my journey
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horizons for the occasional geographic landmark but it is the changing colour that’s most notable. Reds and greens give way to silvers and blues or the charred blacks left by a relatively recent bush fi re. Sandy whites are scarred with the occasional tyre tracks of a lone bushman and the bleached white skeleton of a lost cow tells the tale of the harsh climate outside. Passengers taking this route have two nights onboard and can chose from Platinum, Gold and Red Class tickets. Platinum cabins are pretty much like a good quality hotel room on the rails with full-size double beds and private seating area in addition to the ensuite; while Red is the value option with accommodation in a fully-reclining business-class style seat. I am travelling in Gold and love the ingenious use of cabin space which sees comfy bench seating convert into two cosy bunks each evening, with our beds made up and positioned effortlessly by our attentive steward. Drawing back the curtains on day three we fi nd the dry red dust of central Australia has been replaced by the lush verdant terrain of the tropical Top End, a landscape of macadamia and mango plantations and tall eucalyptus trees. There are waterholes here too and a side trip to Katherine Gorge provides the chance to feel the tropical climate for ourselves. There are, in fact, 13 gorges covering 27 kms and the water fl ows here year-round, fed by natural springs. The red rock of the gorge is dramatic and our river cruise leads to a Jawoyn Rock Art site, dating back 10,000 years. Insights into aboriginal bush ways and ancient traditions
make the history of The Ghan seem positively modern; and the fact that their 50,000 year-old bush craft and legends can be shared instantly with family back home, simply serves to confi rm just how far we’ve come since the technological feat of the telegraph and rail pioneers.
All aboard!
Gourmet dining all the way
sellingtravel.co.uk
My cosy cabin set up for bedtime
The red dust of central Australia
Through the outback in style
Spotting termite hills upto five metres high
THE ITINERARY
DAY 1 The Ghan departs Adelaide mid-morning and a superb lunch is served soon after. By mid-afternoon, everyone is very mellow and things feel increasingly remote. We get to know our cute cabin, have our fi rst taste of the train’s great cuisine and meet our fellow passengers and friendly staff. DAY 2 We wake to what counts for an
exciting moment on the journey - crossing the state border into the red-dust terrains of the NT. Today we also pass the iconic ‘Iron Man’ – a sculpture crafted from track materials to mark the laying of the one millionth track sleeper on
this epic rail construction project. The day’s highlight is a four-hour stop in Alice Springs to visit the original Post and Telegraph Offi ce, the National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame and old jail. We also cross the Finke River (bone dry), the oldest river in the world. DAY 3 Now we are in the lush landscapes
of the tropics and our fi rst stop comes early for a choice of excursions: mine is a Katherine Gorge cruise. It’s back onto the train for a luxurious last lunch before pulling into Darwin station late afternoon. Effi cient transfers stand by to connect to our hotels.
WHERE TO BOOK IT SPECIAL OFFERS
Travel between November 1 2014 and March 31 2015 and clients can save up to £260pp. The £1050pp Gold Service fare includes a choice of off- train excursions in Katherine and Alice Springs, plus all meals and drinks and an ensuite double cabin. Book six months ahead for 20% discounts.
greatsouthernrail.com.au goldmedal.co.uk travel2.com internationalrail.com
Side trip to Katherine Gorge
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