Welcome to Darwin! Your journey begins in the spirited capital of the Northern Territory, renowned as the gateway to the Top End, where a stirring mix of diverse cultural influences and tropical beauty are capped off by sunsets sure to leave you speechless.
Your journey begins with a shared coach transfer from Darwin Airport (DRW) with your fellow travellers to Mindil Beach Casino Resort, where a sublime stay awaits. Backed by the lush George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens and facing spectacular views over Fannie Bay’s shimmering waters, this premium beachside retreat is the perfect place to begin your outback odyssey. With the entire resort reserved for Luxury Escapes guests, you are guaranteed extraordinary moments from your very first evening in the Top End.
After check-in, the afternoon is yours to spend at your leisure before a sophisticated welcome dinner for all guests on the resort’s spectacular main lawn. Sip a complimentary welcome cocktail as you watch the sun fall beneath the bay in an explosion of colours, and take the opportunity to meet and greet with your fellow travelers. Head to the resort’s Pavilion for an elegant three-course welcome dinner, including a Welcome to Country ceremony performed by the traditional Indigenous Australian owners of the land, a presentation on the Ghan and acoustic live music throughout. Your dinner is accompanied by free-flowing house beer and wine.
Rugged rock formations, red dirt roads, powerful waterfalls and lush monsoon rainforest: the Northern Territory's landscapes brim with natural wonder. Today, you’ll see it all and more with a full-day tour of Litchfield National Park, with lunch included. Take in the ever-changing landscape that unfolds around you, while keeping watch for the hundreds of native bird species that call the area home.
Throughout the day, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for you to hop from one peacock-blue-hued plunge pool to another as you marvel at the twin cascades of the spring-fed Florence Falls, listen to the thundering sounds of Tolmer Falls and splash about at Wangi Falls. On your return journey to Darwin, there will be time for a stop at Howard Springs Nature Park to feed wild barramundi and turtles before wandering among the two-metre-high magnetic termite mounds.
Recharge in your room then prepare for an evening at the exciting and eclectic Mindil Beach Sunset Market. Darwin’s answer to the traditional Southeast Asian night market, it’s a wonderful glimpse into the vibrant creativity of Australia’s northernmost capital. As the sun dips beneath the Timor Sea, the market comes alive as food stalls hawk local and international delights and street performers put on a spirited show.
Please note: Guests who are on the Litchfield tour on Day 2 will experience the HOHO bus and Crocosaurus Cove on Day 3. Guests who experience the HOHO bus and Crocosaurus Cove on Day 2 will be on the Litchfield tour on Day 3.
Today you’ll have the chance to truly explore the city’s iconic scenery and attractions with a 24-hour ‘Hop-On, Hop-Off’ pass for the Darwin Big Bus, an open double-decker tour complete with pre-recorded commentary. Take it as quickly or as slowly as you like – see ancient reptiles at Crocosaurus Cove, feed wild rays and seabream at the Aquascene Fish Feeding Sanctuary, visit the Museum and Art Gallery of Northern Territory, or wander the city’s Waterfront Precinct.
Please note: Guests who are on the Litchfield tour on Day 2 will experience the HOHO bus and Crocosaurus Cove on Day 3. Guests who experience the HOHO bus and Crocosaurus Cove on Day 2 will be on the Litchfield tour on Day 3.
Today is the day you will embark on the journey of a lifetime aboard The Ghan Expedition, passing majestic landscapes and unearthing the very best the outback has to offer. After breakfast, you will be transferred to the terminal to board The Ghan and shown to your cabin. Settle in and venture to the Queen Adelaide Restaurant, where you can sit back and unwind with a glass of fine Australian wine and a mouthwatering lunch.
Watch as the passing scenery transforms 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 incredible Indigenous rock paintings found on the walls of Nitmiluk Gorge, or an outback experience at a working farm. Later, return to The Ghan for a multi-course dinner.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience:
- Cutta Cutta Caves Excursion (included in fare): Formed millions of years ago and still growing today, the Cutta Cutta cave system is home to a variety of native wildlife and is rich in Indigenous culture. Inside the caves, witness sparkling limestone formations of stalactites and stalagmites, home to five species of bats, including the rare Ghost and Horseshoe bats. Cutta Cutta is a Jawoyn word meaning 'many stars, as they believe that caves are where the stars rest during the day, and the caves are associated with Barrac Barrac, or Diver Duck dreaming creation stories by the local Jawoyn people. Recommended fitness level: high (guests must be able to navigate steep stairs and walk underground in low light).
- Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise (included in fare): Listen to calls of cicadas resonating across the water and bouncing between the sandstone cliffs of Nitmulik Gorge on this breathtaking cruise, taking you between the First and Second Gorge. Please Note: A 500-metre walk over rocky terrain is required in both directions between the gorges. Recommended fitness level: moderate to high (approximately two kilometres of walking required).
- Katherine Outback Experience (included in fare): Celebrate life on the land with real horse-starting and working dog demonstrations, entwined with live music and humorous bush tales, on this quintessential outback experience. You will have the opportunity to interact with some of the four-legged station characters, including Tin Shaker the Brahman Steer and Bill the Buffalo, while learning about the Northern Territory’s rich pastoral history. You will also enjoy a delicious morning or afternoon tea. Recommended fitness level: low.
- Nitmiluk Gorge Helicopter Flight (from A$250 per person; limited availability): See the gorge from an entirely different perspective with a not-to-be-missed Nitmiluk Gorge helicopter flight over all 13 gorges. Please Note: A weight limit of 130kg per person applies. If you choose this experience you will be unable to participate in the above Off-Train experiences. Recommended fitness level: low.
Please Note: Luxury Escapes will confirm Off-Train Experience preferences by email after booking.
Leave your window blinds slightly ajar to let the first rays of the morning sun flood your cabin with a glorious, orange-tinted light after your first peaceful night's sleep aboard. Today, stop in Alice Springs and experience the striking beauty of the region with a selection of Off-Train Experiences. Each incredible experience concludes at Alice Springs Telegraph Station, where you'll be immersed in the spirit and grandeur of the Australian outback as you tuck into a mouthwatering meal, served with cold beer or fine wine under a chandelier of stars.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience:
- Alice Explorer and Outback BBQ Dinner (included in fare): Visit the Alice Springs School of the Air and learn about the education provided to children living in the most remote parts of the Northern Territory. Then, during a guided tour of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, hear how medical aid reaches those who live in the furthest reaches of Australia's outback, before continuing to the Reptile Centre, home to more than 100 reptile exhibits. Capture a stunning photo of Alice Springs from ANZAC Hill, before a truly unique dining experience at Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Recommended fitness level: low.
- Alice to Off Road and Outback BBQ Dinner (included in fare; limited availability): Your off-road mountain bike adventure begins at the historic Old Telegraph Station. The trail winds around the bed of the Todd River, where you'll glide along the Illentye trail before pulling over to dig for water and soak in this amazing landscape. Your ride continues underneath the shade of ghost gum trees, before lunch in one of Tadd Mall's quaint cafes and a transfer back to Alice Springs Telegraph Station for an unmissable dining experience under the stars. Recommended fitness level: high (biking distance of approximately 12 kilometres, enclosed footwear and comfortable clothing recommended).
- Alice Springs Desert Park and Outback BBQ Dinner (included in fare): Join an experienced guide for an exclusive walking tour that will unravel ancient cultural stories, the science behind the region's breathtaking landscapes, verdant animal life and geological marvels. Step inside Nocturnal House, enjoy a front-row seat at the spectacular free-flight bird show with a backstage pass to meet the birds and trainers for a private training session, and watch magnificent resident dingoes before a film on desert evolution. Recommended fitness level: moderate (approximately two kilometres of walking).
- Simpsons Gap Discovery Walk and Outback BBQ Dinner (included in fare; limited availability): Soak in the serenity and peacefulness of Simpsons Gap as you watch the walls glow from reflected sunlight, creating a breathtaking display of stark form and rich colour, before you're transferred to Alice Springs Desert Park for lunch and free time in this inspiring desert oasis. Recommended fitness level: high (approximately four kilometres of walking required; guests must wear long pants and enclosed shoes).
- Standley Chasm Cultural Walk (included in fare): Traditionally known as Angkerle Atwatye – meaning 'Gap of Water' – Standley Chasm is an 80-metre-high gorge amongst the West MacDonnell Ranges. The walking trail to the Chasm and those in its surrounds offer chance encounters with a variety of inhabitants, including diverse bird species, lizards, and wallabies, as well as native flowering plants and ancient cycad palms. Either side bears the jagged, craggy impressions created over untold millions of years to dramatic and picturesque effect. Learn about traditional culture in a comfortable and open discussion. Craft your own souvenir in the dot painting workshop, and learn the traditional techniques and significance behind them in Western Arrernte artwork. Fitness level: moderate (approximately two kilometres of walking).
- Uluru Fixed-Wing Scenic Flight and Outback BBQ Dinner (from A$1,399 per person; extremely limited availability): Take in the spectacular outback scenery and vastness of Australia with a unique bird’s eye view of Uluru. Rising out of the surrounding Central Australian desert, Uluru and Kata Tjuta are incredibly majestic from the air. Setting down, you will visit Mutitjula Waterhole, home of Wanampi, an ancestral water snake. Enjoy a picnic lunch and travel around the base of Uluru by car. On return to Ayers Rock Airport, board your aircraft and take to the skies again. This time, you will fly closely around Uluru and and Kata Tjuta, for a different perspective of this iconic monolith. Please Note: This tour is subject to flight weather conditions and National Park access. Weight restrictions do apply and vary depending on the total weight of all passengers in the aircraft. Recommended fitness level: moderate. To avoid disappointment, pre-booking this tour is highly recommended. Please contact the Tours Concierge Service at tours@luxuryescapes.com.au.
Please Note: Luxury Escapes will confirm Off-Train Experience preferences by email after booking.
Wake up in South Australia this morning, and get ready for another day of sun-soaked scenery with 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 to enjoy one final, spectacular three-course dinner onboard, accompanied by wine and the extraordinary desert stillness.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience:
- Discover the Majestic Breakaways (included in fare): The Breakaways Reserve was named after the colourful low hills that appear from a distance as if they are ‘broken away’ from the higher ground of the reserve. Experience this spectacle first-hand as you venture to The Breakaways Lookout, walk amid vibrant local flora and fauna, listen to Indigenous dreamtime stories and discover the beauty of Australia's national gemstone at Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, one of Coober Pedy’s original attractions. Take a visit to the Opal Quest Mine, where you will be able to don a hard hat and try your luck finding your own fortune, before enjoying an underground lunch. Recommended fitness level: moderate.
- Explore Coober Pedy (included in fare): Tour this unique desert town and hear about its colourful history. See the rock carvings of the underground Serbian Orthodox Church, visit Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, see the grassless golf course – the only golf club with reciprocal playing rights to St Andrews in Scotland – and witness a working opal field at the Quest Opal Mine. Then, marvel at The Breakaways, once a vast inland sea. Recommended fitness level: high.
- Opal Experience (included in fare): Embark on a half-day tour to Umoona Opal Mine and Museum. This immersive experience reveals all there is to know about these alluring gemstones, and you’ll also get to see the very best examples on display. At the Opal Quest Mine, you’ll have the chance to fossick for your own opal and enjoy a relaxed lunch underground. Your second lookout is the Big Winch, which offers another perfect vantage point to truly appreciate this powerful place. Watch the earthy colours of the ancient mesas and valleys transform as the sun moves across this surreal panorama. Recommended fitness level: moderate.
- The Painted Hills & Lake Eyre Scenic Flight (from A$1,295 per person; extremely limited availability): Soar high above the Anna Creek Painted Hills and glimpse South Australia at its most spectacular as the rocky outcrops break suddenly from the flat desert landscape. Due to its fragility and tremendous natural beauty, this region of Australia can only be seen by air – you will be one of only a small handful of visitors to have laid eyes on the breathtaking formations. Continue to the world-renowned Lake Eyre at low altitude and witness the lake’s crystalised brilliance up close, before landing at William Creek for an included lunch at one of Australia’s most beloved bush pubs. Finish with a tour of William Creek and one final flight over the world’s largest working cattle station, Anna Creek. Recommended fitness level: low. Weight restrictions do apply and vary depending on total weight of all passengers in the aircraft.
Please Note: Luxury Escapes will confirm Off-Train Experience preferences by email after booking.
This morning you’ll be rewarded with stunning views from the Queen Adelaide Restaurant as the landscape outside transforms from the rich, ochre tones of the outback into the sprawling formations of the Flinders Ranges before you reach Adelaide’s vibrant CBD. Disembark The Ghan and be transferred to your accommodation in the capital of South Australia, over 3,000 kilometres from where your journey began.
Transfer to your luxury accommodation at the Hilton Adelaide, where you will be allocated a time – either on day 7 or 8 – to meet in the lobby for your private, immersive Penfolds tasting experience, crafted specifically as a farewell event for guests of Luxury Escapes private charter of The Ghan. On arrival, you will be greeted by your personal host and taken on a private tour of the renowned Magill Estate. Set in the intimate surrounds of the Penfolds private dining area, your Penfolds Iconic Tasting Experience includes a wonderful wine-tasting experience covering many Penfolds classics, new and old. After a souvenir? Peruse the cellar door and perhaps pick up a bottle or two (with special pricing offers for guests who wish to purchase) before your Penfolds journey comes to an end.
Spend your time at leisure exploring Adelaide at your desired pace. Why not start in the trendy West End, or wander along North Terrace, stopping in at the Art Gallery of South Australia to get your culture fix, before visiting some of the best cafés and restaurants in the East End. You would even take a quiet moment in the flora-filled Adelaide Botanic Garden, before venturing the National Wine Centre of Australia for a cheeky early tasting or two.
After a delicious breakfast, your journey ends with a shared coach transfer to Adelaide Airport for the next leg of your journey.