The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018 - 98

the irt society's best-loVed railway journeys®

The Indian Pacific & The Ghan:
Australian Rail Extravaganza

ustralia's transcontinental Indian Pacific offers a
twice-weekly service in
both directions between
Perth and Sydney, via Adelaide,
across more than 2,704 miles during peak seasons and once a week
in less busy times. Almost 300
miles of it is across the longest
straight track in the world, the
Nullarbor Plain. The journey
takes three nights.
Meanwhile, The Ghan takes 48
hours-two nights on board-to
travel from Adelaide to Darwin
over 1,852 miles of track. The
Ghan and the Indian Pacific
both offer Platinum luxury-class
service. In 2008, The Ghan kicked
off the new Platinum service,
featuring 24 luxury class cabins
twice the size of Gold Service
cabins. Each cabin has private,
en-suite shower, sink and toilet,
huge windows, twin or double
bed. Also included are all meals,
private transfers on both ends
and sightseeing tours along
the way, not to mention butler
service. IRT guests highly recommend Platinum.

The Tour

This sweep of Australia
includes The Ghan and Indian
Pacific, must-see Top End of Darwin, Kakadu National Park, Ayers
Rock and Perth. It abounds in
UNESCO World Heritage sites. It's
such a fine feeling looking out
your train window at dawn to
see the shining red desert.

The ITInerary

Day 1: Arrive Sydney
Private transfer from Sydney
airport to your hotel. Explore
the city at your leisure.
Day 2: Indian Pacific
Private transfer from hotel to
station. All aboard the Indian Pacific! Relax in your cabin as you
leave Sydney and travel through

majestic Blue Mountains. Dinner tonight in dining car.
Day 3: Indian Pacific
Wake up with a coffee as
you arrive Broken Hill,
classic mining town,
for early-morning offtrain excursion. Reboard for breakfast in
diner; watch outback
scenery change to S.
Australia's green-andgold fields. Arrive Adelaide.
Enjoy leisurely walking tour,
followed by gourmet dinner in
National Wine Centre. Or explore Barossa Valley's boutique
wineries, and learn about winemaking, followed by dinner.
Days 4: Indian Pacific
Today, travel world's longest
straight stretch of standardgauge railway, and marvel at
raw beauty of Nullarbor (Latin
for 'no trees'). Arrive Rawlinna
this evening for short stop to
gaze at brilliant desert stars.
Overnight on the train.
Day 5: Perth
Arrive Perth after traveling
through the Avon Valley. Enjoy
breakfast and lunch on board
before disembarking.
Day 6: Perth to Darwin
Today fly Perth-Darwin.* Overnight Darwin.
Day 7: Darwin to Kakadu
National Park
Depart Darwin, traveling along
Arnhem Highway through vast
wetlands and river systems to
12,427-square-miles of rocky
escarpment and flood plains
surging with life called Kakadu
National Park. Check in to Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel.
Note: Order of touring may
change during rainy season.

Great Southern Rail

Brooks Stover

Day 8: Kakadu-Darwin
Join driver/guide to explore
Ubirr World Heritage Area,
with extensive Kakadu bird life,
Aboriginal art, rugged escarpments, elusive rock wallaby.
Hike past ancient Aboriginal
rock art galleries to view area
wetlands. Then enjoy cruise East
Alligator River in one of Australia's richest biological regions.
Late in the day, head back to
Darwin.
Day 9: The Ghan
Board Ghan; enjoy lunch in classically styled Queen Adelaide
restaurant. Arrive Katherine and
take leisurely cruise on Katherine River. Or learn about traditional owners of this area, the
Jawoyn people, with customdesigned cultural experience.
Optional scenic helicopter flight
with magnificent views over
Kakadu and Nitmiluk National

Brooks Stover

Parks (own expense). Dinner in
Queen Adelaide diner.
Day 10: Ghan to Alice Springs
Awaken to incredible Red
Centre as you enjoy breakfast

98
98 || FOR
Visit our
DATES,
website
PRICES:
for dates,
WWW.IRTSOCIETY.COM
prices, more tours * www.irtsociety.com
* (800) 478-4881
* (800) 478-4881,
* TOURDESK@IRTSOCIETY.COM
u.s. & canada; (502) 897-1725, elsewhere * tourdesk@irtsociety.com

https://www.irtsociety.com/journey/australia-rail-extravaganza-2/

The IRT Society's Best-Loved Railway Journeys 2018

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