I have always wanted to experience one of Australia’s iconic train journeys and in November I boarded The Ghan in Darwin, bound for Adelaide.
We opted for a few days in Darwin and stayed at the waterfront precinct. This area is close to the cruise terminal, has a variety of restaurants and has easy walking access to the city centre. Darwin does not feel like a capital city but is laid back and easy to get around. We watched a beautiful Darwin sunset from the sailing club or just stroll along the Esplanade to capture this.
Our train was almost one kilometre long and looked impressive stretched out at Darwin’s Berrimah Station.
Upon boarding we were met by our friendly cabin attendant who showed us how everything worked and where our lounge and restaurant were located. We travelled in Gold Class and although the cabin is very small, it is quite functional. A large picture window showcases the passing scenery from the 3 seater lounge, which our cabin attendant converted to comfortable upper and lower berths at night. For those passengers wanting more cabin space, the Platinum Class offers a larger cabin
with either double or twin beds.
Once we had left Darwin we headed for the Explorer lounge and met some of our fellow passengers. The large windows in both the lounge and restaurant enabled us to see the sparse but stunning vista from both sides of the train.
All meals and alcoholic beverages are included and the wine selection was impressive. The meals that we had were of an extremely high standard and featured local produce – Massaman buffalo curry, crocodile tails, and barramundi were among the selections. The on board service is friendly and efficient.
We chose Katherine Gorge cruise and an informative tour of Alice Springs as our included off train experiences. Both options were interesting and operated in an efficient and professional manner.
The scenery changes as the Ghan nears Adelaide and a leisurely brunch allowed us to enjoy another meal complimented with some bubbles before disembarking in Australia’s City of Churches. Adelaide is a charming city with some very good hotels and amazing dining and drinking venues. A visit to the Central Market is a must to see fabulous local produce on offer.
I thoroughly enjoyed this epic 2,980 kilometre journey from the top to the bottom of our amazing country.
