Ghan

Rail travel in outback Australia

Rail travel on the Ghan is perfect for the over 50's who like a bit of comfort and relaxation.

"When the Ghan first departed Adelaide for Alice Springs in 1929 it was always intended that it would one day travel through to Darwin. It just took an extra 100 years of planning and over 15 million cubic metres of earth moved before it was completed.

The name of the logo of a camel with rider, refer to the Afghan cameleers who assisted in the laying of track between Port Augusta and Alice Springs, and later the overland telegraph line between Adelaide and Darwin.

The introduction of the motor vehicle made cameleers jobless, and they returned to their home countries with their ships of the desert in tow. The Ghan remains a monument to the Afghan cameleers'courage in blazing a trail through the hottest, most inhospitable parts of Australia." (Destinations Australia magazine)

The Ghan is one of the worlds youngest trans-continental railway lines, and travels 2979 kilometres between Darwin and Adelaide.

It is just like a moving hotel, excellent accommodation, a well stocked bar car, food prepared by talented chefs and served in a dining car and excellent service.

There are three levels of service; Red Service, Gold Service and Platinum Class.

Red Service - Red Sleeper Cabin

*Comfortable, twin share day cabin converting to upper and lower sleeping berths at night

*Seating comprises 2 facing lounge chairs

*Private washing facilities in cabin

*Toilet and shower facilities at the end of each carriage

Red Daynighter Seat

*Comfortable recliner lounge chairs with generous leg room

*Individual reading light

*Video entertainment

*Toilet and shower facilities at the end of each carriage

*Towels and soap provided

*Guests need to bring their own rug and pillow

Red Diner

The Red Diner offers affordable and tasty light meals, snacks and drinks for purchase. Limited special dietary light meals are available (please request when you make your booking). The Diner is fully licensed. Snacks and light meals are also available for purchase throughout the day.

Gold Service

*Well appointed day and overnight sleeper accommodation

*Choose from an elegant twin or single sleeper cabin

*Twin Cabins feature 3 seater lounge converting to upper and lower sleeping berths plus ensuite facilities with toilet, washbasin and shower

*Single Cabins feature a lounge chair converting to single sleeping berth with shower and toilet facilities located at the end of each carriage

*Cabins are fully serviced by carriage attendants with fresh sheets, pillows and doonas

*Cabins feature 3 pin/ 240 volt power point, wardrobe, full length mirror, reading light, foldaway table

Gold Service - Dining Car

Guests dine in a tastefully decorated Restaurant Car. All meals are included in the Gold Service fare. The enjoyment of fine food and wine combined with views across this vast, beautiful continent is an amazing experience.

Gold Service - Lounge

The relaxed setting of the Gold Lounge offers an excellent place to socialise and meet fellow travellers from all corners of the world or sit back and enjoy the Australian landscape. The Lounge has a licensed bar and is the ideal place to gather for a drink before dinner or for a game of cards and a nightcap with friends.

Platinum Service

It is a new luxury level of train travel, like no other Australian train accommodation. Platinum Cabins are approximately twice the size of the standard Gold Twin Cabins with each room offering deluxe accommodation including double beds, spacious ensuite and extended room service. They have all the modern comforts, in a classic style, with a distinctly Australian character. These became available from 2008.

Breaking up your journey.

There are a variety of side trips available at Katherine and Alice Springs and can be arranged by the staff onboard. They include joy flights, quad-biking and camel rides, city tours and desert park visits.

Note: Even though I am a baby boomer and have traveled the world, I am yet to travel on the Ghan but I have first hand information from Brenton (Brother-in-law) who is a train driver and used to drive the Ghan, his wife Debra who was a waitress onboard and my niece Dannielle who was a chef onboard and was one of the chefs on the inaugral trip from Alice Springs to Darwin in 2004.For more information contact www.gsr.com.au Click here to go from the Ghan to rail travel Click here to go from the Ghan to Domestic Travel