The Ghan Group Tour with Darwin & Adelaide Stays

A chance to meet fellow group travellers and enjoy dinner together at Wellington’s Restaurant at Waipuna Hotel before our early morning airport check-in tomorrow.

The flight from Auckland arrives in Sydney early in the afternoon. Transfer to your hotel, conveniently situated in the heart of Sydney. Tonight enjoy dinner on Sydney Harbour as we take in the magnificence of a sunset cruise of one of the world’s most renowned waterfronts.

This morning fly to tropical Darwin in Australia’s ‘Top End’. After checking into your resort hotel, the afternoon is free for you to explore before gathering for dinner in the resorts’ Il Piatto restaurant.

This morning take the chance to orientate yourself as we enjoy a guided tour of Darwin city including the Botanic Gardens, Aviation Museum, City Art Gallery and various other landmarks with stunning views. This afternoon, when the tropical climate is at its height, you’re free to relax at one of the resorts many pools, or go exploring at your leisure. Darwin’s famous Night Markets are right next to the resort.

After breakfast head out of town to experience the legendary ‘Jumping Crocodiles’ as you cruise the Adelaide River. The expert skipper will guide you up close to witness the incredible power and majesty of the Northern Territory’s most famous marine residents. On the way back to town stop to spot the turtles at Howard Springs. Again, your afternoon back at the resort is free time before gathering for dinner at The Vue restaurant.

No early morning starts today as you have the whole day free to do as much or as little as you like. Today is the last chance to check out whatever else interests you here in Darwin. This evening we get the chance to see Darwin from the water with a dinner cruise aboard the 3-decked ‘Charles Darwin’. A chance to take in the magnificent Darwin sunset.

This morning your magnificent train journey through the centre of Australia begins. Celebrate with a ‘Welcome!’ drink and canapes before you board. Once you’ve settled into your cabin and we’re under way, you’ll enjoy a chef-prepared lunch ahead of your off-train excursion in Katherine this afternoon. Choose from a cruise through the breath-taking Nitmiluk Gorge, a visit to Cutta Cutta Caves to see the varied wildlife and centuries old indigenous culture, or take in the Katherine Outback Experience which explores the lives of those who call the outback home.

Enjoy a big breakfast onboard as you approach the town of Alice Springs. A full day of off-train exploring is in store today and there’s an experience to suit everyone. The ‘A Town Called Alice’ excursion invites you to uncover the town’s rich history, vibrant culture and awesome landscapes including a visit to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Alternatively, the Alice Springs Desert Park showcases the hugely diverse wildlife of the region from reptiles to raptors as you explore three distinct desert habitats. Another option is West Ventures which visits the natural wonders of Standley Chasm and Simpson Gap. Here sunlight illuminates the towering 80m natural sandstone walls, creating a vivid display of reds and oranges – those classic colours of the outback. A photographer’s paradise. There’s also an optional upgrade of a helicopter flight over Uluru (Ayers Rock).

In the evening dine under a blanket of stars at Telegraph Station, with red earth at your feet and white tablecloths at your finger tips.

After an early morning stop at the remote Manguri to see an outback sunrise, you’ll venture into the weird and wonderful opal mining township of Coober Pedy, where more than half the town’s residents live underground. Here you’ll enjoy a day of discovery, and a gourmet lunch in the most unique of locations. Off-train excursions on offer include exploring the majestic Breakaways Reserve, renowned for its diverse habitats and miriad shades of ochre, rust and green. A tour of this most unusual of towns from the underground Serbian Orthodox Church to the ‘dugout’ homes and cultural centre. Learn more about mining history on the Opal Experience before you don a hard hat and try opal mining yourself. Tonight the final dinner is aboard the train. Enjoy a nightcap with your fellow travellers as our journey continues towards Adelaide.

This morning, you’ll see a dramatic change in landscape as the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the green fields of South Australia. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast as you pass through the Flinders Ranges before arriving into Adelaide, completing one of the world’s great rail experiences. Disembark at Parklands Railway Terminal and meet your coach & guide for a wonderful introductory tour of Adelaide. Glorious Adelaide Cathedral, the Botanic Gardens, elegant North Terrace and the stunning Adelaide Oval all feature. After lunch, at Adelaide Central Market, enjoy a short cruise through town on the River Torrens before settling into the shiny new Crown Plaza Adelaide Hotel right in the middle of town. Enjoy a group dinner at Koomo Restaurant on the hotel’s 10^th Floor with views across this beautiful city.

Today you get out into the picturesque South Australian hinterland. After a stop at Mt Lofty for great views back to Adelaide, continue to the heart of the original German settlers of the region and the pretty town of Hahndorf. Visit Beerenberg Farm where 6 generations of the Paech have farmed since the 1830s. There’s time to wander Hahndorf before turning northward and into the Barossa Valley. This is wine country and you’ll enjoy a platter lunch and a wine tasting at the first of two wineries before wending your way back to town. This evening the final group dinner of the tour is at the luxurious Playford Hotel amid its exquisite Art Nouveau interiors.

This morning you’re collected from your hotel and transfer to Adelaide Airport in preparation for a late-morning flight to Auckland. With time zone differences you arrive in Auckland in the early evening where your 12 Day adventure exploring exciting cities, outback deserts, quirky towns, rivers & harbours concludes.