Welcome to sunny South Australia! As the state’s capital, Adelaide blends big city living with a country town sense of community. From the trendy West End to popular cafes and restaurants of the East End, there’s no shortage of things to do in this cultural hub.
Your journey begins upon check-in at your Adelaide hotel, with a night of leisure ahead.
Arrival & Transfers:
Please book your flights to arrive at Adelaide Airport (ADL) at any time today. Airport transfers are not included for your tour. The hotel is located approximately a 15-minute drive from Adelaide Airport (ADL). Check-in on Day 1 is at 3pm.
Today is the day you will embark on the journey of a lifetime aboard The Ghan, passing majestic landscapes and unearthing the very best the outback has to offer. After breakfast, make your own way to Adelaide Parklands Terminal to board The Ghan and be 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.
This afternoon you’ll be rewarded with stunning views from the Outback Explorer Lounge as the landscape outside transforms from the sprawling formations of the Flinders Ranges to the rich, ochre tones of the outback as you leave behind Adelaide’s vibrant CBD.
After your first peaceful night’s sleep aboard, step off the train in remote Marla outpost to watch the unending rays of the rising sun as they sweep across the desert. Warming your hands by the bonfire and feeling the red earth beneath your feet, this is a quintessential Outback experience to be remembered.
Reboard the train for a hearty brunch as you watch the country roll by on the way to Alice Springs. Upon arrival, embrace the striking beauty of the region with a selection of Off-Train Experiences.
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 wide and varied scaly inhabitants of the region. You will meet famous locals like frillneck lizards, thorny devils, perentie goannas and geckos. Learn about the day-to-day life of early European settlers at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, ending toe day discovering 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: 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.
- Standley Chasm Cultural Walk: Standley Chasm is a significant cultural icon in Central Australia. Traditionally called Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’, it’s a 3-metre-wide, 80-metre-high gorge in the West MacDonnell Ranges, about 50km west of Alice Springs. 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.
- Simpsons Gap Discovery Walk: Simpsons Gap is 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 enjoy some of the best walking trails in Alice Springs whilst at the same time enjoying spectacular views of the Australian Outback, passing by evocatice ghost gums and taking in views of the West MacDonnell Ranges. Recommended Fitness Level: High level mobility – Approximately 5km of bush walking over rocky and natural terrain. 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 if temperatures are forecasted at 35-degrees Celsius or above, this experience may be altered.
- Cycle Alice: Ride your way along the windy trail to famously dry Todd River, where you’ll experience the region’s most breathtaking countryside. Your tour will take you along the Ilentye Trail – an Indigenous word meaning ‘galah’ – where you’ll travel over ochre-coloured earth to a picturesque spot in the sandy river. After some time to enjoy your scenic surrounds, resume your bike ride as you return along the Ilentye trail, watching for black-footed rock wallabies often seen in this rugged region. Recommended Fitness Level: High level mobility – Guests need to be confident riding a geared mountain bike for approx. 13km of sandy paths. 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 12 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.
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 your onward journey to Darwin. Disembark The Ghan and be transferred to your accommodation in the capital of the Northern Territory, over 3,000 kilometres from where your journey began. Once you’ve settled in, step out for a group dinner at Wharf One Food & Wine on the harbour (with two drinks included), where you’ll get to know your fellow travellers.
Your choice of one Off-Train Experience (included in fare):
- Cutta Cutta Caves Experience: 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: 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: 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 Rock Art Cruise: There are plenty of fascinating Indigenous rock art sites across the Top End, but few are as accessible or as powerful as Nitmiluk Gorge. On this relaxed cruise experience, your guide will share some of the ancient stories of the region as you drift down the First Gorge, witnessing the awe-inspiring sandstone cliffs that tower above the water. Hear Dreamtime stories about the creation and learn about the gorge’s significance in the lives of the Traditional Owners, the Jawoyn people. Stop for a short walk to the top of the First Gorge and visit the stunning rock art site, where artwork has endured over thousands of years exposure to the elements. 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.
Welcome to Australia’s breathtaking Top End! Surrounded by rugged landscapes and spectacular beaches, Darwin is the perfect launchpad from which to explore the Norther Territory’s many wonders.
Gather your energy over a hearty buffet breakfast at your hotel, then transfer to Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal for your scheduled departure to the Tiwi Islands. A tropical paradise just 80 kilometres north of Darwin, the Tiwi Islands comprises two large islands – Melville and Bathurst – alongside a number of smaller, uninhabited islets. Famed for their friendly spirit as much as their distinct, geometric art, the local Tiwi people have called these islands home for over 40,000 years.
Disembarking on Bathurst Island, a member of the local Wurrumiyanga community will greet and introduce you to the island’s long-standing traditions and rich heritage over morning tea. Get to know the ebb and flow of daily life here and chat with the locals as you pass through their welcoming community.
See traditional art depicting Dreamtime stories at the Tiwi Museum, visit the historic wooden church featured in the hit film ‘Top End Wedding’, then attend a smoking ceremony and learn about the traditional Pukamani burial. Admire the works at Ngaruwanajirri Art Centre, known as ‘The Keeping Place’, turning your eyes to the high, curved ceiling and its display of beautifully painted murals. Here, you can purchase exquisite artworks directly from the creators.
Later, take your return ferry to Darwin and transfer to your hotel for dinner.
Travel time: Ferry – approx. five hours (2.5 hours one way)
Rise early for a buffet breakfast at your hotel before transferring to Darwin Airport (DRW). Wave goodbye to the city for now as you take your early morning flight to remote Davidson’s Arnhemland Safari Lodge in Mount Borradaile (Awunbarna), where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. Upon touch down at the lodge’s private airstrip, you’ll be able to check in and drop your bags before joining a lodge representative on a wildlife-viewing expedition in the surrounding wetlands.
Owned and managed by the Amurdak people – the land’s traditional custodians – this remote property is a sacred site with at least 50,000 years of Indigenous history. With its rough-edged terrain and weathered beauty, the paperbark swamps and enchanting billabongs of this vast country are host to a plethora of native wildlife. Take to the waters on a guided boat trip in search of some 275 different birds, such as the jewel-toned kingfisher, as well as barramundi and plenty of saltwater crocodiles basking on the banks.
Tonight back at your safari lodge, enjoy dinner with the group as you reminisce about a day of adventure.
Please note: A soft-sided bag (up to 12kg) is permitted for your flight to Davidson’s Arnhemland Safari Lodge. You may store your main luggage at your Darwin accommodation until your return on Day 8.
Travel time: Flight – approx. 90 minutes
This morning, your Arnhem Land adventure continues with a special guided excursion to Mount Borradaile’s millennia-old rock art. Learn about the fascinating geological evolution of this wide terrain, as well as plants used for local bush tucker and medicines as you approach the rock shelter. Look upon up to 50,000-year-old pictographic history, wonderfully preserved throughout the region. Stand in quiet contemplation of this humbling artwork, pondering the undeniable and present sense of immeasurable human heritage.
Return to your lodge for lunch and some time to relax by the pool, then set out once more to see paintings from a later era. Hear about the varied techniques used to create this incredible art, noting how their styles evolved over countless years.
This evening, round out your unforgettable itinerary with a sunset wetland cruise and a glass of sparkling wine or beer with some well-earned nibbles.
After breakfast at the lodge, it’s time to leave behind breathtaking Arnhem Land as you take your short flight back to Darwin (DRW). Upon arrival, transfer back to your hotel for check-in, then spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure.
Travel time: Flight – approx. 90 minutes
Today is yours to spend freely, whether you choose to explore Darwin’s charming streets or set out on an optional tour to discover more of the Top End’s surrounding natural beauty. Perhaps book an optional day trip to Litchfield or Kakadu National Parks (surcharges apply) – take the time to experience their vast and remarkable landscapes.
Tonight, join your fellow travellers once more for a farewell dinner, celebrating a once-in-a-lifetime adventure through the most astounding vistas of the Northern Territory.
Be sure to check out our handpicked Darwin Experiences to make your trip memorable.
Want to know more about Darwin? Our insider travel guide includes handpicked places to eat and drink and some of the best activities in the area.
After a delicious breakfast, your journey ends upon checkout.
Departure & Transfers:
Checkout on your final day is at 11am. Please book your flights to depart from Darwin International Airport (DRW) at any time today. Airport transfers are not included for your tour. The hotel is located approximately a 15-minute drive from Darwin International Airport (DRW).