The Legendary Ghan takes the scenic route
They say a change is as good as a holiday. In that case, this journey is twice as nice, and it comes with an extra day.
From 2027, The Legendary Ghan will leave Adelaide and reach Darwin not three days later, but four instead. The northbound journey becomes a three-night, four-day experience, matching the flagship Ghan Expedition heading south. It means more time to luxuriate on the train, and more time to discover places along the way.
Executive General Manager Sales & Partnerships Alicia Triggs says guests have been asking for more time to experience Australia’s landscapes.
“Rail travel has always been about more than getting from one place to another,” Alicia says.
“By extending the northbound journey, we’re allowing travellers to slow down, deepen their connection to Country, and discover Outback Australia in a way that is both immersive and unforgettable.”
So, with more time to stop and smell the Sturt’s desert roses, what does that extra day get you?
A taste of South Australia
Good things can’t be rushed, whether that’s a delicious meal or a wine decanted and left to breathe. And now with extra time on The Legendary Ghan, you can get exactly that.
Settle into your cabin, meet your fellow travellers in the lounge car and watch the city, and its stresses, fade into farmland. Tonight, a celebratory first night dinner gathered around the fire at the recently Michelin-listed Penobscot Farm in the Clare Valley sets the tone. This is an adventure to sip and savour.
Inside their cosy reimagined woolshed, you’ll be taken on a tasting journey of discovery with glasses from boutique and up-and-coming wine producers, many of which don’t even have their own cellar door. It all comes together at an exclusive paddock-to-plate signature dinner that only guests aboard The Ghan, and specifically this northbound journey, get to enjoy.
Wake up somewhere extraordinary
By morning, the uniform rows of vines have been left far behind. You’re in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges, among the oldest mountain ranges on Earth. This isn’t a quick tick-box stop, for how can you appreciate a landscape shaped over some 600 million years without allowing the time to really soak it all in?
After breakfast, step off the train for a full day of exploring the ranges, immersed amid these ancient rock formations, gorges and lookouts. Lunch is in the historic railway town of Quorn, where The Ghan’s story began. It feels nostalgic, a little like heading home to see where it all started, as the town sits on the original train route, now carefully maintained by the heritage Pichi Richi Railway volunteers.
Over lunch, sample spirits by local artisans Flinders Gin, who expertly capture flavours of the outback – like tart quandong and native lemongrass – in their products. Afterwards, visit the ruins of Kanyaka Station and hear the stories of the early colonial farmers who were ill-equipped for the harshness of this life. You, thankfully, get to step back into the comfort of the train and continue north.
The journey is the destination
The real beauty of The Ghan has always been in the simple pleasure of taking your time, balancing relaxed travel with chances to get out and explore.
From Quorn, The Ghan carries on through familiar highlights on both sides of the state border: sunrise over a bonfire breakfast at Marla, desert safaris and deep cultural connections in Alice Springs, and the dramatic transition to the lush green paradise in Katherine’s nature-rich tropics.
Meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences are all included, so there’s little to think about except where you are and the memories you’re making.
Take the long way
The new longer itinerary lets you enjoy both sides of the experience: the luxury on board and the adventure off the train. And when you reach the end of the line, Darwin is just the beginning.
For Adelaide, it’s a rare moment. Something great has come to town, even though it rolls out again. But that’s okay, because adventure awaits – and The Ghan will be back again soon enough.
Are you ready to Journey Beyond?
Be quick now, so you can take it slow later. Secure your place on The Legendary Ghan northbound journey in 2027 with our RAA Travel agents.