How much does it cost?

From A$6,140 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,404 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes, for the first 3 days: The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs and Katherine, in Platinum, Gold Premium or Gold class. The remaining days are 4WD touring with Outback Spirit.

Is this trip escorted or independent?

It is guided throughout: Outback Spirit leads the small-group 4WD touring of Litchfield and Kakadu, and Off Train Experiences aboard The Ghan are hosted.

What hotels are included?

The Hilton Garden Inn Darwin for 3 nights and the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru for 2 nights.

What is not included?

The off-road mountain bike adventure at Alice Springs and helicopter flight upgrades at Alice Springs and over Nitmiluk Gorge are optional extras at extra cost.

Journey Beyond Rail · Rail journey & small-group touring

Top End Explorer 2026

The Ghan to Darwin plus Outback Spirit touring of Litchfield and Kakadu

Journey Beyond Rail's Top End Explorer is an 8-day trip pairing The Ghan with guided 4WD touring of the Northern Territory's national parks. The first 3 days are spent aboard The Ghan from Adelaide, with an Off Train Experience choice at Alice Springs and a Nitmiluk Gorge cruise at Katherine before the train reaches Darwin. From there, Outback Spirit leads small-group touring into Litchfield National Park, stopping at Florence Falls and Wangi Falls, then on to Kakadu National Park for a scenic flight, an indigenous cruise on the East Alligator River, and visits to the Ubirr and Burrungkuy rock art sites. A Mary River wildlife cruise returns travellers to Darwin, with a free day and a Darwin Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise before the trip ends. This suits travellers who want a shorter taste of The Ghan combined with guided exploration of the Top End's waterfalls, wetlands and Aboriginal rock art.

What to know before you look closer

Only 3 of the 8 days involve travel aboard The Ghan; the remaining days are land touring with Outback Spirit or free time in Darwin.
Included meals are 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners; not every lunch and dinner across the 8 days is covered, including on the free day in Darwin.
Optional extras such as the off-road mountain bike adventure at Alice Springs and helicopter flight upgrades at Alice Springs and over Nitmiluk Gorge all cost extra.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: The Ghan
Board The Ghan in Adelaide
Board The Ghan in Adelaide as it heads for the Flinders Ranges and beyond; lunch and dinner served on board.
Day 2railovernight: The Ghan
The Ghan, Alice Springs
Wake at Marla, then choose an Off Train Experience at Alice Springs: mountain biking, the Alice Explorer tour, Standley Chasm, Desert Park wildlife, Simpsons Gap, or an optional helicopter flight.
Day 3railovernight: Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
The Ghan, Katherine and Darwin
Cruise Nitmiluk Gorge (or the Katherine Outback Experience, or an optional helicopter flight), then continue by train to Darwin and transfer to overnight accommodation.
Day 4overnight: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
Darwin to Litchfield and Kakadu National Parks
Depart Darwin for Litchfield National Park, visiting Florence Falls and Wangi Falls, then continue to Kakadu National Park.
Day 5overnight: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel
Kakadu National Park
Scenic flight over Kakadu, indigenous cruise on the East Alligator River, and visits to the Ubirr and Burrungkuy (Nourlangie) rock art sites.
Day 6overnight: Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
Kakadu National Park to Darwin
Travel through Mary River National Park with a wildlife cruise, then on to Darwin, ending the three-day Simply Kakadu tour.
Day 7overnight: Hilton Garden Inn Darwin
Darwin Harbour Dinner Cruise
Free day in Darwin; evening Darwin Harbour Sunset Cruise with a Territory-style seafood feast.
Day 8
Farewell
Check out after breakfast and farewell Darwin.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1The Ghan departs Adelaide, heading for the Flinders Ranges and beyond, with lunch and dinner served on board.
Day 3A cruise through Nitmiluk Gorge at Katherine precedes continuing by train to Darwin.
Day 4Florence Falls and Wangi Falls are visited in Litchfield National Park on the way to Kakadu.
Day 5A scenic flight over Kakadu and an indigenous cruise on the East Alligator River lead into a visit to the Ubirr rock art site.
Day 7A Darwin Harbour Sunset Cruise includes a Territory-style seafood feast.

Included

All meals, beverages and Off Train Experiences aboard The Ghan
2 nights small-group Kakadu/Litchfield touring with Outback Spirit including accommodation, guided touring and meals with beverages
3 nights' accommodation in Darwin, including breakfast
Darwin Harbour Sunset Dinner Cruise
7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 5 dinners

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From A$6,140 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $4,404 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes, for the first 3 days: The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin via Alice Springs and Katherine, in Platinum, Gold Premium or Gold class. The remaining days are 4WD touring with Outback Spirit.
Is this trip escorted or independent?: It is guided throughout: Outback Spirit leads the small-group 4WD touring of Litchfield and Kakadu, and Off Train Experiences aboard The Ghan are hosted.
What hotels are included?: The Hilton Garden Inn Darwin for 3 nights and the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel in Jabiru for 2 nights.
What is not included?: The off-road mountain bike adventure at Alice Springs and helicopter flight upgrades at Alice Springs and over Nitmiluk Gorge are optional extras at extra cost.