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Australia’s most iconic train journey is changing in 2027

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
The Ghan is extending its long-loved northbound journey with a spectacular new stop.

Some pairings feel ordained: Tim Tams and cold milk, road trips and AC/DC, footy and beer. Now, Journey Beyond Rail is uniting two travel icons in a heaven-sent match. From 2027, The Ghan’s storied northbound itinerary will be extended to three nights and include a full day at South Australia’s Ikara-Flinders Ranges – the only Aussie destination to make Lonely Planet’s Top Places Hotlist 2026.  

It’s a meet-cute 600 million years in the making.   

A legend on rails

the ghan train
The Ghan’s first journey was in 1929. (Image: Journey Beyond Rail)

For the uninitiated, The Ghan is perhaps Australia’s most iconic rail journey and has been ranked among the world’s best. Its history stretches back to 1929, when the original Afghan Express was named for the cameleers who helped chart routes through the Red Centre long before steel tracks arrived. 

Over the decades, The Ghan has evolved from a rattling lifeline to a rolling hotel, gliding north from Adelaide through the outback spine of the continent all the way up to Darwin. It’s the kind of journey that turns train sceptics into train evangelists, usually when they’re carving through glowing desert at sunrise with a coffee in hand. 

The new 2027 itinerary

the ghan flinders ranges
The Ghan will stop for a day in the Ikara-Flinders Ranges. (Image: Journey Beyond Rail)

Journey Beyond Rail has revealed its 2027 season, and with it, a new itinerary from Adelaide to Darwin. What has long been a two-night northbound journey will stretch into a three-night, four-day experience, giving guests more time to tune into Australia’s Red Centre and bringing the classic journey in line with the popular Ghan Expedition southbound itinerary.  

“By extending the northbound journey from two to three nights, we’re allowing travellers to slow down, deepen their connection to Country, and discover Outback Australia in a way that is both immersive and unforgettable," says David Donald, Executive General Manager of Rail at Journey Beyond.

flinders rangers aerial
The Ikara-Flinders Ranges in South Australia is 600 million years old. (Image: Getty/Greg Brave)

Notably, the new itinerary will also make a full-day stop at the Ikara-Flinders Ranges. The ranges are the traditional lands of the Adnyamathanha people, whose stories and cultural connections trace back tens of thousands of years. It’s an extraordinary layer of meaning atop already extraordinary scenery. And then there’s the geology: the rocks are older than multicellular life, and Wilpena Pound alone looks like a natural amphitheatre you’d expect dinosaurs to wander into at any moment.

“The Flinders Ranges has been named one of Lonely Planet’s Top 25 destinations for 2026," Donald tells Australian Traveller. “Shaped over 600 million years, this ancient and rugged mountain landscape is defined by peaceful tree-lined gorges, dramatic escarpments, and a seasonal wealth of wildlife. Its vast sense of space makes Ikara–Flinders Ranges National Park a truly remarkable destination for those seeking nature, culture, and untouched beauty."

platinum australis suite the ghan
The Ghan’s Australis Suite is luxury in motion. (Image: Journey Beyond Rail)

Departing Adelaide, guests joining The Legendary Ghan 2027 start with a celebratory dinner in one of South Australia’s top wine regions. Then comes the journey’s new showstopper: a full day discovering the Flinders Ranges, where guests explore spectacular ranges and deep gorges with The Ghan’s Off Train Experience. 

“Guests will also step off the train for lunch in Quorn, a historic railway town nestled in the heart of the Flinders Ranges," adds Donald. “A paradise for history lovers, Quorn’s scenic landscapes have featured in iconic Australian films such as The Shiralee, Gallipoli, and The Water Diviner. The town is also home to the heritage-listed Pichi Richi Railway, where vintage locomotives evoke the golden age of rail travel."

From there, The Ghan resumes its legendary northerly sweep, pausing for an otherworldly sunrise in Marla; cultural adventures in Alice Springs; dramatic sandstone in Katherine; and finally rolling into the humid exhale of the Top End. 

(Image: Journey Beyond Rail)

Prices begin at AUD $3390 per person and include regionally inspired meals paired with fine wines and beverages. The journey also includes a series of off-train experiences, from cultural learning to wildlife encounters and active expeditions. 

“The Ghan holds a special place in the story of Australian travel, and guests have been asking for more time to experience its remarkable landscapes," explains Donald. The new itinerary answers that call, inviting guests to slow down, look out the window and let the wide, ancient spaces do their work. 

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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The details

Journey name: The Legendary Ghan 2027
Length: Three nights, four days
Where: Ventures through the Ikara-Flinders Ranges and Red Centre from Adelaide to Darwin
When: Departs Saturday (March to November) and Tuesday (April to October) from 2027
Prices: From $3390 per person
Website: Journey Beyond Rail

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Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
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Why you should visit these iconic Tassie destinations

    Lee Mylne Lee Mylne
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    Tasmania’s crisp clear air, misty mountains, lakes and ancient forests beckon as winter approaches.

    Travelling in the off season has many benefits, none more so in Tasmania, where it’s uncrowded and uncomplicated. Ease into winter with a getaway that spells relaxing with a glass of wine or local whisky, bathing under the stars, or gazing at reflections in pristine waters. Add fireside dining, wilderness walks, after-dark gallery visits and plenty of history and you’ve got a curated winter escape designed to make travelling in the quieter months of the year even more rewarding. NRMA Parks and Resorts’ Off Season Signature Packages across Tasmania (plus 10 per cent off for members) make all these things possible.

    Cosy up at Cradle Mountain

    two women walking aorund Cradle Mountain Hotel NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Immerse into the wilderness at Cradle Mountain Hotel.

    For an alpine wilderness experience like no other, chose Cradle Mountain Hotel for a winter getaway. You may even wake up to gently falling snow. Explore nearby Dove Lake, gaze at Cradle Mountain is and listen to the gush of waterfalls.

    As Cradle Mountain works its charm, slow down to enjoy the crisp alpine air away from the hustle of the city. There are no crowds here, just serenity and the chance to recalibrate.

    Cradle Mountain’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, a bottle of wine (Retreat rom bookings only) and off-season dessert with dinner. Then sip on mulled wine as you wander through the Wilderness Gallery admiring the work of Tasmanian artists.

    Finding the flavours of Freycinet

    aerial of Freycinet Lodge NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Stay at the only accommodation within beautiful Freycinet National Park.

    As the only accommodation within Freycinet National Park, among the many reasons for staying at Freycinet Lodge is its easy access to stunning Wineglass Bay, Mt Amos and Honeymoon Bay.

    By day it’s the place for communing with nature, taking hikes in some of Tasmania’s most beautiful locations. By night, savour the regional seasonal flavours of the east coast, sip mulled wine to keep out the chill and gaze up at the star-studded skies. This is slow coastal indulgence at its best.

    Freycinet Lodge’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, a hosted Flavours of the East Coast food and wine tasting experience and mulled wine under the stars, or beside the fire, after dinner.

    Escape to lakeside Pumphouse Point

    interior of pumphouse point NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Stay cosy while looking out onto Lake St Clair.

    Set on the edge of beautiful Lake St Clair in native bushland in the heart of Tasmania’s Central Highlands, Pumphouse Point has launched a new era for its boutique accommodation with the opening of two new luxury retreat rooms last October.

    Each of the trio of rooms are thoughtfully designed, with an indoor fireplace and deep-soak bathtub, both perfect for a winter escape. This retreat offers dining and an expanded collection of hosted experiences, including a guided tour to learn more about this historic place, chocolate tastings and whisky tasting from local artisans – with more to come later in the season.

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    Pumphouse Point’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, breakfast, larder lunch and dinner, a bottle of wine with dinner each night, and a chocolate or whisky tasting experience, as well as two $50 massage vouchers.

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    Explore UNESCO world heritage wilderness.

    As the gateway to UNESCO world heritage wilderness, picturesque Strahan Village is the ideal base for exploring Tassie’s west coast. With a wide range of accommodation choices, from cosy waterfront colonial-style cottages to hotel rooms with sweeping views over Macquarie Harbour, it’s the perfect place for slow travel.

    Join Gordon River Cruises to explore ancient wilderness and magical reflections on the Gordon River, wander through the village at your own pace or hire a bike to discover local secrets and attractions, including the iconic West Coast Wilderness Railway. Thrill-seekers can hire taboggans to hit the towering Henty Dunes.

    Strahan’s Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, a Gordon River cruise for two and mulled wine at Hamer’s Bistro.

    Delve into history in Port Arthur

    interior of glamping tent at Port Arthur Holiday Park NRMA Parks and Resorts
    Glamp under the stars at Port Arthur Holiday Park.

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    The Port Arthur Off Season Signature Package includes two or more nights’ accommodation, a Port Arthur Historic Site tour for two and 10 per cent discount for dining at local restaurant On The Bay during your stay.

    Start planning an unforgetable trip to Tasmania with NRMA Resorts at nrmaparksandresorts.com.au.