The Ghan

The Ghan takes its name from the Afghan cameleers who moved goods through central Australia before the railway, and the original line reached Alice Springs in 1929. Extending it to Darwin was proposed for over a century and only completed in 2004, giving a continuous rail crossing of the continent from south to north: 2,979 kilometres over about fifty-four hours, through the Flinders Ranges, the red centre, the Katherine region and into the tropics. Fares are all-inclusive, with cabins, meals and off-train excursions at Alice Springs, Katherine and Coober Pedy depending on the direction and season. The journey is the product rather than the transport, and it is priced accordingly.

What you actually see

• The continental crossing - desert, red centre and tropics in one journey.
• The off-train excursions - stops at Alice Springs, Katherine and Coober Pedy.
• The cabins and dining - all-inclusive service in restored and modern carriages.
• The Ghan history - the Afghan cameleers and the line's century-long completion.

When to go

April to September, when the centre and the Top End are both comfortable; summer is very hot in the middle sections. Services run weekly or twice weekly depending on season, and fares vary sharply. Book months ahead for peak dates.

Honest expectations

This is an expensive holiday rather than transport, and flying is a fraction of the cost. Much of the route is flat scrub with long stretches of little visual variety. Cabins are compact, and excursions are scheduled and group-based.

Nearby

Adelaide and Darwin are the terminals; Alice Springs and Katherine are the main stops.