Overview
Few rail journeys capture the scale of Australia like The Ghan Expedition. Over four days and three nights the train runs south from tropical Darwin to Adelaide, crossing the heart of the continent and pausing at Katherine, Alice Springs, Manguri and Coober Pedy so you can step off and see the outback up close.
Each stop brings a choice of guided excursions, all part of your fare: cruise between the sandstone walls of Nitmiluk Gorge with Jawoyn guides, explore the MacDonnell Ranges or the story of outback life in Alice Springs, and head below ground in the opal town of Coober Pedy. The highlight for many travellers is an evening at the historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs, where dinner is served outdoors under a sky full of desert stars.
On board, meals are prepared by the train's chefs from regional produce and paired with Australian wines, and drinks are included throughout. Choose from twin and single cabins with a lounge car for company, or step up to the more spacious premium cabins and suites for extra comfort as the red earth gives way to the green fields and ranges of South Australia.
Highlights
- Cross Australia from north to south, Darwin to Adelaide, in four days
- Cruise Nitmiluk Gorge with guides from the Jawoyn people
- Dinner under the stars at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station
- Explore Alice Springs, Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm
- Sunrise in the remote outback at Manguri
- Lunch underground in the opal-mining town of Coober Pedy
- Breakfast and brunch as the train passes the Flinders Ranges
- All meals, wines, beverages and standard off-train excursions included
- Optional scenic flights over Nitmiluk, Uluru and Kata Tjuta, or Lake Eyre
Your Cabin
Gold Twin Cabin - A compact private cabin with a three-seat lounge by day that converts to upper and lower berths at night, plus a private ensuite. Meals are taken in the Gold restaurant car with hearty breakfasts, two-course lunches and three-course dinners, and guests share the Gold lounge. Includes a 60 kg luggage allowance.
Gold Single Cabin - A snug cabin for one traveller with a seat that becomes a bed at night. Shower and toilet facilities are shared at the end of the carriage. Dining, drinks, lounge access and excursions are the same as in Gold Twin.
Gold Premium Twin Cabin - A newly styled twin cabin with walnut timber, brass details and Indigenous-print upholstery, a compact private ensuite and premium toiletries. Guests have their own Gold Premium lounge and dining car with four-course dinners, premium Australian drinks, priority luggage check-in and a 75 kg luggage allowance.
Platinum Twin Cabin - Almost twice the size of a Gold Twin, set up as a double or twin, with a lounge by day, a full ensuite and wide windows on both sides of the train. Dining is in the exclusive Platinum Club with five-course dinners and Champagne, plus transfers at both ends of the journey and a 90 kg luggage allowance.
Aurora Suite - A suite around twice the size of a Platinum cabin, with a separate bedroom, ensuite with double vanity, lounge area and in-suite bar. Butler service, in-suite dining, chauffeured transfers and a generous luggage allowance are included, with meals in the Platinum Club.
Australis Suite - The train's flagship suite, around three times the size of a Platinum cabin, with a separate bedroom, full lounge, writing desk, personal bar and ensuite with double vanity. Includes dedicated butler service, private dining options, chauffeured transfers and exclusive off-train experiences.
Photography: Tourism Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission and Tourism NT.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Darwin - Katherine
Your journey begins in Darwin with a welcome reception before you board. Settle into your cabin or the lounge car as the train heads south through the Top End, with lunch served on board. In the afternoon the train reaches Katherine, where you choose one of the included excursions: a cruise through the sandstone gorges of Nitmiluk National Park with Jawoyn guides, a demonstration of horse training and working dogs at the Katherine Outback Experience, or (in season) a descent into the limestone chambers of Cutta Cutta Caves. For an aerial view of the gorge system, a helicopter flight is available as an upgrade. Back on board, dinner is served as the train continues south overnight.
Alice Springs
Wake to the red landscapes of the Northern Territory and enjoy breakfast on board before a full day in Alice Springs. Included excursions let you learn about outback life at the School of the Air, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and a reptile centre, walk through desert habitats at the Alice Springs Desert Park, or join an Arrernte guide at Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Wednesday departures also offer a heritage tour of the old Ghan railway museum. Upgrades include an e-bike ride along the old railway line and flights to Uluru and Kata Tjuta. At dusk, gather at the historic Telegraph Station for a candlelit outdoor dinner under the desert sky before the train departs late in the evening.
Manguri - Coober Pedy
The train stops at the remote outpost of Manguri in South Australia, where the vast open plains make a striking setting for sunrise. From here the day is spent in Coober Pedy, the famous opal-mining town where many residents live underground. Depending on your choice, visit the underground Serbian Orthodox church, see original dugout homes and opal displays at a mine museum, try your hand at opal mining, and walk among the flat-topped mesas of the Breakaways. Lunch is served below ground. A scenic flight over the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre is available as an upgrade. Return to the train for your final dinner and a nightcap in the lounge.
Adelaide
Overnight the ochre desert gives way to the farmland of South Australia. Enjoy an unhurried brunch as the train passes the Flinders Ranges, then arrive in Adelaide in the morning, where your journey ends.
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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:
- 3 nights on board The Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide in your chosen cabin
- Transfer to the Darwin rail terminal
- Welcome reception before boarding with light refreshments, barista coffee and sparkling wine
- All meals on board, from a regionally inspired menu paired with Australian wines
- All beverages on board, including wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks
- A choice of included off-train excursions in Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy, plus the sunrise stop at Manguri
- Underground lunch in Coober Pedy
- Dinner under the stars at the historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs
Exclusions:
- Optional upgrade excursions, such as the Nitmiluk Gorge helicopter flight, Uluru flights and the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre scenic flight
- The Alice Springs e-bike ride for guests in Gold and Gold Premium cabins (included for Platinum guests)
- Flights to Darwin and from Adelaide
- Hotel accommodation before or after the train journey
- Transfer from the Adelaide terminal at journey's end (except for Platinum and suite guests)
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
- Katherine: Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise - A boat trip through the first and second gorges of Nitmiluk, beneath high sandstone cliffs, with guides sharing the history, ecology and Jawoyn cultural significance of the gorge. Involves about 1 km of walking on rocky paths.
- Katherine: Nitmiluk Rock Art Cruise - A cruise through the first gorge to view Aboriginal rock art thought to be more than 10,000 years old, with Jawoyn guides sharing Dreaming stories of the gorge. Seasonal, operating roughly May to early October.
- Katherine: Katherine Outback Experience - A relaxed, mobility-friendly show in a covered arena with seating, featuring horse training and working dog demonstrations on a local property. Seasonal, operating roughly late April to late September.
- Katherine: Cutta Cutta Caves - About an hour underground in limestone caves with stalactites, stalagmites and resident wildlife, followed by a stop at the Katherine Outback Experience. Steep stairs; enclosed shoes required. Limited places; resumes from May 2027.
- Katherine: Nitmiluk Gorge Helicopter Flight - A 20-minute flight over the thirteen gorges of Nitmiluk, with waterfalls and sandstone formations below. Replaces the included excursions; weight limits apply. (optional upgrade at extra cost)
- Alice Springs: A Town Called Alice - Visits to the School of the Air, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and a reptile centre to learn how remote communities live, learn and access health care. Several coach stops with some walking.
- Alice Springs: Alice Springs Desert Park - Walk through three desert habitats in a botanic setting at the foot of the MacDonnell Ranges, with free-flying bird of prey displays and a nocturnal house. Low to moderate walking; mobility scooters available.
- Alice Springs: Simpsons Gap and Standley Chasm - A guided bush walk with an Arrernte guide at Simpsons Gap and a visit to the narrow, 80-metre-high walls of Standley Chasm in the West MacDonnell Ranges. Around 3 km on uneven, rocky ground.
- Alice Springs: Ghan Museum and Alice Springs Heritage - Explore a restored 1930s railway station and local heritage collections including road transport history, a women's museum and the old female cell block. Wednesday departures only.
- Alice Springs: Telegraph Station Outback Dinner - An outdoor seated dinner under the stars at the historic Telegraph Station, with a tour of the site and blacksmith demonstrations. Wheelchair accessible; bring warm clothing for the cool desert night.
- Alice Springs: Alice by E-Bike - A 20 km e-bike ride following the old Ghan railway line to the Telegraph Station, with lunch at a trailside cafe. For confident cyclists aged 14 and over. Included for Platinum guests; a supplement applies in Gold and Gold Premium. (optional upgrade at extra cost)
- Alice Springs: Ultimate Uluru Experience - Fly from Alice Springs to Uluru, walk at the base of the rock, visit Mutitjulu Waterhole, lunch at a sunset lookout and fly over the domes of Kata Tjuta. Thursdays only (Wednesday departures); weight limits apply. (optional upgrade at extra cost)
- Alice Springs: Uluru Scenic Flight - A scenic flight over Uluru, Kata Tjuta and Kings Canyon with lunch at a sunset lookout. Sundays only (Saturday departures); not offered in March or November; weight limits apply. (optional upgrade at extra cost)
- Manguri: Manguri Sunrise Stop - A stop at the remote outpost of Manguri to watch the sun rise over the open outback plains.
- Coober Pedy: Explore Coober Pedy - Visit the underground Serbian Orthodox church, the Umoona opal mine and museum with its dugout homes, try opal mining with a hard hat at a working-style mine, lunch underground, and finish at the Breakaways mesas.
- Coober Pedy: Discover the Breakaways - Walk among the colourful low hills and mesas of the Breakaways Reserve, then try opal mining, lunch underground and tour original dugout homes. About 1 km of walking; enclosed shoes required.
- Coober Pedy: Opal Experience - A shorter tour starting at the Umoona opal mine and museum, followed by hands-on opal mining, lunch underground and panoramic views from the Big Winch lookout.
- Coober Pedy: Painted Hills and Lake Eyre Scenic Flight - A flight over the Anna Creek Painted Hills and the salt flats of Lake Eyre, with lunch at the William Creek Hotel and a flyover of Coober Pedy. Limited availability; replaces the included excursions; weight limits apply. (optional upgrade at extra cost)
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 crossing the South Australian outback. Photo: Tourism Australia
Aerial view of The Ghan in the outback at sunset. Photo: Tourism Australia
Aerial panorama of Darwin harbour and waterfront. Photo: Tourism Australia / Tourism NT
Aerial view of Nitmiluk Gorge and the Katherine River. Photo: Tourism Australia
Sunset over Nitmiluk Gorge near Katherine. Photo: Tourism Australia
Guests on a boat cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge. Photo: Tourism Australia / Tourism NT
A visitor with an Indigenous guide at Standley Chasm near Alice Springs. Photo: Tourism Australia / Tourism NT
The coloured hills of Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park near Coober Pedy. Photo: Tourism Australia
Coober Pedy township at sunset. Photo: Tourism Australia
Aerial view of the Coober Pedy sign and township. Photo: Tourism Australia
Adelaide skyline and the River Torrens at dusk. Photo: South Australian Tourism Commission
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From $3,413 per person (double occupancy, USD) — live dates and rates are in the Book This Tour section above.
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