The Ghan Exclusive Luxury Escapes Charter from Darwin with Litchfield National Park, Penfolds Tasting & Off-Train Experiences

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 accompanied by a selection of wines.

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 level mobility – Guests must be able to navigate steep stairs, walk in low light and being comfortable underground.

• Nitmiluk Gorge Cruise (included in fare): Winding your way down the Katherine River on a relaxing cruise, you’ll feel a tangible connection to the dramatic, ancient scenery around every bend. As you venture into the gorge, the landscape tells stories of geological upheaval over the centuries and the effects of fast-running water and the erosion it causes. The views of the sheer gorge walls just keep getting better and better. The commentary explains the significance of Nitmiluk to the Indigenous Jawoyn people and the many stories that celebrate their spiritual connection to the gorge.

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 (included in fare): 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. You will hear rollicking stories, join interactive experiences, see cattle dog demonstrations and hear live music performances. You will also meet the many dedicated people and animals involved in keeping a station functioning.

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 Gorge Helicopter Flight (from A$276 per person; limited availability): 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:

• A Town Called Alice (included in fare): 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 wide and varied scaly inhabitants of the region. You will meet famous locals like frillneck lizards, thorny devils, perentie goannas and geckos. At Yubu Napa Gallery in Alice Springs, you can admire high-quality artworks, knowing that the artists represented are treated to comfortable studios and are paid fairly for their work. Finally, to end the day, discover the colourful history of Alice Springs and the unique culture of this iconic outback town 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 (included in fare): As distinctive as the Australian desert itself, the Alice Springs Desert Park captivates and educates. Located at the base of the West MacDonnell Ranges, the Desert Park is closely connected to the local Arrernte people. The stories and history of the Arrernte people, together with the plants and animals they are responsible for, are told through the interpretation and creation of three distinct desert habitats – Desert Rivers, Sand Country and Woodland. 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 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 (included in fare): Standley Chasm is a significant cultural icon in Central Australia. Traditionally called Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’, itis a 3-metre-wide, 80-metre-high gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges, about 50km west of Alice Springs. You will also visit another magical location, where flora, fauna and Indigenous culture come together. The Simpsons Gap area incorporates large stands of Mulga and is a major stronghold for over 40 rare plants. Also visit the highly rated Yubu Napa Gallery in Alice Springs. The gallery provides quality artwork, while ensuring the artists that work with them have comfortable studios and are paid fairly for their work.

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.

• Bushwalks of Alice (included in fare): 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. Local plant life is illustrated along the trail. The highlight of course, is Simpsons Gap, a magical location where important elements of flora, fauna and Indigenous culture all come together. The area incorporates large stands of Mulga and is a major stronghold for over 40 rare and relict plants. You will stop off along the way at the highly rated Yubu Napa Gallery and the Telegraph Station, where an extensive trail network winds its way in and around the picturesque reserve. You will enjoy some of the best walking trails in Alice Springs whilst at the same time enjoying spectacular views of the Australian Outback.

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.

• Uluru Scenic Flight (Optional upgrade from A$1099 per person; limited availability)

Take to the skies for an unforgettable Red Centre adventure. After a sumptuous lunch at the Desert Park, you’ll transfer to Alice Springs Airport, from where you will fly taking in the spectacular outback scenery and vastness of Australia as you fly directly to Uluru – Kata Tjuta. Rising out of the surrounding desert, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas) dominate the landscape. You’ll have a brief rest on land at Ayers Rock Airport to stretch your legs while the aircraft refuels before you take to the skies again, flying around Uluru for a different perspective, before heading to Kata Tjuta. Continue your flight out to the sandstone sculptures of the remarkable Kings Canyon. As Uluru’s companion, the chasm is almost as deep as Uluru is high.

This tour is subject to availability and conditions; all upgrade optional experiences are non-refundable. If you choose this experience, you will not be able to participate in the included Off Train Experiences. Guests are advised to take appropriate clothing with them for the Telegraph Station Outback Dinner as they may not return to the train prior.

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 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. You will discover the beauty and history of Australia’s national gemstone at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, one of Coober Pedy’s original attractions showcasing Aboriginal history and fossils

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 (included in fare): 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 (included in fare): On this shorter tour, you’ll learn about the beauty and history of Australia’s national gemstone at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, one of Coober Pedy’s most popular attractions. This immersive experience reveals all there is to know about these alluring gemstones, and you will also see some of the best examples on display.. 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. With spectacular views over the town, the Big Winch has been a popular attraction and meeting place since it was built in the early 1970s.

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.

• 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. You’ll also fly over Lake Eyre, which was formed approximately 200 million years ago and is the lowest point below sea level on the Australian continent. Enjoy a classic pub meal at the William Creek Hotel for lunch. The town is reputed to be the smallest in South Australia, surrounded by the world’s largest pastoral station, Anna Creek Station.

Weight restrictions Apply – a maximum weight of any individual cannot exceed 130kg. 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. . Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Guests required to board and disembark aircraft unassisted. Guided walk with standing required.

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.