2026 The Ghan Adelaide to Darwin by Rail

Board The Ghan in Adelaide for an incredible showcase journey  of inland Australia. As the train leaves the city heading for the Flinders Ranges and beyond, the dramatic changes in landscape, from pastoral land to arid outback scenes, will ignite your imagination.

Lunch is served on board – this is the first of many superb, chef-prepared, gourmet meals, showcasing regional flair and seasonal flavours. Spend the rest of the day settling into life on train and getting to know your fellow travellers. As afternoon turns to evening, dinner service begins with another gourmet, multi-course meal and  selection of Australian wines, beers and non-alcoholic beverages.

After your first night enjoying the fine dining and relaxed comfort of this iconic train, you’ll wake to an unforgettable outback sunrise at Marla – a remote outpost 160 kilometres from the Northern Territory border that marks the start of the Oodnadatta Track.  With red dirt at your feet and a bonfire warming the morning air, you’ll have some time to appreciate this remote part of Australia.

Reboard the train for brunch as you make your way onwards to Alice Springs. Here, you’ll have a selection of Off Train Experiences to choose from. There’s an experience to suit everyone, from an  off-road mountain bike adventure across ochre-coloured earth,  to the Alice Explorer tour taking you to the town’s major attractions, a cultural experience at Standley Chasm, meeting the wildlife at the Desert Park, or taking in the astounding beauty of Simpson’s Gap. Alternatively, take it all in from the air, with an optional upgrade helicopter flight. You’ll return to the train late afternoon where you’ll have time to rest and refresh before dinner is served.

Your day dawns in the tropical north and when the landscape transforms into rocky gorges and fast-flowing canyon streams, prepare to experience one of the Top End’s most impressive natural wonders on a cruise along Nitmiluk Gorge. Making this experience even more memorable is the commentary that explains the significance of Nitmiluk to the Indigenous Jawoyn people and the many stories that celebrate their spiritual connection to the gorge.

There is also a helicopter flight upgrade available, for those wishing to see Nitmiluk from an aerial perspective. Alternatively,  the Katherine Outback Experience lets you into the lives of those who call the outback home, with a fascinating day of discovery showing what it’s like to live and work on a huge cattle station. After the day’s activities, you’ll reboard the train and continue  to Darwin, where your journey exploring Australia by train concludes.