Journey Beyond: Red Centre Spectacular

Wake to the wide-open skies of the outback as The Ghan draws closer to the iconic town of Alice Springs. After a hearty breakfast on board, your eight-day Red Centre Explorer tour commences on arrival at the Alice Springs Rail Terminal. Here, you will be met by the passionate Outback Spirit crew, who will be guiding you as you take in all the Red Centre has to offer over the next eight days. It all starts with a town tour of Alice Springs, including a light lunch at a local eatery.  Then, you’ll check-in at your Alice Springs hotel, where we’ll stay for the first two nights. In the evening, the group will meet for welcome drinks and a short briefing on what you can expect during your tour. Tonight’s dinner is at the hotel.

Following breakfast in your Alice Springs accommodation, venture out to the West MacDonnell Ranges, 'Tjoritja', with your Outback Spirit guides. Enjoy a guided walk of Simpsons Gap on the Larapinta Trail, known as ‘Rungutjirpa’ by the Arrernte people. Here in this peaceful outback location, you may spot resident wildlife and native flora. Following Simpsons Gap, visit Standley Chasm - Angkerle Atwatye – a cultural icon of Central Australia, 100% owned and operated by the Arrernte community. Before departing the West MacDonnell Ranges, enjoy some morning tea in this beautiful region. Afterwards, visit the Alice Springs Desert Park for a guided tour, leaving you with a better understanding of the desert region of Australia and how full of life it is. 
This evening, enjoy a delicious classic-style outdoor BBQ and show under the outback night sky. 

Today you will journey from Alice Springs, deep into the Red Centre, arriving in Kings Canyon. Enjoy a brief rest in Ellery Creek for a short walk and morning tea, then continue to Ormiston Gorge, located in the West MacDonnell Ranges. The Gorge is a geological wonder with a permanent natural pool and incredible landforms. After a lunch stop in Glen Helen, begin the final journey to the Kings Canyon and Watarrka National Park. While driving through the outback, take in the scenic Mereenie Loop 4WD track through the West MacDonnell Ranges and arrive at Kings Canyon Resort, where you'll spend the next two nights. 
This evening, enjoy dinner at Carmichael's, a relaxed restaurant situated in the Kings Canyon Resort. If you're lucky, you could spot a dingo wandering through the grounds. 

Beat the heat this morning with an early walk around Kings Canyon. Choose either a 6km rim walk with stunning views of Watarrka National Park or a less strenuous 2.6km walk along the canyon floor with the red cliffs on either side. Returning to Kings Canyon Resort for lunch and a chance to rest. There is the opportunity to take a 15-minute helicopter flight over Kings Canyon and the Watarrka National Park (own expense) in the afternoon. Enjoy an aerial perspective of the region on this helicopter flight. Spend the afternoon learning about Aboriginal culture with Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience and Tours. Your guide will teach the group about bush tucker and bush medicine used for many years for spiritual and physical healing. In the evening, enjoy sunset drinks and canapes at Light Towers, an immersive sound and light installation by acclaimed artist Bruce Munro. Afterwards, enjoy dinner at the Kings Canyon Bar & Grill.
PLEASE NOTE: Additional costs are applicable and weight limits apply to all scenic flights.

Farewell the rugged peaks and gorges of Kings Canyon and embark on an unforgettable adventure to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Enjoy an informative paper talk and lunch at Curtin Springs, a million-acre cattle station. In the early afternoon, arrive in the township of Yulara, located about 30 minutes from the 'red rock', Uluru. In the evening you'll attend the Wintjiri Wiru Sunset Dinner, a unique experience where storytelling is combined with choreographed drones, lasers and projections that illuminate the night sky. Dine on a gourmet dinner hamper and sip on cocktails infused with native botanicals while listening to the ancient Mala story, traditional Inma soundtrack and narration in the local Pitjantjatjara language.

Wake up this morning in Australia's Red Centre, and enjoy breakfast in your accommodation before travelling to Kata Tjuta to admire the rock formations on a guided walk into Walpa Gorge. Afterwards, embark on a guided tour around the base of Uluru and learn about the Anangu Culture. Stop into the Cultural Centre for a chance to the Art Galleries and learn more about the traditional owners of Uluru, Anangu. In the afternoon, visit Maruku Arts for a dot painting workshop. Guided by a local Anangu artist, you will learn about the traditional art, symbols, tools and the opportunity to create something to take home. 
Departing the resort just before sunset, head to an exclusive dune-top location before sunset and be mesmerised by the turning colours of the sky as you stand at the Field of Lights during sunset. Enjoy drinks and canapes while wondering through 50,000 slender stems, crowned with radiant, frosted glass spheres, spread across the size of seven football fields. 
Afterwards, enjoy dinner back at your hotel. 

Wake up early and experience an unforgettable sunrise over Uluru before breakfast at the hotel. Later in the morning, depart for the Mala Walk to see ancient rock art before arriving at Kantju Gorge, a place of profound peacefulness surrounded by sheer vertical walls.
Afterwards, enjoy lunch at the hotel with the afternoon for yours to explore the township of Yulara or relax by the hotel pool. You may wish to visit the Gallery of Central Australia or the Bush Tucker Experience. This evening, enjoy the Sounds of Silence dining experience under the stars. This unique experience begins with canapes and sparking wine overlooking the stunning Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. As the sun sets, listen to the didgeridoo and enjoy a premium bush tucker-inspired buffet. Settle in as the resident star talker decodes the night sky.

Soak in the final moments with a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, before making the journey by road to Alice Springs Rail Terminal, where you'll rejoin the Ghan Expedition.  In the evening, complete your Red Centre bucket-list adventure with a unique dining experience at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station. With white tablecloths under your fingertips, red earth at your feet and the Southern Cross constellation high in the sky this will be a night to remember.

This morning you will make a stop at Manguri before venturing into the opal mining town of Coober Pedy. More than half of the population of this opal mining town live underground to escape the summer heat. Your off-train activities today may include a tour of the dramatic landscape of the Breakaways Reserve, exploration of the Coober Pedy township, or a half day tour of the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum.
You can choose to upgrade your off-train experience today to a scenic flight over the Painted Hills & Lake Eyre. Please let your consultant know so that we can pre-book this for you to avoid missing out on this high demand activity.
Continue back onto the train, where a delicious dinner will be served this evening, as you journey south.

Step off The Ghan and explore the heart of the outback in Coober Pedy! Tailor your journey with these exciting off-train adventures:
Explore Coober Pedy: This full-day tour showcases the highlights of Coober Pedy, starting with a visit to the Serbian Orthodox Church, a subterranean place of worship. Carved from the earth, its ballroom-style design and stained glass windows make it a truly awe-inspiring structure. At the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, you'll explore the town’s history, see an underground ‘dugout’ home, and learn about the ancient Indigenous connection to the region. At Quest Mine, enjoy an underground lunch before donning a hard hat to try your luck finding opals. The tour concludes with a breathtaking view over the Breakaways, a vast plain of flat-topped mesas.
Discover the Majestic Breakaways:  Explore the stunning Breakaways Reserve, a natural wonder of colourful low hills that appear to have ‘broken away’ from the higher ground. Once part of an ancient inland sea, this striking landscape constantly evolves, offering a changing panorama of ochre, rust, and green. Your adventure begins at Quest Mine, where you’ll wear a hard hat and try mining while enjoying an underground lunch. This immersive experience provides a glimpse into the life of a miner. Next, visit the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, learning about opal’s cultural and historical significance through a guided tour of the underground dugout homes and tunnels.
Opal Experience: On this shorter tour, discover the beauty and history of Australia’s national gemstone at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, a top Coober Pedy attraction. Explore historic artefacts, underground caverns, hand-dug tunnels, and one of the original underground homes. At Quest Mine, don a hard hat and try your luck finding opals, followed by an underground lunch. Before leaving Coober Pedy, visit the Big Winch for spectacular views over the town. This iconic attraction, built in the 1970s, has played a key role in the town's tourism. 
You can submit your preferences for the off-train experiences you will join on each day. Please indicate these to your sales agent as soon as possible.

This morning, see a dramatic change in landscape as the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the green fields of South Australia. Enjoy a leisurely brunch while passing through the Flinders Ranges before arriving into Adelaide. Stepping off the train, carry more than memories of extraordinary landscapes. Take with you the stories shared, the connections made, and the sense of wonder that only a journey through the heart of Australia can bring. Arrive at the Adelaide Parklands Terminal located 3km from the city centre, it is a short taxi ride to the heart of the Festival State.