Without question, one of the great train journeys of the world is between Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory and Adelaide in South Australia. From the moment you step aboard you begin an experience that is, for many, a seminal and unforgettable life moment. Conveying you from the tropical climbs of what Australians call ‘The Top End’, through the continents’ red centre, and finally into the lush surrounds of the Great Australian Bight is the legendary train know simply as The Ghan and it has been making the journey for more than 90 years.
Originally dubbed the Afghan Express, The Ghan train was named for the pioneering cameleers who blazed a permanent trail into the vast interior of Australia more than 150 years ago. And over 4 days and 3 nights this nearly 800 metre-long luxury hotel on rails is a community of like-minded people exploring, mixing & mingling as they travel nearly 3,000kms together across some of the most astonishing landscapes you’ll see anywhere.
In April 2026 GrownUps Holidays will be part of this iconic adventure with an escorted group tour. Departing from, and returning to Auckland, this all-inclusive tour also features time in both Darwin and Adelaide at either end of the train journey itself to become 12 days of exploration and relaxation. The Ghan Expedition will take us to some of the most remote and captivating parts of Australia in style and comfort. For The Ghan offers more than just transit between the north and south of this island continent. Onboard you’ll find sumptuous dining, elegant private cabins, attentive service and the ‘espirit de corps’ of your fellow travellers. A legendary train. An unforgettable experience.
The Ghan Expedition is a 4 Day/3 Night adventure where, once you board, you simply put down your suitcase and let your journey unfold. From world-class food and wine, to a range of immersive off-train experiences, the hardest decision you’ll need to make is what to have for lunch and which experience to take.
Your Gold Service cabin has everything you need to feel right at home. With a bed (or beds) that converts into a lounge by day, your cabin is the perfect sanctuary in which to lose yourself as the scenery glides by your window or a place to recharge after an off-train activity before heading to the Lounge or Restaurant carriage. With in-cabin music channels and journey audio commentary accessible throughout the train, no matter where you are, you won’t miss a thing.
The Queen Adelaide Restaurant, with its Art Deco ambience, salutes the golden era of train travel and features superb all-inclusive regionally inspired menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner, classic beverages and seamless service. The Outback Explorer Lounge is the social hub of the train. Get to know your fellow-travellers, enjoy a coffee, snack or pre-dinner drink or simply kick back and watch the passing landscape through the huge picture windows.
And on three of the train days, you can choose from a range of inclusive off-train experiences. Perhaps cruise the magnificent Nitmiluk Gorge at Katherine or explore the diverse desert habitats and amazing wildlife at Desert Park near Alice Springs. Then there’s the bizarre underground world and opal mines of Coober Pedy and the outback dinners under the ‘Blanket Of Stars’. These are just some of the inclusive excursions from which to choose. Travel on The Ghan is so much more than the clickety-clack of the train.
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