• Days 1–3Bamurru Plains
  • Days 3–4Darwin
  • Days 4–7Aboard The Ghan
  • Days 7–10Barossa Valley
North to South: Australia by Luxury Rail
Price guide
$14,859 PP
  • Days 1–3Bamurru Plains
  • Days 3–4Darwin
  • Days 4–7Aboard The Ghan
  • Days 7–10Barossa Valley

North to South: Luxury Australia by Rail

Duration10 days
Ideal time to visitMarch to October
Price guide
From
$14,859 PP

Your ten-day tour begins in a luxury bush camp in the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park. Travelling on to Darwin, you'll board The Ghan for four days and three nights through the vast, dusty desert of the Australian Outback. Unforgettable off-train excursions include visiting the magnificent Uluṟu, before ending your journey in the tranquil vineyards of the Barossa Valley.

Trip highlights

  • Explore the wetlands of the Bamurru Plains and spot crocodiles
  • Discover the Australian Outback in luxury onboard The Ghan
  • See an unforgettable bird's-eye view of Uluru on a chartered flight
  • Taste superb vintages from Australia's top wineries in the Barossa Valley
Sunset over the Outback
Airboating in Bamurru Plains
Elegant train cabin interior with sofa, table setting with wine, and window view.
Soaking up the views aboard The Ghan
barossa-valley-australia
The rolling vineyards of the Barossa Valley
Tasting Australia's finest red wines

Our bespoke trips include

We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Privately guided tours
  • Private transfers
  • Meticulously selected experiences
  • Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Black and white illustration of two guides pointing to a building in the distance

Itinerary in detail

Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.

Days 1–3

See the vast floodplains of the Northern Territory

From the luxury of Bamurru Plains bush camp in the Northern Territory’s Kakadu National Park you will set out with expert field guides to discover floodplains and savannah woodland. See hundreds of birds take flight from the lake as you fly by on an airboat, or slowly cruise down the Sampan River watching for silver flashes of fish breaking the surface. On guided walks and drives, search for free roaming horses, buffalo, dingos and wallabies or spend some time up in the tower hide spotting Australia’s native birds.

Days 4–7

Experience the Outback onboard The Ghan

Australia’s most legendary rail journey, The Ghan, travels 3,000 kilometres between Darwin and Adelaide and passes directly through the vast, dusty desert of the Australian Outback. Elegant cabins serve as a lounge area during the day and are converted into comfortable bedrooms come evening, with dining in the charming, old-world setting of the Queen Adelaide Restaurant Car.

Riding the rails

Day one

Day two

Day three

Day four

Aerial view of a river canyon with steep cliffs and boats, surrounded by greenery.

Katherine Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge

Your Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide begins with a welcome drink and time to settle into your private cabin. Enjoy a chef-prepared lunch before you arrive at Katherine, for your first off-train excursion to the magnificent and spiritual Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. This is a unique window that offers a glimpse into the real Australian Outback and the inner workings of life on a cattle station through the sharing of stories and experiences, demonstrations and live music performances.

Alice Springs

Wake up to a new view outside your window, in a world which feels a million miles from home. An Outback sunrise could be one of the most spectacular you’ll ever see, setting the tone for the day ahead. After breakfast you’ll arrive in Alice Springs for an off train excursion to visit the town’s landmarks and get up close to Australia’s incredible flora and fauna. This evening, you’ll dine to live music beneath a canopy of stars at an authentic Outback barbecue, before an astronomical talk.

Coober Pedy

This morning you’ll pull into the middle-of-nowhere stop at Manguri. Here, a friendly tour guide is ready to the sun-scorched opal mining capital of the world, Coober Pedy. Venture into the tunnels and caves of this underground town, visiting the otherworldly underground Serbian Orthodox church and take a glimpse of Umoona Opal Mine. Below the earth’s surface, you’ll enjoy a gourmet lunch in the most unique of locations before setting off to the stunning Outback moonscape that is the Breakaways.

South Australia

Looking out of your window this morning, you’ll notice a dramatic change in landscape as the rich ochre tones of the Outback make way for the beautiful green fields and pastoral lands of South Australia. After breakfast, you’ll have time to reflect on your incredible journey before The Ghan rolls into Adelaide.

Visit Uluru and Kata Tjuta (from Alice Springs)

You can leave the train to see the spectacular beauty and vastness of the Outback on a chartered flight to Uluṟu and the protected Kata Tjuṯa National Park from Alice Springs. You’ll enjoy a unique bird’s-eye view of World Heritage-listed Uluṟu, one of Australia’s most iconic symbols and best-known natural landmarks. After your flight, enjoy a guided walk to the Mutitjula Waterhole, an important campsite for Aṉangu, the Aboriginal landowners of Uluru. Hear cultural stories of the Aboriginal people before enjoying a picnic lunch and exploring the base of Uluṟu by vehicle.

Days 5–7

The Barossa Valley wine region

The Barossa Valley in South Australia is an internationally renowned wine region, known for its perfect climate of warm summers and cool winters, creating ideal conditions for grape growing. Spend your time enjoying private wine tastings and tours at Australia’s most celebrated wineries, sampling local produce from artisanal cheese farmers, organic gardens and fruit orchards, and soaking up lush green valley views.

Make it mine

Barossa Valley

McLaren Vale

Barossa Valley Vineyard Sunset

The ultimate day tour of the Barossa Valley

Set off north of Adelaide on this exclusive tour into the beautiful Barossa Valley. Throughout the day you will enjoy private tastings, vineyard tours and masterclasses at selected wine farms, a lunch and matched wines, and a VIP experience at Henschke Wines, a 150-year-old winery, which produces some superb vintages.

A food and wine tour south of Adelaide

The McLaren Vale wine region is on the beautiful  Fleurieu Peninsula, bounded by the sea on one side and hills to the south. The region is home to over 70 different wineries from some of South Australia’s internationally renown producers, such as Wirra Wirra and d’Arenberg, as well as many boutique wineries such as Primo Estate, Olivers Taranga and Kay Brothers. Your expert guide will help you explore McLaren Vale’s highlights.

Why book with Jacada

Personalised design illustration image

We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.

Authentic experiences illustration image

Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.

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We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.

Ariel view of waves breaking on a forested shoreline