A unique and unforgettable experience awaited us on one of the world’s most renowned rail journeys. We traveled The Ghan, the Red Center Explorer, which is running in the heart of Australia, connecting the northern and southern points of the country.

Day 31, Sunday, October 6: The Ghan

After a delicious breakfast of waffles and local jams, Linda drove us to Adelaide Parklands Terminal, the place where our new train adventure was going to start. We checked in, and while waiting for the boarding time, we enjoyed some tea and conversation with Linda.

After saying our goodbyes, we boarded the train before noon. Our carry-ons were waiting for us in our cabin (they took them when we checked in) together with a personalized welcome note, some refreshments, sparkling wine, and a booklet with detailed information about the journey. After all we were traveling on the highest Platinum level – in style and comfort – on one of the luxury trains of the world.

The Ghan is a legendary train. It’s name comes from the Afghan cameleers, who first traveled to inland Australia in the 1930s bringing supplies on their camels to the settlers. Originally it was called The Afghan Express before being shortened to its current name. It travels the 2979 kilometers between Adelaide and Darwin in 54 hours. We didn’t travel to whole length; we were on it from Adelaide to Alice Springs, to reach the Red Center of Australia.

The train length was 735 meters and had 29 carriages. Just like on the Indian Pacific, we had to schedule our onboard dinner time. For lunch and the next day’s brunch we could go at our convenience.

This time our cabin, E4, was basically a private suite for relaxing and taking in the views of the landscape through the panoramic windows. There was a table and two ottomans and a two-person seating that for the night the hospitality attendant made into a double bed while we had our dinner.

The small touches – satin eye mask, luxurious linen, bathrobes –were intended to make the journey more memorable. The cabin had a private bathroom with shower, sink, toilet, towels, and fine toiletries.

In the cabin, we had access to four music channels. For dining and socializing we went to the Platinum Club, which served as a daytime lounge. Tea and coffee were available there throughout the day, but we could also make our own tea at the kitchenette at the end of our carriage. The price also included soft- or alcoholic beverages. The service and the meals were always high quality.

So, everything was great except that our cabin was colder than we wanted it to be. The air-conditioning couldn’t be adjusted – we used a blanket to keep us warm or went to read in the Platinum Club or just relaxed there enjoying the view of the passing landscape.

Had our leisurely and delicious dinner at 7, and went to bed early knowing that the next day would start early.

Day 32, Monday, October 7: The Ghan and Alice Springs

The day started at 6:30 am. We spent an hour off the train watching the sunrise in the heart of the Australian outback while enjoying some tea and hot morning snacks.

A little after 10, the train entered the Northern Territory from South Australia. We were glued to the window so as not to miss the sign.

Went for brunch around 11, then enjoyed the journey until we arrived in Alice Springs, around 1:30 pm. Overall, we had a great experience on the iconic Ghan.

Alice Springs greeted us with 36 degrees Celsius! The Journey Beyond company’s small bus took us to our hotel for one night. Because of the heat, we wandered out for a walk around 6 pm checking out the surroundings of the nearby Botanic Garden. We were lucky to spot a few rock wallabies and see the sunset over the dry Todd river.

We were excited for the start of our exploration of the Red Center of Australia the next day.