What its really like to travel on The Ghan?

The Ghan Expedition takes you on a truly iconic journey across Australia's vast outback starting from the tropical Top End in Darwin and winding through the ancient sandstone cliffs and gorges of Nitmiluk National Park, across the vast, red plains of the Outback, through the lively town of Alice Springs, the quirky opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, and finally concluding in Adelaide.

This luxury, all-inclusive experience is a perfect blend of exceptional onboard service and unforgettable off-train excursions, making it one of the world's top train journeys.

Julia Bozich, Head of Australia & South Pacific for House of Travel travelled recently on the train and shares her experience.

From the moment she stepped aboard in Darwin, Julia was captivated by the elegant, polished interiors of the carriages, which echoed the golden era of train travel. Her Gold Premium cabin, nostalgic in design but equipped with modern comforts, set the tone. Even small details like the en-suite bathroom stood out, delivering exceptional amenities—impressive water pressure and endless hot showers, no less—all while gliding across the Australian landscape.

From the start, I had a feeling these four days and three nights would be full of “pinch-me” moments—and I wasn’t wrong. Shortly after departing Darwin, I made my way to the lounge carriage, where I enjoyed a barista-made flat white and met some fellow travellers. The social atmosphere on this journey is one of its highlights, making it especially enjoyable for solo travellers. Rory, our barista-turned-bartender, kept the drinks flowing and the conversation lively from morning to night—a highlight for solo adventurers and groups alike

Forget buffets—this journey is all about à la carte dining at its finest! Before long, I was invited to the dining carriage for lunch and got my first taste of the incredible meals served throughout the journey, each complemented by an extensive wine selection.

Despite being all-inclusive, there were no buffets here—each meal was served à la carte and designed to showcase the local produce of the regions we passed through. Time and again, I found myself wondering how they managed to create such exquisite dishes in a train kitchen!

One of the highlights was the outdoor Aussie BBQ held at the historic Telegraph Station in Alice Springs. The station’s historical significance added depth to the experience, and the BBQ food was top-notch, accompanied by a fantastic live band.

But, the highlight of the evening was a short stargazing talk given by an astronomer from the local observatory—a truly memorable moment under the vast Outback sky.

A meal that was out of this world—literally!

While train enthusiasts might say that being on board The Ghan is the ultimate experience, many travellers, like myself, looked forward to the off-train excursions as well.

Before the journey, we were invited to choose from a range of experiences at each stop. They’re all included (although helicopter or scenic flights come with a surcharge) and designed to suit different interests and fitness levels. Once again, I was impressed with the crew’s seamless coordination, managing to disembark 36 carriages (almost 1 km of train!) and guide everyone to their chosen activities.

• Gorge Cruise in Nitmiluk National Park
  

  I loved my choice of the gorge cruise in Nitmiluk National Park, near Katherine. Gliding along the river as our local guide shared stories and pointed out ancient rock art, it was hard to grasp the sheer age and history of this land.

• Walking Tour in Alice Springs
  

  In Alice Springs, I chose a walking tour—ideal for walking off some of the incredible food we’d been enjoying. The West MacDonnell Range was breathtakingly beautiful, with endless photo opportunities of the red desert landscape and billabongs.

• Visit to Coober Pedy
  

  Our next stop was the fascinating opal-mining town of Coober Pedy, where much of the population lives in underground homes. We returned to the train at the Manguri siding, where a bonfire and flowing bubbles awaited us as the sun set over the Outback, a perfect close to our last night aboard.

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