type (Flexible, Everyday or Advance Purchase). Contact us for a quote for your preferred date and cabin.
Frequently Asked Questions & Tips
Off-Train Experiences
- Clare Valley: Historic Woolshed Dinner - Evening transfer from Long Plains to a biodynamic farm in the Clare Valley for dinner in a restored woolshed, paired with local Rieslings and reds. 2027 four-day departures only.
- Flinders Ranges: Flinders Ranges Full-Day Experience - Full day from Port Augusta visiting the historic railway town of Quorn, the Pichi Richi heritage railway and the ruins of Kanyaka Station, with lunch paired with locally distilled gin. 2027 four-day departures only.
- Marla: Marla Outback Sunrise - Pre-dawn stop of about 45 minutes to watch the desert sunrise beside a bonfire, with coffee and a bacon and egg roll. Northbound journeys only.
- Alice Springs: A Town Called Alice - Coach tour of Alice Springs including the School of the Air and the Alice Springs Reptile Centre. Moderate fitness: several stops with walking and standing.
- Alice Springs: Alice Springs Desert Park - Walk through three desert habitats, see the nocturnal house and, outside November, a free-flight bird of prey display. About 1-4 km on gravel paths; scooters available on request.
- Alice Springs: Simpsons Gap Walk - Guided walk of about 2 km with an Arrernte guide explaining the cultural significance of the gap, on uneven rocky ground.
- Alice Springs: Standley Chasm Cultural Walk - Guided walk of about 2 km into an 80-metre-deep chasm, learning about Western Arrernte culture and bush foods.
- Alice Springs: Cycle Alice - Mountain-bike ride of about 13 km along the Ilentye Trail through Todd River country with cultural commentary. Confident riders aged 12 and over; limited places.
- Alice Springs: Ghan Museum and Transport Hall of Fame - Restored 1930s station, historic carriages and road transport museum. Operates only on Sunday departures from Adelaide (2026 schedule); not listed for 2027.
- Alice Springs: Spirit of Mt Gillen Helicopter Flight - 15-minute scenic flight over Simpsons Gap, the Mt Gillen ridgeline and the Larapinta Trail, followed by high tea by a pool. Replaces the included experience; 130 kg weight limit; limited seats, pre-booking advised. (optional upgrade at extra cost)
- Katherine: Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise - Boat cruise through the first and second gorges of the Katherine River with a guide covering ecology, history and Jawoyn culture. About 1 km of walking on rocky paths.
- Katherine: Nitmiluk Rock Art Cruise - Seasonal cruise along the first gorge with a stop at a rock art site and traditional storytelling. About 500 m of walking and 28 steps.
- Katherine: Katherine Outback Experience - Seasonal, mobility-friendly visit to an outback property for horse-training and working-dog demonstrations in a covered, seated arena.
- Katherine: Cutta Cutta Caves - Around 60 minutes exploring a limestone cave system with stalactites and stalagmites, plus an outback performance stop. Steep stairs; enclosed shoes required. Closed in 2026, reopening 1 May 2027; limited places.
- Katherine: Nitmiluk Gorge Helicopter Flight - 20-minute scenic flight over all 13 gorges with Jawoyn Dreaming stories. Replaces the included experience; 130 kg weight limit; limited seats. (optional upgrade at extra cost)
- Katherine: Nitmiluk Gorge by Air (suite guests) - 20-minute flight over the gorges with a landing in a secluded part of the gorge, reserved for Aurora and Australis Suite guests.
Media Gallery
Guests walking beside The Ghan on red outback earth at sunset. Photo: Tourism Australia
The red Ghan locomotive standing in the outback. Photo: Tourism Australia
A guest relaxing in a private cabin on The Ghan. Photo: Tourism Australia
Lunch served in the restaurant carriage on The Ghan. Photo: Tourism Australia
Guests beside a campfire under an outback sunset during a Ghan stop. Photo: Tourism Australia
Aerial view of The Ghan in the outback at sunset. Photo: Tourism Australia
Adelaide skyline and the River Torrens at dusk. Photo: South Australian Tourism Commission
Walkers in Simpsons Gap near Alice Springs. Photo: Tourism Australia / Tourism NT
A cruise boat between the sandstone walls of Nitmiluk Gorge near Katherine. Photo: Tourism Australia
Aerial view of Nitmiluk Gorge and the Katherine River. Photo: Tourism Australia
Sunset over Nitmiluk Gorge near Katherine. Photo: Tourism Australia
Aerial panorama of Darwin harbour and waterfront. Photo: Tourism Australia / Tourism NT
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From $2,924 per person (double occupancy, USD) — live dates and rates are in the Book This Tour section above.
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