Summary
Short description
Pair one of the world’s great rail journeys with award-winning vineyards and a luxury wilderness experience
Highlights
- Sweep through the Outback in luxurious style
- Showcase the wildlife of the Top End on an all-inclusive safari
- Taste your way through the wines of the Barossa Valley
- Take in Adelaide’s rich heritage
In Brief
- 1 Night Darwin
- 2 Nights The Bamurru Plains
- 1 Night Darwin
- 3 Nights The Ghan
- 1 Night Adelaide
- 2 Nights Barossa Valley
- 1 Night Adelaide
In pictures
About
Recommended for:
Beach | City | Food & wine | Natural world | Rail journey | Wildlife
Contrasting the beautifully desolate Outback with all-inclusive drinks and fine dining, the Ghan is one of the finest experiences by rail. And, it comes complete with expert-led touring included throughout, from visits to underground towns to stops at frontier settlements and a waterfall-side cattle station. It’s bookended by the world-class wines of the Barossa Valley along with an all-inclusive safari experience in Australia’s remote Top End. Spot unique wildlife on a range of included excursions, returning to full-board drinks and gourmet meals.
Day by day itinerary
Day
1
Depart UK
Begin your trip with complimentary airport access before your flight out to Australia.
Day
2
Darwin
On arrival in Darwin, you’ll be met by a private driver and brought to your luxury accommodation, enjoying expansive views over Darwin’s glittering waterfront from your room. As such, you’ll be perfectly poised to explore, with coastal walks bringing you between pavement restaurants, bustling markets and art galleries that showcase the local indigenous culture.
Stay: Adina Apartment Hotel, Darwin Waterfront (Superior)
Days
3-4
The Bamurru Plains
Today, a scenic 4WD transfer will bring you into the impossibly verdant floodplains of Bamurru. But, it’s not all wild remotes as you settle in to a luxury, rustic-chic bungalow – one of just ten found on 300 square kilometres of private land. Here, you’ll be treated to a full range of included wilderness activities, from guided walks and 4WD safaris to quad-bike tours and crocodile-spotting river cruises. Among the savannah grasslands and paperbark forests, you can expect to spot the likes of buffalo, wallabies and some 236 species of birds. Each day, you’ll return to enjoy open-bar indulgences and full-board gourmet dining, with highlights from the open kitchen including kangaroo skewers and crispy barramundi.
Stay: Bamurru Plains Lodge, Kakadu (Deluxe)
Meals: B L D
Day
5
Darwin
Retracing your tracks through the vibrant wetlands, a 4WD transfer will see you back to Darwin for a day of relaxation. The city’s restaurants dish up some of Australia’s finest seafood, something complemented by a range of fishing opportunities. There’s also everything from al fresco harbour cinemas to a spread of national parks, ideal for sacred Aboriginal sites.
Stay: Adina Apartment Hotel, Darwin Waterfront (Superior)
Day
6
Nitmiluk Gorge
Today, following a private transfer, you’ll board one of the world’s most iconic rail journeys, settling in to your wood-panelled Gold Service cabin to enjoy picture-window views of the Outback. But, much of the train’s delights lie outside your private berth, with open-bar lounge indulgences paired with an all-inclusive spread of gourmet delights. Dynamic menus reflect the finest in seasonal ingredients, with the locally produced beef and Margaret River cheeses particular favourites. You’ll also be treated to the first of your included off-train excursions today, stopping off at Nitmiluk Gorge. Its cascading waterfalls and cragged sandstone are the backdrop to your trip to a remote cattle station, soundtracked by music performances, dog herding and horse-breaking demonstrations.
Stay: The Ghan (Superior)
Meals: B L D
Day
7
Alice Springs
Waking to an Outback sunrise, you’ll begin the day with a sumptuous cooked breakfast before stopping in Alice Springs – a true frontier town. You’ll have a full day to explore at your leisure, taking in the wild desert landscapes, rich Aboriginal heritage and the fascinating museums on the region’s adventurers’ past. We also highly recommend booking onto a scenic flight to take in that great Australia icon – Uluru. Come the evening, you’ll channel your inner pioneer with a dinner under the stars, complete with mouthwatering steak, damper bread baked in fire ashes and, of course, live Australiana music. Thanks to the isolated setting, it’s all held under a Milky-Way blanket.
Stay: The Ghan (Superior)
Meals: B L D
Day
8
Manguri
After breakfast, you’ll pull into middle-of-nowhere Manguri to take in its sheer vastness and splendid isolation. On disembarking, you’ll be met by a local guide for something of the unique – an underground town. Venturing into the tunnels and caves of Coober Pedy, you’ll visit otherworldly churches and dip into the Umoona Opal Mine. There’s even a gourmet lunch, taken in the ethereally lit passages. It’s then back to the Ghan to speed on through the moonscapes of the Breakaways – a series of flat-topped mesas set against stony desert.
Stay: The Ghan (Superior)
Meals: B L D
Day
9
Adelaide
Looking out of your window this morning, you’ll watch as the rich ochre tones give way to the lush green fields of South Australia. Then, pulling into Adelaide, you’ll be met by a private driver and brought to your historic accommodation – at the Adelaide Treasury. Dating back to 1839, it’s the perfect introduction to the city’s heritage, with the ‘City of Churches’ impressing with historic spires, tram-plied streets and a full spread of gourmet experiences.
Stay: Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury (Superior)
Meals: B
Days
10-11
Barossa Valley
Picking up your hire car, you’ll leave the city behind to make the short drive north to the Barossa Valley’s rural idyll, checking into your accommodation – a collection of luxurious cottages with sweeping valley and vineyard views. For something extra special, speak to our specialists about an upgrade to The Louise. Here, luxury suites are replete with chic fireplaces, marble bathrooms and private, outdoor rain showers. It even features one of South Australia’s finest restaurants, complemented by its accompanying vineyard. Whichever you choose, you'll spend your days exploring, visiting the region's renowned wineries and enjoying optional expert-led tastings and tours.
Stay: Barossa Shiraz Estate (Superior)
Day
12
Adelaide
Sweeping back through Barossa’s vineyard-dappled contours, you’ll spend a final night in Adelaide; don’t forget to stop off at one of the region’s lauded farmers’ markets on the way. And, you’ll finish in style, with a stay in a stone cottage, complete with Australian antiques and lush gardens. But, alongside the city’s colonial heritage, there’s also a thriving arts scene, best taken in with trips to its superb galleries and concert venues. This being Australia, it’s all paired with gourmet restaurants, slick bars and, yes, welcoming pubs.
Stay: Adina Apartment Hotel Adelaide Treasury (Superior)
Meals: B
Days
13-14
Depart for UK
Dropping your car back at the airport, you’ll board your overnight flight home.
Meals: B
Map
Pricing
Any element of this itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs. Just contact us to find out more.
Accommodation rating:
14-day tailor-made luxury rail journey
from £8,360 pp incl. flights
Deluxe
Low Season
from £8,360 pp. incl. flights
High Season
from £9,915 pp. incl. flights
Includes:
- Complimentary UK airport lounge access
- Return flights from London to Darwin and Adelaide
- Private airport/railway station transfers
- 6 nights accommodation staying in a mix of 4* (Superior) and 5* (Deluxe) hotels on a B&B basis (except Adina Adelaide)
- 2 night Ultimate Wilderness experience at Bamurru Plains staying in the Kingfisher suite, including 4WD transfers, all meals and beverages and daily guided wilderness activities from river cruises to 4WD safaris
- 3 nights aboard the luxury Ghan Expedition train in Gold service, including all meals, beverages and off train touring
- 4 days medium car hire with maximum cover
- Operates March - October
Terms & Conditions
Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin/double room; prices are subject to availability and possible change; normal booking conditions apply.
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