Fully Escorted Darwin Rail Tour

SEE AUSTRALIA’S BEAUTIFUL RED HEART AND TOP END IN AIRCONDITIONED COMFORT WITH ALL MEALS INCLUDED ABOARD THE INDIAN PACIFIC AND THE GHAN

 DAY 1 – WEDNESDAY 5 SEPT PERTH – KALGOORLIE   Your Tour Escort Kevin Pearce will be on hand this morning to assist with check in formalities at the East Perth Rail Terminal. Soon its time to settle in to your Gold Service compartment and take in the scenery as the Indian Pacific departs. Enjoy lunch in the train’s Queen Adelaide Restaurant as the beautiful Avon Valley ushers us in to the eastern wheatbelt. Before dinner is served your tour escort will host a get together and drinks in the Outback Lounge to meet your fellow travellers. After dinner is served we reach the twin city of Kalgoorlie- Boulder where there is time to take an optional sightseeing tour which includes the massive Super Pit by night. This evening the train departs for the vast Australian outback and the Nullarbor Plain. (L, D) INDIAN PACIFIC  

DAY 2 – THURSDAY 6 SEPT KALGOORLIE – NULLARBOR PLAIN   This morning after we enjoy a leisurely breakfast, enter the Nullarbor Plain - a vast limestone plateau. On reaching Nurina we travel the longest straight section of railway in the world, 478km to Ooldea without a single curve. At Cook you may wish to alight to admire and photograph this fascinating plain. Lunch and dinner are served in the Restaurant Car. (B, L, D) INDIAN PACIFIC

 DAY 3 – FRIDAY 7 SEPT ARRIVE ADELAIDE   Early this morning we arrive at Adelaide’s Parklands Rail Terminal. We are then transferred to our hotel, where arrangements have been made to store your luggage. Relax with a hotel breakfast before embarking on a city sightseeing tour. Visit Colonel Light’s Lookout for fabulous views over the city, then to North Adelaide, Light’s Vision, St Peters Cathedral, the charming suburb of Hyde Park and a visit to the Haighs Chocolate Factory for a tour and luscious tastings. Later we take a trip to Glenelg on the popular Glenelg Tram. After leaving the city streets the tram travels over a former railway line before arriving back at our hotel for check in. The remainder of the afternoon is free to further explore Adelaide, or relax in our first class hotel. (B, D) 　 HILTON HOTEL

 DAY 4 – SATURDAY 8 SEPT BAROSSA VALLEY Today we enjoy a full days touring in the Barossa Valley! Discover the historic charm and picturesque vineyards of the valley as we journey through the quaint townships of Birdwood and Eden Valley; we drive past the famous Lindsey Park Stud before stopping to visit the famous Herbig Family Tree.   We continue on to Angaston and visit Angas Park Fruits, then on to Jacobs Creek for a relaxing and enjoyable lunch in the heart of the valley. After lunch we visit Chateau Barrosa where there is free time to stroll through the Chateau’s inspirational rose garden with over twenty thousand roses from all over the world, or view the antique collection housed in the new chateau. We then return to Adelaide via the Whispering Wall. (B, L, D) HILTON HOTEL

DAY 5 – SUNDAY 9 SEPT DEPART ADELAIDE ON THE GHAN   After a leisurely breakfast we check out of our hotel, and return to Adelaide’s Parklands Rail Terminal for our journey to Darwin aboard The Ghan. Named after the hardy Afghan traders and their camel trains who originally provided the only form of transport to Australia’s centre. This evening enjoy a drink in the Outback Explorer Lounge Car before dinner. Gold Service guests travelling aboard The Ghan dine in the beautifully decorated Queen Adelaide Restaurant Car.The enjoyment of fine food and wine combined with views across this vast, beautiful continent is an unrivalled experience. (B, D) THE GHAN  

 DAY 6 – MONDAY 10 SEPT ARRIVE ALICE SPRINGS   This afternoon we arrive into Alice Springs, where you have the afternoon at leisure. Choose from a variety of Whistle Stop tours available to make the most of your stop here. Popular choices are The Desert Park and The Alice Wanderer Town Tour. All these tours can be purchased on the train. Early evening we continue our journey to Darwin. (B, L, D) THE GHAN

DAY 7 – TUESDAY 11 SEPT KATHERINE – DARWIN   Katherine is commonly referred to as the ‘Lady of the North’ and the ‘Jewel of the Territory’. Tours can be purchased en-route at your own expense; you have the choice of either a boat cruise or a helicopter flight over one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the Northern Territory, Katherine Gorge. Later we continue our journey towards Darwin. Upon arrival at Darwin Rail Terminal in Berrimah, we will be met and transferred to our hotel in time for dinner. (B, L, D) HOLIDAY INN

 DAY 8 – WEDNESDAY 12 SEPT DARWIN SIGHTSEEING   This morning, embark on a city sightseeing tour. Some of the sights include The Esplanade, wharf precinct, Cullen Bay, Botanic Gardens and the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. The museum houses a large range of Aboriginal art and Northern Territory history as well as the Cyclone Tracey exhibit. This afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the facilities at your hotel or perhaps visit the city shopping precinct. Darwin City offers many attractions, recreational opportunities, ethnic restaurants and entertainment. This evening we transfer to Stokes Hill Wharf to join the sunset dinner cruise. This unique tropical dining experience aboard the schooner "Alfred Nobel" includes, a four course seated meal of a duo of dips with grissini & char-grilled pita to start with. This will be followed by a fresh chilled seafood platter of freshly shucked Coffin Bay Oysters and chilled local Tiger Prawns served with a fresh herb aioli and seafood sauce. We then fire up our BBQ and serve Wild Caught Barramundi fillets with an Asian inspired mango salsa, gourmet chicken skewers with a Malaysian Satay sauce and Prime Beef skewers with a Nim Jam glaze, all served with hot herb bread and a choice of garden salads. The meal concludes with a light dessert platter to share of tropical fruit with a chocolate ganache dipping sauce. (B, D) HOLIDAY INN

 DAY 9 – THURSDAY 13 SEPT DARWIN SIGHTSEEING   We depart Darwin this morning and make our way to the Adelaide River for our Jumping Crocodiles Cruise. Watch these awesome creatures propel themselves out of the water at feeding time. Our local guide will also provide commentary on the bird life in the region. After the cruise visit Fogg Dam Nature Reserve where a variety of flora and fauna can be viewed. The remainder of the afternoon is free for you to further explore at your leisure. Tonight we head to Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. Tables and Chairs, candles to be set up on the foreshore, sit back, relax and enjoy a territory sunset with drinks included. There are over 200 stalls, with nearly sixty food stalls from over thirty different countries, with a huge range of quality art, craftwork, clothes, sculpture, pottery, soaps, didgeridoos, you name it and its likely you can buy it at Mindil Beach. (B) HOLIDAY INN

DAY 10 – FRIDAY 14 SEPT DARWIN – PERTH   This morning is free until we bid farewell to the Northern Territory and transfer to the airport for our Qantas flight to Perth. (B)

Darwin Tour_opt

KP

Escorted by Kevin Pearce