How much does it cost?

From $12,745 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $12,745 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes. The 3-day Ghan Expedition Train journey from Darwin to Adelaide via Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy is included in the package price, along with overnights aboard the train.

Is this tour guided or independent?

It is a fully guided group tour. Firebird Tours provides a Tour Director throughout the wilderness portion of the journey and expert English-speaking guides at each location.

The Ghan Expedition Train, which runs from Darwin to Adelaide, stopping at Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy.

Where do we stay before boarding the train?

Days 1 to 12 include lodges across Arnhem Land: Walkabout Lodge (Nhulunbuy), Murwangi Safari Camp, Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge (Maningrida), Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris (Mount Borradaile), Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge (Garig Gunak Barlu National Park), and one night at Hilton Garden Inn Darwin before boarding the train.

What activities are included?

The itinerary includes Aboriginal rock art tours, Welcome to Country ceremony, boat cruises through wetlands and marine parks, 4WD safaris, guided fishing, art centre visits, and off-train experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy.

Firebird Tours · Group tour

Arnhem Land Adventure with The Ghan Expedition Train

Remote Arnhem Land wilderness and Aboriginal culture, then The Ghan train to Adelaide

Firebird Tours' 16-day Arnhem Land Adventure combines remote northern Australian wilderness exploration with a 3-day passage aboard The Ghan Expedition Train. The journey starts in Cairns and flies you to isolated lodges across East, West, and North Arnhem Land, where you will spend 12 days on guided safaris, boat cruises, and cultural excursions. You will attend a Welcome to Country ceremony with the Yolngu people, explore 40,000-year-old Aboriginal rock art galleries at Mount Borradaile, fish on the Liverpool and Tomkinson Rivers, and observe hundreds of thousands of waterbirds in the Arafura Swamp. On day 13, you board The Ghan in Darwin and travel overnight through the Red Centre, stopping for off-train experiences at Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy before arriving in Adelaide. A Tour Director and expert local guides lead the wilderness days; hotels, meals, transport, and train fare are included. The pace is fast and the activity level high, with daily excursions across remote terrain and wetlands. This tour suits repeat rail travellers, history enthusiasts, photographers, and those seeking authentic Indigenous and outback experiences.

Price history

Across 5 checks, this price has risen US$434 since 4 Jul, to US$12,745.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 2 of 5 points are a live read of the operator's page. Hollow points are values shown when the trip was first listed here and never confirmed with the operator.

What to know before you look closer

Pace is fast with daily excursions and frequent hotel changes; expect an active itinerary suited to travellers comfortable with long days of travel and outdoor activity
Solo supplement pricing is not stated; contact Firebird Tours to confirm single occupancy costs

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Walkabout Lodge, Nhulunbuy
Cairns to Nhulunbuy
Flight from Cairns to Nhulunbuy; on arrival, explore the frontier village and visit the Roy (Malpi) Marika Lookout over the Gove Peninsula and Gayngaru Wetlands.
Day 2overnight: Walkabout Lodge, Nhulunbuy
The Gove Peninsula Tour
'Welcome to Country' ceremony at Wirrwawuy Beach, visit to the BukuLarrnggay Mulka Centre and Yirrkala, lunch and a Bush Medicine and Women's Healing demonstration at Shady Beach.
Day 3overnight: Murwangi Safari Camp
Departure to Murwangi
Drive south-west along the Central Arnhem Road to the Goyder River and Arafura Swamp, arriving at the exclusive Murwangi safari camp on the floodplain.
Day 4overnight: Murwangi Safari Camp
Arafura Swamp Cruise & 4WD Murwangi Discovery Tour
Cruise on the Arafura Swamp lagoon, home to up to 300,000 waterbirds, followed by a 4WD adventure around the swamp edge with Indigenous guides.
Day 5overnight: Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge
Bula'bula Art Centre & Departure to Barramundi Lodge
Visit Bula'bula Art Centre in Ramingining, then cross the Blyth and Cadell Rivers to Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge on the Liverpool/Tomkinson floodplains.
Day 6overnight: Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge
Fishing Adventure & Cultural Tour
Guided barramundi fishing on the Liverpool and Tomkinson Rivers, then Maningrida Arts and Cultural Centre and the Djomi Museum.
Day 7overnight: Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris, Mount Borradaile
Departure to West Arnhem
Drive through the stone country of west Arnhem Land, crossing the Goomadeer and Liverpool Rivers to Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris at Mount Borradaile.
Day 8overnight: Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris
Mount Borradaile Rock Art Tour
Open-back 4WD exploration of Mount Borradaile's rock art galleries, the eroded sandstone 'catacombs', and Cooper Creek wetlands.
Day 9overnight: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge
Departure to Garig Gunak Barlu National Park
Travel to Port Essington and take a boat transfer across to Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge on the Cobourg Peninsula.
Day 10overnight: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge
Port Essington & Historic Victoria Settlement
Boat exploration of Port Essington aboard the MV Arafura, visiting the ruins of the historic Victoria Settlement.
Day 11overnight: Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge
Trepang Bay Marine & 4WD Adventure
Half-day fishing in the Cobourg Marine Park, then a 4WD safari through Garig Gunak Barlu National Park to Trepang Creek and Gunners Quoin.
Day 12overnight: Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
Departure to Darwin
Scenic flight across Van Diemen Gulf to Darwin; check in and take a Charles Darwin sunset dinner cruise.
Day 13railovernight: Aboard The Ghan Expedition Train
Board The Ghan Expedition & Off Train Experience in Katherine
Transfer to the Darwin rail terminal to board The Ghan; Off Train Experience in Katherine (Nitmiluk Gorge cruise, Katherine Outback Experience or Cutta Cutta Caves).
Day 14railovernight: Aboard The Ghan Expedition Train
Alice Springs Off Train Experience
Off Train Experience in Alice Springs (Telegraph Station, Desert Park or Standley Chasm), dinner under the stars at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
Day 15railovernight: Aboard The Ghan Expedition Train
Coober Pedy Off Train Experience
Stop at Manguri for an Off Train Experience in Coober Pedy (the Breakaways, town tour, or Opal Experience) and an underground lunch.
Day 16rail
Adelaide Arrival
Pass through the Flinders Ranges for a leisurely brunch before arriving in Adelaide, completing the rail journey.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2Welcome to Country ceremony at Wirrwawuy Beach with the Yolngu people and visit to the BukuLarrnggay Mulka Centre
Day 4Arafura Swamp cruise with Indigenous guides observing up to 300,000 waterbirds
Day 8Open-back 4WD exploration of Mount Borradaile's 40,000-year-old rock art galleries and eroded sandstone formations
Day 13Board The Ghan Expedition Train in Darwin and enjoy an off-train Nitmiluk Gorge cruise or Cutta Cutta Caves visit at Katherine
Day 14Dinner under the stars at Alice Springs Telegraph Station after exploring the Desert Park or Telegraph Station

Included

Exceptional downtown hotel accommodations
Guided sightseeing tours with expert English-speaking guides
Delicious breakfasts at your hotels
In-depth exploration of best landmarks
Tickets and intercity transportation as per itinerary
Professional meeting services at the airport
Dedicated support team before and during your trip

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From $12,745 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $12,745 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes. The 3-day Ghan Expedition Train journey from Darwin to Adelaide via Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy is included in the package price, along with overnights aboard the train.
Is this tour guided or independent?: It is a fully guided group tour. Firebird Tours provides a Tour Director throughout the wilderness portion of the journey and expert English-speaking guides at each location.
Which train is used?: The Ghan Expedition Train, which runs from Darwin to Adelaide, stopping at Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy.
Where do we stay before boarding the train?: Days 1 to 12 include lodges across Arnhem Land: Walkabout Lodge (Nhulunbuy), Murwangi Safari Camp, Arnhem Land Barramundi Lodge (Maningrida), Davidson's Arnhemland Safaris (Mount Borradaile), Seven Spirit Bay Wilderness Lodge (Garig Gunak Barlu National Park), and one night at Hilton Garden Inn Darwin before boarding the train.
What activities are included?: The itinerary includes Aboriginal rock art tours, Welcome to Country ceremony, boat cruises through wetlands and marine parks, 4WD safaris, guided fishing, art centre visits, and off-train experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy.