Through the Australian Outback: A Ride on the Ghan

The Ghan is one of Australia’s two famous cross-continental trains, offering the chance to experience the wild beauty of the Outback.

A ride on the Ghan

Australia has two famous trains that traverse the entire country — or rather, the entire continent, given its size!

The Indian Pacific connects Perth with Sydney from west to east, while the Ghan runs from Adelaide to Darwin from south to north.

Although the Indian Pacific is arguably Australia’s most popular and well-known train, the Ghan is by no means the lesser of the two, offering the same level of comfort and equally stunning scenery along the journey.

Depending on the departure, the Ghan takes between two and three nights to complete its journey between Adelaide and Darwin.

Travel classes on the Ghan

There are two categories of sleepers on board the Ghan: Gold Service, similar to first class, and Platinum Service, an even more luxurious option.

Gold Service offers Roomettes with wash basins for solo travellers, and a two-berth sleeper called a Twinette, featuring a bunk bed and an en-suite bathroom with a shower, allocated to passengers travelling together (or solo travellers willing to pay double the fare).

When travelling in a Roomette, shared toilets and showers are available at the end of each carriage.

Platinum Service offers larger en-suite compartments with either a double bed or twin beds.

The train once featured Red Service sleepers and seats, which were more akin to a second-class product, but these were discontinued around a decade ago.

This means that the Ghan is essentially a cruise or luxury train service designed for tourists, rather than an everyday night train intended for locals living along the route.

Dining car

Depending on your travel class, you either visit the Gold Service restaurant and lounge car, or the Platinum Service and lounge car on the Ghan.

Three meals a day, as well as drinks, are included in the fare for both Gold and Platinum Service on the Ghan.

In Gold Service, this includes complimentary tea and coffee, soft drinks, as well as standard Australian beer, wine, and even spirits, ensuring you stay well-hydrated even while traversing the arid landscapes of the Australian Outback.

In Platinum Service, premium drinks and room service are also complimentary, while meals feature more courses and are of higher quality than those in Gold.

How is the journey like on the Ghan

Of course, the Ghan is best known for the remote landscapes of the Outback — miles and miles of unspoilt territory with no sign of civilisation.

Its most famous stop is Alice Springs, located roughly halfway between Adelaide and Darwin, and not far from the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock).

However, the Outback is not just arid deserts and typical red-soil landscapes, as it also includes bushlands, and towards the Northern Territory, more tropical landscapes and forests.

It was certainly fascinating to spot huge termite mounds from the train window, and the sight of extremely long freight trains passing on the opposite track was also quite something to behold.

From a European perspective, the Ghan is quite a long train, as it took me seven minutes to walk its entire length (and we were seven carriages short compared to the usual runs).

Overall, I really enjoyed my journey on the Ghan, as also the food on board, as well as the service, were excellent.

Conclusion

The Ghan is a luxurious train with excellent food and service, offering one of Australia’s best rail journeys.

Linking Adelaide in the south with Darwin in the north, The Ghan traverses the wild beauty of the Australian Outback, stopping en route at places such as Alice Springs, where you can visit Uluru (Ayers Rock).

If you love rail travel and plan to visit Australia, then makes sure you book yourself a trip on the Ghan!