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Journey Beyond Rail · Luxury lodge stay plus rail journey

Adelaide Hills Luxury Stay 2027 (The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin)

Luxury lodge stay in Adelaide Hills, then The Ghan train to Darwin

Illustration of Adelaide Hills Luxury Stay 2027 (The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin)

This six-day journey with Journey Beyond Rail opens with two nights at Sequoia Lodge, an intimate luxury retreat in the Adelaide Hills at Mount Lofty, where you dine at Hardy's Verandah Restaurant on a degustation menu paired with local wines and enjoy curated experiences such as a guided Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walk or artisan producer visits. You then transfer to The Ghan at Adelaide Parklands Terminal for a three-night luxury train journey southbound through Australia's interior to Darwin. Along the way, you spend a full day exploring the Flinders Ranges near Port Augusta, see sunrise at remote Marla, and choose from multiple off-train activities in Alice Springs (off-road e-bike adventure, gallery tours, or scenic sites) and Katherine (Nitmiluk Gorge cruise, outback exploration, or cave tours). All meals, beverages and off-train experiences aboard the train are included. This package suits couples and food-and-wine lovers seeking a luxury blend of lodge comfort and rail travel through Australia's Red Centre, with optional helicopter flight upgrades available in both Alice Springs and Katherine.

What to know before you look closer

  • Sequoia Lodge is adults only (18 and over); families with younger children will spend nights 3-5 on the train but cannot stay at the starting lodge
  • The single supplement is AUD 8,790 to 9,490 (March and November to May-August), which is significantly higher than half the Gold Twin rate
  • Optional helicopter flights in Alice Springs and Katherine are additional paid upgrades not included in the base price

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: 2 nights Sequoia Lodge – Mount Lofty

    Arrive Adelaide Hills

    Transfer to Sequoia Lodge at Mount Lofty, an intimate luxury lodge in the Adelaide Hills. Private open-plan suite overlooking the Piccadilly Valley. Sunset welcome event with local wine, then a degustation dinner at the 3-chef hat Hardy's Verandah Restaurant.

  2. Day 2

    Adelaide Hills

    Curated onsite experiences at Sequoia including dreamtime stories, artisan producer visits, or a guided Mount Lofty Botanic Garden tour. Sequoia Lodge only accommodates guests aged 18 and over.

  3. Day 3railovernight: 3 nights The Ghan

    Board The Ghan in Adelaide

    Transfer to Adelaide Parklands Terminal and board The Ghan. By early evening, disembark at Long Plains for a special dinner experience in a celebrated South Australian wine region before returning to the train.

  4. Day 4railovernight: 3 nights The Ghan

    The Ghan, Flinders Ranges

    Arrival into Port Augusta, South Australia's gateway to the outback, then a full day Off Train Experience exploring the Flinders Ranges: rugged ranges, dramatic gorges, red rock outcrops and native wildlife.

  5. Day 5railovernight: 3 nights The Ghan

    The Ghan, Alice Springs

    Sunrise at Marla, a remote outpost near the Northern Territory border and gateway to the Oodnadatta Track. Choice of Off Train Experiences in Alice Springs: off-road e-bike adventure, A Town Called Alice tour, Standley Chasm, Desert Park, or Simpsons Gap, with an optional scenic helicopter flight upgrade.

  6. Day 6

    The Ghan, Katherine and Darwin

    A cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge with cultural commentary on the Jawoyn people, the Katherine Outback Experience, or the Cutta Cutta Caves, with an optional helicopter flight upgrade. Reboard and continue to Darwin, where the journey concludes.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Arrive at Sequoia Lodge overlooking Piccadilly Valley for a sunset welcome event with local wine and a degustation dinner at Hardy's Verandah Restaurant
  • Day 4Full-day off-train exploration of the Flinders Ranges, with rugged ranges, dramatic gorges, and red rock outcrops near Port Augusta
  • Day 5Sunrise at Marla on the Northern Territory border, followed by a choice of off-road e-bike, gallery tour, or scenic sites in Alice Springs, with an optional helicopter flight
  • Day 6Cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge with cultural commentary on the Jawoyn people, or explore Katherine Outback or Cutta Cutta Caves before arriving in Darwin

Included

  • Transfer to Sequoia Lodge, Mt Lofty from Adelaide Airport or Adelaide CBD
  • Transfer from Sequoia Lodge to Adelaide Parklands Rail Terminal
  • All meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences aboard The Ghan (Adelaide to Darwin)
  • Transfer from Darwin Rail Terminal to hotel
  • 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners

Questions travellers ask

Is all accommodation included?
Yes. Two nights at Sequoia Lodge in Mount Lofty and three nights aboard The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin, are included. Transfers from Adelaide Airport or CBD to the lodge and from Darwin Rail Terminal to a hotel are also included.
Are meals included?
Yes. You receive five breakfasts, three lunches and four dinners. At Sequoia, breakfast is a la carte daily. On The Ghan, all meals and beverages are included, plus dinner in a South Australian wine region on Day 3.
What off-train experiences are available?
At Sequoia Lodge you may join a Mount Lofty Botanic Garden walk or visit artisan producers. On The Ghan, Journey Beyond includes a full day exploring the Flinders Ranges, sunrise at Marla, and choices in Alice Springs (off-road e-bike, A Town Called Alice tour, Standley Chasm, Desert Park or Simpsons Gap) and Katherine (Nitmiluk Gorge cruise, Katherine Outback Experience or Cutta Cutta Caves). Helicopter flights are optional upgrades.
Which train class is included?
The base price (from AUD 6,290) is Gold Twin Advance Purchase. Gold Premium Twin and Platinum cabins are available at higher prices.
When does this trip run?
Departures run in March, May, June, July, August and November, with fares ranging from AUD 6,290 (March & November) to AUD 7,290 (May-August).
Is the journey escorted?
Journey Beyond Rail operates the trip. Your lodge transfer and all off-train excursions on The Ghan are included; specific escort arrangements are best confirmed directly with the operator.

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