Welcome to the Northern Territory’s tropical capital, Darwin, known for its deep First Nations cultural connection and waterfront setting overlooking the Timor Sea. Upon arrival, make your own way from the Darwin International Airport (DRW) to your central hotel. The day is yours to spend freely ahead of your BONUS included Darwin Harbour sunset cruise (valued up to A$125 per person).
Make your own way to Dock 3 at Stokes Hill Wharf at least 40-minutes prior to your 6pm departure for check-in and boarding. Soak in golden hour as you cruise along Darwin Harbour, with expert commentary highlighting the region’s history and stunning coastal views. Indulge in a gourmet grazing platter of fresh seafood, cheese and marinated vegetables (or similar), capped off with a locally-made mango ice cream.
The rest of the evening is yours to relax before tomorrow’s adventures.
BONUS Darwin Harbour sunset cruise
Make your own way to the terminal to board The Ghan Expedition and be shown to your Gold Cabin. Settle in and venture to the Queen Adelaide Restaurant, where you can sit back and unwind with a glass of Australian wine and lunch.
Watch the scenery as you make your way into Katherine. It’s here you will enjoy your first Off-Train Experience, with your choice of one of two guided cruises showcasing the Indigenous rock paintings found on the walls of Nitmiluk Gorge, or an outback experience at a working farm. Later, return to The Ghan Expedition for a multi-course dinner.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience (included in fare):
- Cutta Cutta Caves Experience: Step into the limestone caverns of the Cutta Cutta cave system, home to a variety of native wildlife and is rich in Indigenous culture. Recommended fitness level: high (guests must be able to navigate steep stairs and walk underground in low light).
- Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise: Wind your way down the Katherine River on a relaxing cruise, while commentary explains the significance of Nitmiluk to the Indigenous Jawoyn people. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Approx. 2 km of walking over rocky paths. Guests are required to board and disembark boats unassisted. A modified experience is available for guests with low mobility. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.
- Katherine Outback Experience: The Katherine Outback Experience gives insight into the lives of those who call the outback home, with a fascinating day of discovery that illustrated what it is like to live and work on a huge cattle station. Recommended Fitness Level: Low level mobility – Recommended for guests with mobility requirements. The show is conducted in an undercover arena with full seating available. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.
- Nitmiluk Rock Art Cruise: Discover the ancient stories and stunning rock art of Nitmiluk Gorge on a guided cruise through the First Gorge, where towering sandstone cliffs and Dreamtime tales reveal the significance of this sacred site to the Jawoyn people. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Approx. 2 km of walking and 28 steps to climb. Guests required to board and disembark boat unassisted. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.
Please Note: Luxury Escapes will confirm Off-Train Experience preferences by email after booking. Off-Train Experiences are reviewed yearly and subject to change. Optional upgrades will be available to purchase closer to time of travel.
Gold Twin Cabin aboard The Ghan Expedition
Today, stop in Alice Springs and experience the region with a selection of Off-Train Experiences. No matter what you choose, in the evening, the hallmark experience of The Ghan Expedition begins. Dine under a blanket of stars at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience (included in fare):
- A Town Called Alice: Start the day in the world’s largest classroom, the Alice Springs School of the Air. Established in 1951, the school covers 1.3 million square kilometres and is still in operation. Next up is the Alice Springs Reptile Centre, where you will be treated to an informative display and discussion about the scaly inhabitants of the region. Finally, see Alice Springs on a coach tour of the town highlights. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Guests are required to climb coach stairs several times, with walking and standing for short periods. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat and long sleeves are highly recommended.
- Desert Park: As distinctive as the Australian desert itself, the Alice Springs Desert Park captivates and educates. Step inside Nocturnal House, enjoy a front-row seat at the free-flight bird show with a backstage pass to meet the birds and trainers for a private training session, and watch resident dingoes before a film on desert evolution. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Guests are required to walk approx. 4km on gravel and sandy pathways, broken into short distances. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.
- West Ventures: Standley Chasm is a significant cultural icon in Central Australia. Also visit the highly rated Yubu Napa Gallery in Alice Springs. You will enjoy some of the best walking trails in Alice Springs whilst at the same time enjoying views of the Australian Outback. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Approximately 3.5km of walking over rocky and natural terrain, with standing required. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended. Please note that Yubu Napa Gallery in Alice Springs is closed on Sundays, and as such may not be available for certain departures.
- Bushwalks of Alice: The Cassia Hill Walk is a short loop wander of about 1.8km. This walk gives elevated views of the West MacDonnell ranges and the Simpsons Gap area. The highlight, of course, is Simpsons Gap, a location where important elements of flora, fauna and Indigenous culture all come together. Recommended Fitness Level: Very High-level mobility – Approximately 8km of bush walking over rocky and uneven natural terrain. Climbs, descents and river crossings may be experienced. Trails are suitable for competent walkers. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.
- Alice by E-Bike: Take the hard work out of cycling with an e-bike tour of Alice Springs. The ride begins at Red Centre Adventures, where you’ll set off along the famously dry Todd River, passing through the southern entrance to town, Heavitree Gap, know to the locals as The Gap. You’ll also make your way to the Telegraph Station, the birthplace of Alice Springs township. Stop off along the ride to visit the highly rated Yubu Napa Gallery in Alice Springs. Cruise through town to reach your lunch destination at Desert Park. Here, you’ll enjoy a ploughman’s-style lunch before kicking into gear once more for your return journey. To finish the day, discover more of Alice from the comfort of a coach, taking in sights like 1934’s ANZAC Hill, dedicated to the ANZAC soldiers of World War I – the most visited landmark in town. Recommended Fitness Level: High level mobility – Guests need to be confident riding on a push bike. Electric bikes can reach speeds up to 25km/h. Electric bikes weigh up to 30kg. Only one size available. Approx. 20km of cycling. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended. Minimum age of participation is 14 years old.
Please Note: Luxury Escapes will confirm Off-Train Experience preferences by email after booking. Off-Train Experiences are reviewed yearly and subject to change. Optional upgrades will be available to purchase closer to time of travel.
Gold Twin Cabin aboard The Ghan Expedition
Wake up in South Australia this morning, and get ready for a morning stop at Manguri. You will have the time to venture into the wonderful opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, where a selection of Off-Train Experiences awaits.
After a day of adventure, return to The Ghan Expedition to enjoy one final, three-course dinner aboard, accompanied by select wine.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience (included in fare):
- Discover the Majestic Breakaways: The Breakaways Reserve got its name from the colourful low hills that appear from a distance as if they are ‘broken away’ from the higher ground of the reserve. A visit to Quest Mine is where you will be able to don a hard hat and try your luck finding fortune while enjoying an underground lunch. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Approx. 500m of walking and standing for periods at the Breakaways. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Warm clothes are advised as underground tunnels may be cold and the Breakaways can be windy. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.
- Explore Coober Pedy: This full day tour takes in the highlights of Coober Pedy, including a visit to a subterranean place of worship – The Serbian Orthodox Church. At the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, you will be given the historical context of the town’s emergence, see an example of a ‘dugout’, as the locals call the underground homes. At Quest Mine, you’ll be able to don a hard hat and try your luck to find fortune after enjoying an underground lunch. Finally, enjoy views out over the Breakaways – a vast plain of flat-topped mesas that once presided over an inland sea. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Stairs, steep inclines, short walks and navigating underground tunnels required. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Warm clothes are advised as underground tunnels may be cold. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.
- Opal Experience: On this shorter tour, you’ll learn about the history of Australia’s national gemstone at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, one of Coober Pedy’s most popular attractions. At Quest Mine, you’ll be able to don a hard hat and try your luck finding fortune. You’ll also enjoy an underground lunch here. Before departing Coober Pedy, you’ll stop at the Big Winch. Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Stairs, steep inclines, short walks and navigating underground tunnels required. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Warm clothes are advised as underground tunnels may be cold. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.
Please Note: Luxury Escapes will confirm Off-Train Experience preferences by email after booking. Off-Train Experiences are reviewed yearly and subject to change. Optional upgrades will be available to purchase closer to time of travel.
Gold Twin aboard The Ghan Expedition
This morning you’ll be rewarded with views from the Queen Adelaide Restaurant as the landscape outside transforms from the outback to the Flinders Ranges before you reach Adelaide’s CBD. Disembark The Ghan and make your own way to your five-star Adelaide accommodation, where you will spend the remainder of your time at leisure exploring Adelaide at your desired pace.
Five-star Adelaide stay
Your journey ends upon checkout.