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Journey Beyond Rail · Rail journey with touring

Barossa & Kangaroo Island Escape 2027

The Ghan Expedition through Australia's Red Centre to wine and wildlife

Illustration of Barossa & Kangaroo Island Escape 2027

Journey Beyond Rail's Barossa and Kangaroo Island Escape is a 10-day journey from Darwin through the Australian outback to South Australia's wine and wildlife regions. The trip begins aboard The Ghan Expedition, one of Australia's most renowned rail journeys, which carries you for three nights from Darwin through Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy to Adelaide. Along the way, you enjoy chef-prepared meals and a choice of guided Off Train Experiences at each major stop. In Adelaide, you spend four nights at the Pullman Adelaide, including a sophisticated Food and Wine Experience at the National Wine Centre with sommelier-selected wines and a four-course lunch. From Adelaide, you fly to Kangaroo Island for two nights of wildlife touring, walking through eucalyptus forest to spot koalas and wallabies, and visiting sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park. The journey concludes with a day of boutique winery touring in the historic Barossa Valley, including tastings at three vineyards and lunch paired with local wine. This package suits repeat rail travellers, food-and-wine enthusiasts, and couples seeking guided comfort with personalized attention throughout.

What to know before you look closer

  • The single supplement (AUD 8,590) is nearly as much as the base twin price (AUD 7,890), so solo travellers will pay significantly more.
  • Days 6 and 7 on Kangaroo Island may be interchanged according to operational needs; confirm the final order when booking.
  • The itinerary includes a flight from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island and return; this breaks the rail focus of the earlier portion of the trip.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: The Ghan Expedition (3 nights)

    Board The Ghan Expedition in Darwin

    Celebrate the start of the journey with a welcome drink and light refreshments and a photo with The Ghan's red locomotive. Settle in and enjoy a chef-prepared lunch ahead of the Off Train Experience in Katherine, with choices including a Nitmiluk Gorge cruise, the Katherine Outback Experience, or the Cutta Cutta Caves.

  2. Day 2rail

    The Ghan Expedition, Alice Springs

    Explore Alice Springs with a choice of Off Train Experiences: an off-road e-bike adventure, Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap, or the Alice Springs Desert Park. In the evening, dine beneath the stars at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

  3. Day 3

    The Ghan Expedition, Coober Pedy

    A morning stop at Manguri for sunrise before a day exploring the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, including a gourmet lunch enjoyed underground.

  4. Day 4overnight: Pullman Adelaide (2 nights)

    The Ghan Expedition, Adelaide

    Pass through the Flinders Ranges as the landscape turns from outback ochre to green fields, before transferring to accommodation in Adelaide.

  5. Day 5

    National Wine Centre of Australia

    A "Feed Me" style lunch dining experience at the National Wine Centre of Australia, showcasing South Australia's regional produce with wines hand-selected by the Centre's Sommeliers, followed by a hosted tour.

  6. Day 6overnight: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge (2 nights)

    Adelaide to Kangaroo Island

    Fly to Kangaroo Island for the 'Island Life' tour: a walk through bush and Eucalyptus trees spotting koalas and wallabies, a bush-camp lunch featuring King George whiting, and a private tour among Australian sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park. Note: Day 6 and 7 may be interchanged.

  7. Day 7

    Kangaroo Island

    Explore regenerating landscapes and fire ecology before Flinders Chase National Park, Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, with an elegant picnic or clifftop lunch along the way.

  8. Day 8overnight: Pullman Adelaide (2 nights)

    Kangaroo Island to Adelaide

    Transfer to the airport for the return flight to Adelaide and back to city accommodation, with the evening free to explore Adelaide's dining and entertainment precincts.

  9. Day 9

    Barossa Valley

    A day of boutique wine and food touring to the historic Barossa Valley, including one of the oldest vineyards in the world (Shiraz vines planted in 1843), with tastings at three wineries and a lunch with wine. Tours run in small groups of up to 8.

  10. Day 10

    Farewell

    Check out of accommodation after breakfast, bringing the epicurean adventure to an end.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Welcome aboard The Ghan Expedition in Darwin with a photo at the red locomotive, then a chef-prepared lunch and choice of Off Train Experiences in Katherine, including a cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge.
  • Day 2Day in Alice Springs with choices such as an off-road e-bike adventure or Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap, followed by dinner beneath the stars at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station.
  • Day 3Stop at Manguri for sunrise, then explore Coober Pedy, the underground opal mining town, with a gourmet lunch enjoyed underground.
  • Day 6Fly to Kangaroo Island for the Island Life tour: walk through eucalyptus forest spotting koalas and wallabies, bush-camp lunch with King George whiting, and a private tour among sea lions at Seal Bay Conservation Park.
  • Day 9Boutique wine and food tour in the historic Barossa Valley, including tastings at three wineries and a lunch with wine at one of the world's oldest vineyards, with vines planted in 1843.

Included

  • Transfer to Darwin Rail Terminal
  • Welcome experience with light refreshments, barista coffee and sparkling wine
  • 3 nights aboard The Ghan Expedition, Darwin to Adelaide, including all meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy
  • Transfer from Adelaide Parklands Terminal to hotel
  • 4 nights' accommodation in Adelaide, including breakfast daily
  • "Feed Me" Food & Wine Experience at the National Wine Centre of Australia, including a four-course lunch and hosted tour
  • Return flights from Adelaide to Kangaroo Island
  • Return hotel to airport transfers in Adelaide to meet the return flight
  • 2-night Kangaroo Island in Style tour, including flights to and from the Island, accommodation, most meals and personalised touring
  • Northern Barossa Valley Voyager tour including lunch
  • 9 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes three nights aboard The Ghan Expedition from Darwin to Adelaide with all meals, beverages, and Off Train Experiences in Katherine, Alice Springs, and Coober Pedy.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
Journey Beyond Rail manages the package, including all transfers, accommodations, and activities. Barossa Valley wine touring runs in small groups of up to 8. You are escorted and guided throughout.
What is included in the price?
The package includes three nights on The Ghan with meals, four nights at the Pullman Adelaide with breakfast, two nights on Kangaroo Island with most meals, return flights Adelaide to Kangaroo Island, the National Wine Centre Food and Wine Experience with lunch and tour, the Island Life tour, Flinders Chase National Park tour, and the Barossa Valley wine and food tour with lunch. Nine breakfasts, seven lunches, and five dinners are provided. From AUD 7,890.
When does the tour depart?
Journey Beyond Rail offers departures March 2027, April to October 2027, May to August 2027, and November 2027. Prices range from AUD 7,890 to AUD 9,290 depending on month and advance purchase.
How much walking is involved?
The tour includes bush walks on Kangaroo Island spotting wildlife, exploration of Flinders Chase National Park and Remarkable Rocks, and winery touring in the Barossa Valley. No high-altitude or strenuous hikes are mentioned.
What are the accommodation options?
Adelaide: Pullman Adelaide for four nights. Kangaroo Island: Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge for two nights. The Ghan Expedition: cabin accommodation for three nights.

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