Settle into the comforts of The Ghan, relax in your cabin, or mingle with fellow travellers in the Outback Explorer Lounge. Enjoy lunch ahead of your Off Train Experience in Katherine. In a region renowned for jaw-dropping natural assets, Katherine boasts one of the Top End's best – the incredible Nitmiluk Gorge and a cruise is on offer to showcase the beauty of this spot.

Alternatively, the Katherine Outback Experience lets you into the lives of those who call the outback home, while the Cutta Cutta Cave system is home to a variety of native wildlife and is rich in Indigenous culture and modern European history. Or, take it all in from the air, with an optional upgrade helicopter flight over Nitmiluk. Stay: The Ghan Expedition (3 Nights) (B/L/D)

Your arrival into Alice Springs after breakfast provides you with time to explore this iconic town in the red heart of Australia on an Off Train Experience. There's an experience to suit everyone, including an off-road e-bike adventure, the Alice Explorer tour that takes in the historic Telegraph Station and Royal Flying Doctor Service, a cultural experience at Standley Chasm, meeting the wildlife at the Desert Park, or taking in the astounding beauty of Simpson's Gap.

Alternatively, spot Uluru and Kata Tjuta from the air, with an optional upgrade scenic flight. In the evening, the hallmark experience of The Ghan Expedition begins. Dine under a blanket of stars at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, with red earth at your feet and white tablecloths at your fingertips. This will be a night to remember. (B/L/D)

From your morning stop at Manguri, you'll venture into the weird and wonderful opal mining township of Coober Pedy, where more than half of the residents live underground. Here, you'll enjoy a day of discovery, and a gourmet lunch in the most unique of locations: underground.

Off Train Experiences on offer include exploring the majestic Breakaways, touring the town, learning more about mining history on the Opal Experience, or an optional upgrade with the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre scenic flight. Dinner is served back on the train, where you can enjoy a nightcap as your journey continues. (B/L/D)

This morning, you'll see a dramatic change in landscape as the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the green fields of South Australia. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as you pass through the Flinders Ranges before arriving in Adelaide, completing one of the world's great rail experiences. After disembarking the train, you'll be transferred to your accommodation, your home for the next two nights.

Enjoy the afternoon at leisure as you acquaint yourself with Adelaide's city centre. Stroll to the Adelaide Central Markets for lunch and see over 70 traders bring colour and life to the undercover markets. Or, visit the Art Gallery of South Australia to see local and international works. As a city of food and wine, there is no shortage of delicious restaurants, take your pick and enjoy your first evening in Adelaide. Stay: Crowne Plaza Adelaide (2 Nights) (B)

Explore more of Adelaide at your leisure. If you'd like to get to the source of that gourmet experience visit the wine growing region of McLaren Vale. (B)

• McLaren Vale Winery Experience ($235 per person)
  A tour to McLaren Vale along the beautiful Fleurieu Peninsula includes four cellar door experiences and a delicious restaurant lunch. The region is best known for its Shiraz, but expert vignerons will explain why Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapes also thrive in this unique microclimate.

Check out of your accommodation this morning and take in any last minute sights before transferring to Adelaide Parklands Terminal. Start your journey with a delicious welcome dinner before joining the Indian Pacific, where you can settle into your cabin or mingle with fellow travellers in the Outback Explorer Lounge. Stay: Indian Pacific (2 Nights) (B/D)

Crossing another border during the night, you'll wake up in Broken Hill, New South Wales. Enjoy a hearty breakfast, ready for the day's activities in the Silver City. You'll have a choice of four Off Train Experiences, including guided history, art and cultural experiences that showcase the highlights of Australia's first heritage-listed city. Returning to the train for lunch, admire the scenery as the Indian Pacific travels through regional New South Wales.

Tonight, dinner is served on board as you make the most of your final night exploring Australia by train. (B/L/D)

The Blue Mountains is known for its soaring sandstone ridges wrapped in native flora. This World Heritage-listed area marks your final stop before arriving in Sydney. Say goodbye to the Indian Pacific after breakfast, to travel deep into the mountains for this afternoon's Off Train Experiences.

Scenic World includes four phenomenal mountain experiences, from the Scenic Skyway, which takes you over ancient ravines, with 360-degree vistas to the Scenic Cableway that glides over the forest to the valley floor and the Scenic Railway, the steepest passenger railway in the world. Alternatively, stretch your legs on a guided walk with spectacular views from numerous lookouts along the trail. Both experiences end at Echo Point Lookout, perched on the edge of the escarpment in Katoomba, where a light lunch is served.

Complete your journey on our chartered New South Wales rail service (fully hosted by our crew) into Sydney Central Station. Alternatively, if you prefer to arrive in Sydney earlier, stay on board the Indian Pacific to travel directly to Sydney Central Station. (B/L) (B)

Celebrate the beginning of your journey with a welcome drink and light refreshments and pause for a photo with The Ghan's iconic red locomotive before stepping on board, Settle into your home for the next few days, enjoying the comforts of your cabin, or mingle with fellow travellers in the Outback Explorer Lounge. As The Ghan begins to travel south, a chef-prepared lunch awaits before your Off Train Experience in Katherine. 

Here you'll choose how to explore this remarkable region. Cruise through the towering sandstone cliffs and dramatic beauty of Nitmiluk Gorge and uncover its deep cultural significance. Alternatively, step into the Katherine Outback Experience for an authentic glimpse into the lives of those who call the outback home. Or venture underground at the Cutta Cutta Caves, where fascinating limestone formations, native wildlife and stories of Indigenous culture are waiting to be shared. For a different perspective, upgrade to a helicopter flight and take in the scale of Nitmiluk from above. Stay: The Ghan Expedition (3 Nights) (L/D)

Wake to the wide-open skies of the outback as The Ghan draws closer to the iconic town of Alice Springs. After a hearty breakfast on board, step into the heart of Central Australia with a choice of Off Train Experiences designed to suit every traveller. 

Take to the red dirt on an off-road e-bike adventure, join the A Town Called Alice tour to uncover the town's major landmarks, or immerse yourself in culture with a guided journey through Standley Chasm and Simpsons Gap. Here, sheer rock walls blaze red in the sunlight and ancient landscapes hold deep spiritual significance for the Arrernte people. Wildlife lovers can meet desert creatures at Alice Springs Desert Park, while those seeking a grander perspective can opt for a scenic flight over Uluru and Kata Tjuta. 

As night falls, the hallmark experience of The Ghan Expedition awaits. At the historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station, dine beneath a canopy of stars, surrounded by the red earth of the desert. With white tablecloths, fine food and live entertainment, it's an evening you'll never forget.   (B/L/D)

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 both above and below, and more than half the population live underground.

Your adventure begins with a morning stop at the remote outpost of Manguri to take in the sunrise, before continuing on to Coober Pedy for a day of exploration. A highlight is a gourmet lunch enjoyed underground, a dining experience as unique as the town itself. Off Train Experiences include visiting the striking Breakaways, uncovering the town's quirky attractions, or learning the fascinating history of opal mining on the Opal Experience. For an unforgettable view, upgrade to a scenic flight over the Painted Hills and Lake Eyre. 

Back on board for your final night, dinner is served in the dining carriage before one last nightcap in the lounge with fellow travellers as The Ghan journeys towards Adelaide. (B/L/D)

This morning, you'll see a dramatic change in landscape as the rich ochre tones of the outback make way for the green fields of South Australia. Enjoy a leisurely brunch as you pass through the Flinders Ranges before arriving into Adelaide.

After disembarking the train, you'll be transferred to your accommodation, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure as you acquaint yourself with Adelaide's city centre. Stroll to the Adelaide Central Markets for lunch and see over 70 traders bring colour and life to the undercover markets. Or, visit the Art Gallery of South Australia to see local and international works. As a city of food and wine, there is no shortage of delicious restaurants, take your pick and enjoy your first evening in Adelaide. Stay: Crowne Plaza Adelaide (2 Nights) (B)

Delight in a memorable culinary journey at the National Wine Centre of Australia with a "Feed Me" style lunch dining experience curated by the Head Chef. This indulgent menu showcases the best of South Australia's regional produce, artfully crafted to take your taste buds on a captivating voyage of flavours and textures.

Each course is perfectly paired with premium wines, hand-selected by the Centre's expert Sommeliers to enhance the dining experience and elevate each dish. This immersive food and wine adventure promises to enchant and surprise your palate at every turn.

Following your lunch, enjoy a hosted tour of the National Wine Centre of Australia – a perfect conclusion to this unforgettable sensory experience. (B/L)

Check out of your accommodation this morning and take in any last minute sights before transferring to Adelaide Parklands Terminal to join the Indian Pacific. Start your rail journey by transferring to the world-renowned Barossa Valley. Here, at the historic Seppeltsfield Estate, an evening of fine wine and dining awaits. Enjoy a signature culinary experience in the vintage cellar, created exclusively for Indian Pacific guests, complete with a spectacular ‘Firing of the Barrel' and a food-and-wine pairing designed by Executive Chef Owen Andrews. Platinum guests are also invited to taste a rare 100-year-old tawny, a true highlight of the region. 

After dinner, return to the train, where the Indian Pacific rolls eastward into the night. Stay: Indian Pacific (2 Nights) (B/D)

Overnight the Indian Pacific crosses the border, arriving in Broken Hill, New South Wales – the famed Silver City. After a hearty breakfast, set out to explore this legendary outback town. 

Choose your own adventure: visit the Miners' Memorial and Sulphide Street Railway and Historical Museum for a fascinating look at the region's mining heritage, or venture underground on a Daydream Mine tour for an authentic glimpse into the life of early miners. Art lovers can head to the Pro Hart Gallery for a ‘paint and sip' session in the artist's original studio, while foodies will enjoy a native ingredients masterclass with Chef Lee Cecchin, followed by a cook-off at The Old Salt Bush restaurant. Or, see Broken Hill's vibrant personality shine with a lively main-street tour hosted by Shelita Buffet, Queen of the Outback. 

Returning to the train for lunch and admire the changing landscapes of regional New South Wales. Tonight, savour dinner on board, raising a glass to an unforgettable journey exploring Australia by train. (B/L/D)

Your final day begins in the majestic Blue Mountains, where soaring sandstone cliffs and eucalypt valleys create a World Heritage–listed landscape unlike any other. After breakfast, farewell the Indian Pacific and step into this extraordinary bushland for your Off Train Experience. 

At Scenic World, choose from four iconic adventures: glide above ravines on the Scenic Skyway, descend into the forest aboard the Scenic Cableway, or ride the world's steepest passenger railway. Alternatively, stretch your legs on a guided walk to soak up the views, or savour a decadent high tea at the historic Hydro Majestic Hotel, framed by sweeping mountain panoramas. 

To complete your journey, board our chartered New South Wales rail service, fully hosted by your Indian Pacific crew, into Sydney Central Station. For those preferring an earlier arrival, the option to remain on the Indian Pacific and reach Sydney before lunch is also available. (B/L) (B)