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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 hunting down Sydney's cosiest cafes.
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7 Lake Macquarie secrets the locals don’t want you to know

Credit: Beau Pilgrim

    Rachael Thompson Rachael Thompson
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    An untapped side to this popular holiday spot is hiding in plain sight.

    Laidback Lake Macquarie draws in holidaygoers and day trippers with its casual coastal allure and raw beauty. But even though it’s just 90 minutes from Sydney, most visitors have only scratched the surface of what this region has to offer.

    Foodie hotspots, quaint towns, tranquil waterways and compelling art are all waiting to be discovered. You just need to know where to find them.

    1. Most visitors don’t make it to the western side

    Explore beyond the western side. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

    While there’s no harm in walking the well-worn path in this idyllic pocket of the world, the area west of Lake Macquarie is defined by stretches of ancient rainforests and quaint towns with a more local feel. Toronto is the largest town on this side and features a golf course and sailing clubs, while peninsula-based Wangi Wangi is fantastic for bushwalking and swimming.

    2. There’s a booming arts scene

    Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG
    Discover the Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG.

    Lake Macquarie is a must-visit destination for creatives. Discover the Museum of Art and Culture, YAPANG; this modern gallery is set on a five-hectare sculpture park and showcases a free rotating program of exhibitions and events, with a strong focus on contemporary Aboriginal art. In Wangi Wangi, explore the Wangi Owl Trail, which includes Dobell House, the preserved home of prolific artist Sir William Dobell. And enjoy live music every Saturday evening at the recently renovated Toronto Hotel.

    3. It’s a nature lover’s paradise

    three people swimming in lake macquarie
    In and out of the water, find a natural paradise. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

    Lake Macquarie is a playground for nature lovers. It’s home to Australia’s largest saltwater lake, a 110-square-kilometre haven for swimming, fishing, boating and sunset views. Another oasis is the Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area, a 761-hectare protected reserve with wildflowers, Second World War heritage sites and spectacular views to Pulbah Island. The upgraded Toronto baths, complete with jetty decking and netting, make for a sheltered spot for a refreshing dip, while the Awaba Mountain Bike Park gives adrenaline junkies their fix.

    4. The dining scene is unbeatable

    8 at Trinity lake macquarie
    Treat yourself to 8 at Trinity.

    Gourmands are well looked after in Lake Macquarie. At Emerson’s on the Lake in Toronto, the modern Australian fine dining menu spoils seafood lovers with the freshest ocean produce and stunning lake views. Sitting on Trinity Point’s waterfront, 8 at Trinity is another standout offering, serving Mediterranean fare in an open-air setting. For a more relaxed affair, the microbrewery trail lets craft beer enthusiasts sip on inventive brews from The Yard, Lake Mac Brewing and Bread & Brewery.

    5. There are hidden coves and waterways

    kayakers on lake macquarie local secrets
    Get out onto the lake. (Credit: Beau Pilgrim)

    There’s no better way to experience Lake Macquarie than directly on its waters, and in doing so you’ll discover a world of hidden coves and secluded waterways. Jump in a kayak for a tour with the friendly team at School of Yak and paddle to Cockle Creek, Awaba Bay, Green Point and Fennel Bay, discovering underwater life along the way. Or go all in and stay the night on one of Lake Macquarie Houseboats’ spacious vessels or hire a BBQ pontoon boat for the day from Lake Macquarie Boat Hire to enjoy a feast in the sunshine while admiring the marine life and picturesque waterscape.

    6. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise

    ll blue wren sitting on a tree branch
    Keep an eye out for local birdlife. (Credit: Walter Coppola)

    Twitchers are in for a real treat as hundreds of fascinating bird species such as Australian pelicans, black swans, white-bellied sea-eagles and superb fairy-wrens call this area home. Take a self-guided tour around top spots including Bird Cage Point and Lake Macquarie State Conservation Area (near Morisset) or be guided in a clear-bottom kayak through the waterways with Lake Macquarie Kayak Adventures, observing feathered friends as you go.

    7. The lake has islands

    sail lake macquarie
    Charter a boat to see Lake Macquarie’s islands.

    Hop on a private boat, kayak or charter around the lake to discover the plethora of small islands peppered around Lake Macquarie. The largest is Pulbah Island, a 69-hectare nature reserve home to goannas and sugar gliders with secluded beaches. Sandy islands such as Spectacle Island and Pelican Island have a tropical lagoon-like look to them as they sit in the tidal path of Swansea Channel, which filters the sand and creates a pristine environment. Stop by for a dip and a picnic.

    Start living like the locals at visitlakemac.com.au.

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