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 the newly reopened Southern Ocean Lodge – one of Australia's most iconic hotels.

Stay: Providence Guest House (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. As you travel, you’ll watch as the city melts into South Australia’s pastoral verdure and the ochre scrubland of the Flinders Ranges. Don’t also miss out on the afternoon tea before indulging with a three-course dinner.

Start your day with a full breakfast, complete with Belgian chocolate waffles and eggs just the way you like them. Then, in among your multi-course meals and bar-car delights, you’ll roll into Australia’s Red Centre with Alice Springs. Immerse yourself in its frontier-town heritage, perhaps with an optional camel ride or helicopter flight out over the ancient MacDonnell Ranges. Then, further delights await back on the train, with a dinner of gourmet takes on bushfood staples, including crocodile boudin blanc. Today, for something extra special, you might want to opt on to a sightseeing flight to Uluru – Australia’s great red icon.

Arriving into the Northern Territory, you’ll have a choice of included excursions, beginning with a cruise along the Katherine River. It’s a scenic delight, watched over by the towering sandstone cliffs of Nitmiluk Gorge. Alternatively, learn about the local indigenous culture with a visit to the Jawoyn people. Activities range from basket weaving and spear throwing to traditional painting and learning to play the didgeridoo. A late lunch awaits back on board, perhaps of gold-band snapper fillet and asparagus spears, before the rust-red of the Australian transforms into beach-fronted Darwin’s exotic greenery. Here, 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.