The Ghan & Kangaroo Island

Begin in style with complimentary airport lounge access before your flight out to Australia.

Arriving into Adelaide, you’ll be met at the airport by a private driver and brought to your luxury hotel. Housed in the city’s 19th-century treasury, its historic façade belies sleek interiors. It’s also centrally located, so you’ll have all of the city’s delights on your doorstep, with Adelaide’s rich heritage laid bare in near-countless churches and the neoclassical Art Gallery of South Australia. But, the city also has a delightfully forward-thinking outlook, evident across farmers’ markets and hip bars hidden in narrow laneways.

A private airport transfer and short flight hop will today bring you on to Kangaroo Island for dramatic seascapes and native wildlife. To showcase the island at its best, you'll enjoy two days led by experienced local guides. Indeed, from north to south, you’ll soak up Kangaroo Island’s myriad highlights, taking in eucalyptus forests host to snoozing koalas, tracing dramatic coastlines where wallabies, kangaroos and sea lions play on golden sands and pausing for delicious picnics in the heart of the wilderness. You’ll also have the chance to visit Flinders Chase National Park and travel to Remarkable Rocks – giant rock formations carved out by the power of the ocean. 

For a high-end Kangaroo Island experience, upgrade your stay to the Sea Dragon, where stylish rooms and villas are paired with exquisite, locally inspired dining and a range of exceptional experiences spread across a day and a half's touring, from wine tastings to ocean safaris. Or, really push the boat out with two nights at Southern Ocean Lodge – one of Australia's most iconic hotels.

Stay:  The River Suites (Superior), Sea Dragon (Deluxe) or Southern Ocean Lodge (Ultra)

You’ll have some further time on Kangaroo Island today, with your included touring starting with an introduction to the bush and how wildlife surveys are monitoring some of the island's most endangered species. Following a picnic lunch in the bush, you’ll then head to Flinders Chase National Park to explore Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, both evidence of the Southern Ocean's powerful swells. End the day with a transfer to the airport and flight back to Adelaide. On arrival, a further transfer will see you to your luxury hotel for one final night, before you perhaps cap off the evening with dinner one of the city’s superb restaurants.

A private transfer will bring you aboard The Ghan itself, settling into your wood-panelled cabin to enjoy all-inclusive drinks and fine dining. Expect the likes of barramundi and kangaroo fillet paired with Australia’s superb wines, best taken in the elegant lounge car. By evening, disembark at Long Plains and continue into the rolling vineyards of the Clare Valley. At Penobscot Farm, enjoy a signature dinner in the reimagined Woolshed, showcasing biodynamic produce paired with celebrated local Rieslings and reds. As the sun sets over the vines, raise a glass to the journey ahead before returning to the train for a restful night.

Wake to shifting colours outside your window as The Ghan arrives in Port Augusta, gateway to the outback. Today’s Off Train Experience leads deep into the ancient Flinders Ranges, where folded gorges and red‑rock outcrops reveal 600 million years of geological history. Continue to historic Quorn for a Flinders Gin‑paired lunch before visiting the evocative ruins of Kanyaka Station. After a day in the Outback, rejoin the train for a relaxed evening on board.

Dawn breaks over remote Marla, where the first light spills across red earth and a crackling bonfire offers gentle warmth in the cool desert air. It’s a moment of stillness that feels uniquely outback. After soaking in the sunrise, you return to The Ghan for a leisurely brunch, watching the desert unfurl in broad sweeps of ochre and spinifex as the train journeys north toward Alice Springs.

Here, a rich choice of Off Train Experiences awaits. You might ride off‑road bikes across sun‑baked terrain, explore the town’s landmarks on a tour, or step into the cultural heart of Standley Chasm. Wildlife enthusiasts can wander the Desert Park, while others may be drawn to the sculpted beauty of Simpsons Gap. For a sweeping aerial perspective, a scenic helicopter flight reveals the sheer scale of this remarkable region. By late afternoon, you reboard the train, with time to refresh before dinner ushers in another memorable evening on The Ghan.

Your final day aboard The Ghan unfolds in the tropical north, where the landscape shifts into a tapestry of rugged escarpments, lush pockets of greenery and fast‑moving canyon streams. Soon you arrive in Katherine, ready to experience the majesty of Nitmiluk Gorge. As your boat glides between towering sandstone walls, your guide shares stories of the Jawoyn people, revealing the deep cultural and spiritual significance of this ancient place. If you prefer a different perspective, you may step into the world of local horsemen and musicians at the Katherine Outback Experience, or venture underground into the shimmering limestone chambers of the Cutta Cutta Caves. It is even possible to take a scenic helicopter flight, offering a breathtaking aerial sweep of the gorge’s scale and grandeur. After your explorations, you return to The Ghan and journey toward Darwin, where your remarkable rail adventure draws to a memorable close. On arrival, a private driver will see you to your luxury hotel.

With Darwin’s glittering waterfront just a short stroll away, your accommodation is perfectly positioned, its chic pool framing spectacular citywide views. As such, you’ll have a superb collection of restaurants and bars on your doorstep, while the beach makes the most of the city’s tropical climate. The city is, after all, closer to Bali than its own capital. Don’t also miss out on the city's vibrant markets, while those that head out of the city will be rewarded with the likes of fishing expeditions and hikes in verdant national parks.

Perhaps the best way to experience the city's famed sunsets is on a harbour cruise. With superb city views, your included excursion aboard the Charles Darwin includes a Territory-style dinner with fresh seafood and local produce.

Today, a private transfer will see you to the airport for your overnight flight home.