Darwin to Adelaide by Rail — Nine Nights Across the Red Centre
Australia is usually seen from the edges. This itinerary crosses the middle of it by train, on the long north–south rail journey between Darwin and Adelaide, and gives you three nights at each end to make the crossing the centrepiece rather than a transfer.
- Duration
- 9 Nights / 10 Days
- Destinations
- Darwin
- Travel style
- Cultural · Adventure
- Stays
- Comfort standard
- Meals
- Daily breakfast, from Day 2 to Day 10.
- Transfers
- Off-train excursion at Katherine.
Journey overview
Australia is usually seen from the edges. This itinerary crosses the middle of it by train, on the long north–south rail journey between Darwin and Adelaide, and gives you three nights at each end to make the crossing the centrepiece rather than a transfer.
Route
- Darwin3 nights
- Aboard the train3 nights
- Adelaide3 nights
Photographs: © Yu Chu Chin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Why you'll love this journey
- Three nights aboard the north–south rail journey across the Australian interior.
- Off-train excursions at Katherine, Alice Springs and Coober Pedy.
- All onboard meals included across the three rail days.
- Three nights each in Darwin and Adelaide at either end.
- Open-jaw routing — into Darwin, out of Adelaide, no backtracking.
Day-by-day itinerary
You are met at Darwin Airport and driven to your hotel by private vehicle. The rest of the day is free. Darwin is small, tropical and built facing the harbour, and the waterfront is the natural place to spend a first evening.
A crocodile attraction in the centre of Darwin, paired with a hop-on hop-off tour of the city. In the evening, a dinner cruise on Darwin Harbour, with dinner served on board as part of that excursion.
No touring is scheduled today. The day is yours before the rail journey begins, which is a useful way to arrive at a three-night train ride rested rather than rushed. Anything you arrange is at your own cost.
You transfer to the rail terminal and board for the journey south. The first stop is Katherine, in the Top End gorge country, where an off-train excursion is included. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served on board.
The train reaches Alice Springs, the town at the centre of the continent, where a town tour and an evening dining experience are included as off-train excursions. All meals are served on board or as part of those excursions.
An early off-train excursion for sunrise on the open desert, followed by Coober Pedy, the opal-mining settlement where much of the town is built below ground to escape the heat. All meals are served on board or as part of those excursions.
The train reaches Adelaide in the morning. You transfer by private vehicle to your hotel, and the remainder of the day is free. After three nights of moving, a flat green city on a grid is an easy landing.
A guided tour of Adelaide taking in the city's principal sights. Adelaide is compact and deliberately planned, so a single day covers the centre properly rather than skimming it.
No touring is scheduled today. The guided Adelaide sightseeing was the day before, so this one is yours to use as you choose before flying out, and anything you arrange is at your own cost. Your private airport transfer to Adelaide Airport follows on the final day.
Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and a private transfer to Adelaide Airport for your onward flight. Adelaide Airport is close to the city, so the drive is short. Your onward flight is not part of this package, so allow the check-in time your airline requires.
Make this journey yours
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Inclusions & exclusions
Included
- Nine nights — three nights' hotel accommodation in Darwin, three nights aboard the train, and three nights' hotel accommodation in Adelaide.
- Daily breakfast, from Day 2 to Day 10.
- Private airport transfer on arrival, Darwin Airport to your hotel.
- Private transfer to the rail terminal in Darwin on Day 4.
- Private transfer from the rail terminal to your hotel in Adelaide on Day 7.
- Private airport transfer on departure, your Adelaide hotel to Adelaide Airport.
- Darwin crocodile attraction admission and a hop-on hop-off city tour.
- Darwin Harbour dinner cruise, with dinner served on board.
- Three nights aboard the rail journey from Darwin to Adelaide.
- All lunches and dinners served aboard the train on Days 4, 5 and 6.
- Off-train excursion at Katherine.
- Off-train town tour and an evening dining experience at Alice Springs.
- Off-train sunrise excursion and Coober Pedy visit.
- Guided Adelaide city sightseeing tour, on a seat-in-coach basis.
Not included
- GST is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- TCS is extra and is charged on the final amount.
- International airfare is extra and is not included.
- Domestic and internal airfare is extra and is not included.
- Visa is extra and is not included — visa fees, associated service charges, airport taxes and any related charges.
- Travel insurance is extra and is not included.
- All meals other than those listed under Inclusions. Meals aboard the train and the Darwin harbour cruise are included as listed; hotel meals other than breakfast are not.
- Drinks with meals, unless served as part of an included onboard or excursion meal.
- All activities and transport on Day 3 and Day 9, which are days at leisure. No touring is included and anything you arrange is at your own cost.
- Any sightseeing, entry ticket or excursion not specifically listed under Inclusions.
- Cabin class upgrades aboard the train, and any onboard service charged separately.
- Tips and gratuities.
- Personal expenses — laundry, telephone, minibar, and anything of a personal nature.
- Early check-in and late check-out charges, and any hotel upgrade.
- City taxes or resort fees charged directly by the hotel.
- Anything not specifically listed under Inclusions.
Accommodation, meals & transport
What the journey covers day to day, taken from this package's own inclusions.
🏨 Accommodation
- Comfort standard
🍽 Meals
- Daily breakfast, from Day 2 to Day 10.
- Darwin Harbour dinner cruise, with dinner served on board.
- All lunches and dinners served aboard the train on Days 4, 5 and 6.
🚆 Transport
- Nine nights — three nights' hotel accommodation in Darwin, three nights aboard the train, and three nights' hotel accommodation in Adelaide.
- Private airport transfer on arrival, Darwin Airport to your hotel.
- Private transfer to the rail terminal in Darwin on Day 4.
- Private transfer from the rail terminal to your hotel in Adelaide on Day 7.
- Private airport transfer on departure, your Adelaide hotel to Adelaide Airport.
- Off-train excursion at Katherine.
- Off-train town tour and an evening dining experience at Alice Springs.
- Off-train sunrise excursion and Coober Pedy visit.
- Guided Adelaide city sightseeing tour, on a seat-in-coach basis.
Flights, visa & practical
Arranged separately from the journey itself — listed here so there are no surprises.
✈ Flights
- International airfare is extra and is not included.
- Domestic and internal airfare is extra and is not included.
🛂 Visa
- Visa is extra and is not included — visa fees, associated service charges, airport taxes and any related charges.
🛡 Insurance
- Travel insurance is extra and is not included.
Every journey is quoted individually for your travel dates and party. Read our pricing terms for how a quotation is prepared. Cancellations and amendments follow our Refund & Cancellation Policy and Terms & Conditions.
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