Icons have that power – and it just happens to remain with you forever.
All-inclusive. Four days. Three nights. Welcome aboard.
Wednesday 6 May — Saturday 9 May 2026
You already know it as one of the world’s most remarkable rail journeys. Now we go further. A new edition of Tasting Australia by Train is set to unfold between Darwin and Adelaide, with stellar fare, coveted beverages and time to discover ancient landscapes.
All-inclusive. Four days. Three nights. Welcome aboard.
$7,395 per person.
MEET THE CULINARY STARS ON BOARD
Menus will be curated by a sought-after lineup of international and national chefs, showcasing dual Michelin-starred chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho (Spain/UK), who will cook alongside renowned Australian chefs Mark Best, Jo Barrett and Shannon Fleming. Hosting the fun is Mandy Hall: celebrated storyteller and 2025 South Australian Woman of the Year for Hospitality.
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A childhood spent cooking in the Basque city of Bilbao propelled Barragán Mohacho towards professional kitchens. Since the late 90s she’s been based in London, most notably at Barrafina – awarded a Michelin star in 2014 – and then at her own venue Sabor, which earned the honour in 2018. Legado, her latest venture, opened last August and received its own star in the 2026 Michelin Guide.
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The Michelin-trained Best has shaped Sydney’s fine dining scene for decades, setting the tempo through his seminal Marque and, most recently, the reimagined Infinity at Sydney Tower.
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Trailblazing Barrett embraces adventure through projects including Future Food System in Melbourne’s Federation Square and beloved Lorne restaurant Little Picket.
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Fleming spent nine years in fine dining before moving to the Adelaide Hills to lead the restaurant side of LOT.100. With a renewed focus on seasonal and regional produce, he has collaborated with local beverage brands to bring native flavours to life through their products.
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Named 2025 SA Woman of the Year for Hospitality, Hall continues to champion the people and principles that make South Australia a leader in food and sustainability. This MasterChef alumna combines intellect and heart in everything she does.
BESPOKE TASTING AUSTRALIA BY TRAIN EXPERIENCES
The Ghan has long been celebrated as one of the world’s most iconic rail journeys. For this exclusive Tasting Australia experience it will evolve into a journey of culinary delights shaped by leading chefs and producers. Your one-off, all-exclusive experience pairs the romance of rail travel with immersive dining moments only possible during Tasting Australia.
There’s nothing like setting down your suitcase and allowing your journey to unfold. After stepping aboard The Ghan you can simply relax, knowing everything has been considered and included in your fare – from world-class food and wine to a range of immersive, bespoke off-train experiences unique to Tasting Australia. With a warmth of service that’s hard to beat, your crew will ensure this journey is memorable from beginning to end.
BOLLINGER MASTERCLASS
Begin with fine French fizz as The Ghan winds deep into outback terrain. This exclusive Bollinger tasting and masterclass will be devoted to the maison’s most memorable vintages and led by brand ambassador Thibault Jaubert.
Champagne Bollinger has been making great wines with a powerful, refined and complex style since 1829. Its vintages are shaped by uncompromising excellence, an exceptional vineyard, traditional craft and a particular affinity for the elegance of pinot noir.
DINNER WORTHY OF A MICHELIN STAR
Settle into your home for the next few nights, enjoying the comforts of a Gold Twin Cabin aboard The Ghan, before being seated for a culinary experience like no other. London-based Nieves Barragán Mohacho will work her Michelin star magic across this very special service.
A SPECTACULAR LUNCH
Serentiy abounds at Simpsons Gap, known to the Arrente people as Rungutjirpa, where ochre cliffs are split by a glistening waterhole and sandy creek bed. It’s here you will meet chefs Mark Best and Nieves Barragán Mohacho for a dream al fresco lunch. Enjoy this informal meal from the comfort of camp chairs – a nod to your uniquely Australian setting.
DINNER UNDER THE STARS
After a day of touring through Australia’s heart, sit back beneath a blanket of stars during a truly distinct dinner experience at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station. Be immersed in outback history and grandeur, with the evening also set to feature a local blacksmith at work using traditional tools and methods. Take the opportunity to climb aboard a camel for a short ride, mirroring the storied history of The Ghan’s namesake.
OFF TRAIN IN COOBER PEDY
Discover a unique off-train experience in Coober Pedy offered only in this Tasting Australia adventure. Enjoy lunch at the iconic Big Winch Café prepared by trailblazing chef Jo Barrett and South Australian star Shannon Fleming. Local produce will feature, with sweeping views across dugouts to the desert horizon beyond. Exclusive tours of the Umoona Arts Centre and Old Timers Mine await after your meal.
BLACK TIE DINNER
Indulge in a fine dining experience that conjures classic glamour. Michelin-trained Mark Best, executive chef at Sydney restaurant Infinity, will craft an exquisite menu for a final memorable evening on board The Ghan. It’s an occasion that calls for black tie attire – a sartorial nod to all great train odysseys.
Tasting Australia by Train
EXPLORE THE ITINERARY
Wednesday 6 May — Saturday 9 May 2026
Arrive at Darwin Berrimah Station. Journey Beyond hosts will direct you to the check-in area. Enjoy a welcome experience with light refreshments, barista coffee and a glass of Bollinger.
Settle into your home for the next few nights, enjoying the comforts of your cabin. As The Ghan begins to travel south, join a private tasting and masterclass led by Bollinger brand ambassador Thibault Jaubert and devoted to the maison’s most memorable vintages.
Lunch onboard in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant follows before your off-train experience in Katherine. Cruise through the towering sandstone cliffs and dramatic beauty of Nitmiluk Gorge and uncover its deep cultural significance.
Dinner onboard will be crafted by international Michelin-starred chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho.
INCLUSIONS
- Coach transfer to Darwin Rail Terminal departing from selected Darwin hotels
- Darwin Station welcome experience with light refreshments, barista coffee and glass of Bollinger
- Bollinger tasting and masterclass onboard led by Bollinger brand ambassador
- Lunch onboard prepared by The Ghan team
- A cruise on the tranquil Katherine River to see Nitmiluk Gorge and its geological wonders
- Dinner onboard crafted by Nieves Barragán Mohacho
Wake to the wide-open skies of the outback as The Ghan draws closer to Alice Springs. After a hearty breakfast on board, step into the heart of Central Australia.
Discover the stunning landscapes and cultural heritage of Desert Park, a registered botanic garden offering an immersive journey through Central Australia’s unique landscapes and rich cultural heritage, including a free-flight bird show and demonstration. Continue your journey at Simpsons Gap – Rungutjirpa to the Arrernte people – a serene site rich in Indigenous lore. Surrounded by mulga woodlands, it’s home to rare plant species and said to be the mythical home of giant goanna ancestors. Here you will meet chef Mark Best and Nieves Barragán Mohacho for lunch in the most spectacular of locations. Enjoy an informal meal from the comfort of camp chairs – a nod to your uniquely Australian setting.
After a day of touring, sit back beneath a blanket of stars during a truly distinct dinner experience at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station and be surrounded by outback history and grandeur. You can also watch the local blacksmith at work using traditional tools and methods, or perhaps take the opportunity to climb aboard a camel for a short ride. Dinner will be prepared by The Ghan chefs and served with a platinum beverage selection.
INCLUSIONS
- Lunch at Simpsons Gap, Alice Springs, prepared by Nieves Barragán Mohacho and Mark Best
- Spend an evening at the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station, with dinner under the stars prepared by The Ghan team, paired with a selection of platinum beverages
Today brings you to the extraordinary outback town of Coober Pedy, where life is anything but ordinary. Known as the opal capital of the world, this desert settlement hides its treasures above and below. More than half of local residents live underground.
Travel by coach to Coober Pedy following breakfast on board, then walk among the ochre folds of Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park before visiting Two Dogs Lookout and the Serbian Orthodox Church. A lunch prepared by Jo Barrett and Shannon Fleming will be served at the Big Winch Café, complete with views across dugouts to the desert skyline. Tour the Umoona Arts Centre and Old Timers Mine ahead of returning to The Ghan in Manguri.
Back on board for your final night, it’s time to dress up for a dinner to remember, channelling all the glamour of great train odysseys. Mark Best will craft an exquisite evening menu.
INCLUSIONS
- A full-day outback experience in Coober Pedy
- Lunch at Big Winch Café in Coober Pedy prepared by Jo Barrett and Shannon Fleming
- Tour of the Umoona Arts Centre and Old Timers Mine
- A black tie dinner onboard The Ghan prepared by Australian chef Mark Best
By morning you’ll see a dramatic change in landscape as the outback’s rich ochre tones make way for the green fields of South Australia. The final stretch of this odyssey will be spent south-bound through the Flinders Ranges to Adelaide. Enjoy a leisurely brunch prepared by The Ghan team before arrival.
INCLUSIONS
- Brunch prepared by The Ghan team
INCLUSIONS
- Four days and three nights aboard The Ghan Expedition, travelling from Darwin to Adelaide in a Gold Twin cabin
- All-inclusive experiences, meals, fine wines and beverages
EXCLUSIONS
- Pre-event accommodation in Darwin
- Post-event accommodation in Adelaide
