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12 Day The Ghan, Kakadu & Cape York

This tour is categorised as 3 out of 5

 

Balanced exploration with walking tours: Our most popular style, this tour offers a good mix of planned activities and free time. Expect moderate daily walking tours, so pack comfortable shoes.

 

As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.

Pace
Balanced

On these packages you will travel from city to city on your own, exploring at your own pace. We have arranged transportation in most cases and day tours for you to see the destination. Enjoy the time and flexibility to linger longer or pick up the pace and see as much as possible.

Escorted Type
Non Escorted
Train
The Ghan

Take advantage of our 7 day cooling-off period. 

Cooling Off Period
7 Days

Inspiring Vacations has been globally recognised and awarded for its handling of COVID-19 during the pandemic. The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest concern during this time of uncertainty, and we are continuously monitoring the evolving COVID-19 situation. 

We have adopted the advice of the WHO to ensure all customers can travel with the knowledge of how to travel safely and with confidence.

Australian owned and operated with 100% Australian Customer Service support 

We are proudly 100% Australian owned and operated, with our head office located in Melbourne, Victoria. When you make your booking, you will receive dedicated and ongoing support from our team of travel professionals throughout your booking, up until you are due to depart. 

Confidence
Book With Confidence
4,381 people have travelled to this destination

✓ Incredible sightseeing, travel on The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin through the fiery red centre, witness crocodiles in Kakadu, stand at the Tip of Australia in Cape York, explore Cooktown and the Daintree Rainforest
✓ 2 nights on board The Ghan in a Gold Twin cabin (upgrades available). All-inclusive meals, fine wines and beverages. A regionally-inspired menu paired with a selection of local wines
✓ 9 nights’ accommodation in comfortable 3 and 4 star hotels
✓ Included flights from Darwin to Cairns and Cairns to Cape York return
✓ Spend three days exploring the remote Cape York Peninsula including the Telegraph Track and Fruit Bat Falls
✓ Day tours to experience Kakadu, Katherine and Cooktown
✓ 22 meals, including daily breakfast, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
✓ Transportation included as per the itinerary
✓ In depth sightseeing as per itinerary

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What we love about this tour

Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.

Itinerary

Hotel
Crowne Plaza Adelaide or Similar

Welcome to Adelaide! On arrival, make your way to your hotel. The rest of your day is free to explore Adelaide at your own pace. 

Check in & arrival information.
A taxi or Uber from Adelaide airport to your accommodation costs approximately $25 per car. Hotel check in is at 2pm. Should you arrive earlier than this, hotel staff will do all possible to check you in as soon as possible. If your room is not available before check-in time, you are welcome to leave your luggage in storage and explore the surrounding area.

Hotel
Train: The Ghan or Similar
Meals
Lunch, Dinner

Your unbelievable journey on The Ghan begins today. Check in for your rail journey opens approximately two hours prior to your scheduled departure time. All guests are required to check in at least 60 minutes prior to departure to be welcomed onboard - please bring your itinerary and photo identification.

Departing Adelaide at approximately 12:10pm from Adelaide Parklands Terminal (Keswick Terminal), what lies ahead is rugged, beautiful and spectacular – through the Red Centre to the tropical north of Australia. Settle into your cabin and watch the rolling pastoral lands of South Australia from your window, or meet your fellow travellers in the lounge car.

Before long some of the oldest rock formations in the world, the Flinders Ranges, come into view. As darkness envelops the rugged outback, it’s time to indulge in a regionally-inspired dinner and all-inclusive fine wines and beverages.

Please note: off train excursions are booked upon boarding the train

Hotel
Train: The Ghan or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin with a freshly brewed coffee or juice as the day dawns at Marla, an outback outpost in the remote reaches of South Australia. It is here, deep inland, that you will enjoy a one of a kind experience, as you watch the desert come to life at sunrise.

All aboard for brunch as you make your way through the MacDonnell Ranges to Alice Springs where a choice of Off Train Excursions awaits. 'Alice' is an iconic Red Centre outpost. 1,500 kilometres from the nearest major city, it may be remote, but offers plenty to explore – home to doctors who fly, rivers that run dry, and a cast of colourful characters. Your time in the ‘Capital out of the Outback’ offers numerous opportunities to explore its historic legacy and unique environment.

Hotel
Rydges Hotel Darwin or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch

Your day dawns in the tropical north. The pristine wilderness of Katherine is stirring and powerful, and you’ll have the chance to explore it from the water or land with your choice of off train experiences. Cruise the jaw-dropping Nitmiluk Gorge, learn more about its ancient Indigenous rock paintings and gain insight into the culture of the traditional owners of Nitmiluk, the Jawoyn people, or discover authentic outback life on a cattle station. 

As evening falls, arrive in Darwin to complete your epic train journey.

On arrival into Darwin, you will be transferred to a central location in Darwin. From here, make your own way to your hotel.

Hotel
Rydges Hotel Darwin or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch

This morning you’ll be collected from your hotel. Travel across the Adelaide River and Marrakai Plains and deep into Kakadu National Park. Visit the Warradjan Cultural Centre and view the informative displays depicting the traditions of the Aboriginal people in Kakadu; we join our local guide for a cruise on the famous Yellow Water Billabong. Search for saltwater crocodiles and the colourful range of birdlife for which this region is renowned. After a lunch stop at Nourlangie Rock, your guide will lead a walk to view ancient Aboriginal rock art, before returning to Darwin this evening.

Hotel
Park Regis City Quays or Similar
Meals
Breakfast

Today you'll begin your Queensland leg of the journey. At the appropriate time, make your way to Darwin airport. Your hotel is located approximately 10km from Darwin Airport and a taxi ride will cost you between $25 and $35.

Fly from Darwin to Cairns, making your own way to your accommodation.

Check in & arrival information
Cairns airport is located within 10kms from your accommodation. An Uber ride costs between $16 and $25 and a taxi ride between $20 and $30. There is also an airport shuttle available which costs approximately $16 per person. Hotel check in is from 3pm. If you arrive prior to this, you are welcome to leave your luggage with hotel reception and explore your surroundings until check-in becomes available. The hotel may grant early check-in, however this is strictly subject to availability and at the hotel’s discretion.

Hotel
Park Regis City Quays or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch

Today you will enjoy a full day excursion through the Daintree Rainforest, en route to Cooktown.

The drive will take you through the oldest continously growing rainforest on Earth, to a beautiful lookout over Coopers Creek, over the Emmagen Creek, into the Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Community, past the historic Lions Den Hotel, all prior to arrival into Cooktown for lunch.

After lunch, you will embark on a private guided tour of historical Cooktown, including Cooktown Botanic Gardens and the Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery, all whilst being educated on the history of James Cook's landing and founding of the town back in 1770.

This afternoon, you will drive back to Cairns where you will have the evening at your leisure.

Hotel
Cape York Peninsula Lodge or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Dinner

Make your way to Cairns airport on time for your flight to Bamaga. Upon arrival at Northern Peninsula Airport you will be collected by staff from Cape York Peninsula Lodge and taken to your accommodation. The rest of the day is at your own leisure.

Note: Check-in time at Cape York Peninsula Lodge is from 2pm. If you arrive on a morning flight, you may leave bags at reception and utilise the resort facilities prior to gaining access to your room.

Hotel
Cape York Peninsula Lodge or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today you will travel north, stopping in at the Croc Tent for an opportunity to purchase some unique Northern Queensland souvenirs, and visit the ruins of the Pajinka Resort. From here, embark on a 20 minute (unpaved) walk to the Tip.  After this we will travel to a nearby beach to enjoy a packed lunch. The itinerary for the day is flexible and we will visit the historical crash site of the DC3 airplane just outside town and the ruined homestead at Somerset either on the way to the Tip or on the way back. 

Hotel
Cape York Peninsula Lodge or Similar
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Departing at 8am in a private 4WD, you will leave the sealed roads behind as we make our way to the mighty Jardine River (approx. 45 minutes) and sit tight as the 4WD is loaded onto a ferry to cross the water. You will stay in the vehicle for the crossing. After reaching the other side, continue on the 4WD track to Fruit Bat Falls, including turning off to drive a section of the old Telegraph Track. We arrive at Fruit Bat Falls around 10.30am, where the water is inviting and swimming is recommended. Enjoy a gourmet lunch and a swim in the pristine waters, before returning to your accommodation.

Hotel
Park Regis City Quays or Similar
Meals
Breakfast

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the Northern Peninsula Airport for your return flight to Cairns. Once at Cairns airport, make your own way to your Cairns accommodation for the final night of this adventure.

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end. Farewell Cairns today as you make your own way to the airport for your onward flight or to continue the next part of your journey. 

Check out & departure information: 
Cairns airport is located within 10km from your accommodation. An Uber ride costs between $16 and $25 and a taxi ride between $20 and $30. There is also an airport shuttle available which costs approximately $16 per person. Hotel check out in is at 10am. If you are departing late, you are welcome to leave your luggage in storage and explore the surrounding area.

Inclusions

  • Incredible sightseeing, travel on The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin through the fiery red centre, witness crocodiles in Kakadu, stand at the Tip of Australia in Cape York, explore Cooktown and the Daintree Rainforest
  • 2 nights on board The Ghan in a Gold Twin cabin (upgrades available). All-inclusive meals, fine wines and beverages. A regionally-inspired menu paired with a selection of local wines
  • 9 nights’ accommodation in comfortable 3 and 4 star hotels
  • Included flights from Darwin to Cairns and Cairns to Cape York
  • Spend three days exploring the remote Cape York Peninsula including the Telegraph Track and Fruit Bat Falls
  • Day tours to experience Kakadu, Katherine and Cooktown
  • 22 meals, including daily breakfast, 6 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Transportation included as per the itinerary
  • In depth sightseeing as per itinerary

  • Departing from Adelaide, travel coast to coast through the fiery red centre, experiencing Australia at its dramatic best on board The Ghan
  • Make stops at Marla, Alice Springs and Nitmiluk Gorge as your train traverses north from Adelaide to Darwin.
  • Visit Kakadu National Park and cruise Yellow Water Billabong
  • Uncover the wonders of the Daintree Rainforest and Cape Tribulation 
  • Drive along 4WD-only Bloomfield Track
  • Enjoy an included lunch at the infamous Lions Den Hotel
  • Visit Grassy Hill and enjoy panoramic views of Cooktown, The Coral Sea & Endeavour River
  • Fly north and photograph Australian continent’s northernmost point
  • Visit the historical crash site of the DC3 airplane from WWII
  • Drive a section of the legendary Telegraph Track
  • Bring your swimsuit for your visit to the Fruit Bat Falls 

Gold Service (Included)

  • Gold Twin, a comfortable sleeper cabin featuring private en suite and upper and lower berths that convert to a three-seater lounge by day
  • Gold Single, a compact sleeper cabin featuring a bed that converts to a seat by day and shared shower/toilet facilities located at the end of the carriage
  • Luggage allowance is 60kg per guest
  • Power outlets in cabin

Platinum Service - From $1,700 per person additional - SOLD OUT

Platinum Service promises and delivers a journey beyond expectations, it includes deluxe extras such as Platinum Transfers, access to the Platinum Club plus a superior food and wine offering.

  • Spacious Double or Twin cabin almost twice the size of a Gold Service Twin cabin
  • By day, cabins are set up lounge-style with a moveable table and two ottomans
  • By night, lounges are converted to double or twin beds
  • En suite equipped with separate shower, vanity with cupboard space, toilet and Australian bathroom amenities
  • Panoramic windows offering views from both sides of the train
  • Access to the exclusive Platinum Club for dining and socialising
  • Freshly prepared continental breakfasts served upon request in-cabin
  • Transfers at the start and end of your journey available for guests within 60 km of the terminal
  • 90 kg checked luggage allowance per guest (3 x 30 kg each)

Platinum cabins are almost twice the size of Gold Twin Cabins in both your room and private en suite. By day your cabin is configured as a private lounge with deluxe lounge seating, a table and two ottomans, by night the lounges convert into two comfortable twin beds.

From an additional $1,700 per person and is subject to availability upon booking.
Please note, there are no single rooms in the Platinum category.

The Ghan offers a range of included off train experiences which can be viewed by CLICKING HERE

Off Train Experiences are included in your fare and can be booked on boarding the train (no pre-booking available).
Optional tours offered are paid. These optional activities are paid directly to The Ghan on board (no pre-booking available)

Essential Information

Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.

Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.

Instalment Schedule:

  1. At the time of booking pay a $99.00 deposit per person.
  2. Pay a 1st installment of $2,640.00 per person within 28 days.
  3. Pay a 2nd installment of $0.00 per person within 0 days.
  4. You will then be invoiced for final payment 120 days prior to departure.

This package is sold as land only, however you do have the option of adding domestic & international airfares to your booking. Simply click on’ book now’, and under upgrades ,  you will be asked “Would you like us to contact you around our flight service?”. By selecting this option Inspiring Vacations will contact you to discuss adding flights to your chosen destination. We can then assist with turning your booking into a flight inclusive package.

Upon completing the purchase of your package and fulfilling the following booking requirements, you will be granted access to our flight portal via your Traveller Hub.

  • 1st installment or full payment has been made
  • Your booking is within 11 months of departure
  • Your booking is labeled as ‘confirmed’ in Traveller Hub

Once these criteria have been met, access will be made available to you via Traveller Hub to book your flights via our flight portal.

The following requests are able to be processed through the online flight portal:

  • Airline Preferences - You may wish to fly with a particular airline
  • Cabin Preferences - These include upgrading to premium economy or business class
  • Extensions (start and end cities must remain the same) - You may request to extend your stay pre or post tour.

The online flight portal is unable to process the following requests and you must book these yourself independently:

  • Stopovers - Is where you might want to stop in transit for a certain amount of days prior to your tour or after your tour.
  • One way flights
  • Different start or end city to the tour - you may not amend the arrival or departure city of your itinerary. 
  • Around the world tickets  - Is when a ticket includes multiple stops in different continents.
  • Return home to a different city from the one you departed.
  • Frequent Flyer point redemption - Is when an airline allows you to redeem points to pay for your flights or upgrade your ticket.  

Online check-in 

Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.

Fitness Requirements
While the itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.

As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.

This particular tour is categorised as a “3”.

3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.

Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.

Please note:

Gold Service - Available in twin configuration only. If selecting double upon check out, this configuration will only apply to your hotel accommodation. 

Platnium Service - Available in double or twin configuration

Single Supplement on the Ghan
There is no single supplement for the Ghan if utilising a Single Room. Single Rooms on the Ghan are very limited and pricing is subject to availability. If the single cabins are not available at the time of booking, you will need to pay for a twin cabin at an additional cost of approx $2,700 for a Gold Twin in addition to the package price. This price is subject to change and as such, cannot be confirmed until after a booking has been made. If you are not happy with the price of the single supplement provided, you can request to cancel and receive a refund of your deposit. If the single supplement cost is suitable, this will be added to your invoice and part of the final balance payable. For an indicative cost prior to purchase, you are welcome to contact our Customer Service team.   

Please note: Single rooms have shared bathroom facilities. There are no single Platinum Rooms available on board the Ghan

Single Supplement on hotels
The single supplement for this portion of the trip is $1,198. Please see above regarding The Ghan.

Triple Share
Not available.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.

We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.

Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.

Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.

Group Size
Maximum of  60 people

Bedding requests
We do our best to meet your bedding preference, however, bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only and cannot be guaranteed. All efforts will be made to meet your preference, however, any changes are beyond our control and limited by the hotel facilities and availability.

Tour Styles - This package is a Independent style. 
To meet the needs of various types of travellers, we choose to operate various types of tours and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels: 

  • Independent - On these packages you will travel from city to city on your own, exploring at your own pace. We have arranged transportation in most cases and day tours for you to see the destination. Enjoy the time and flexibility to linger longer or pick up the pace and see as much as possible.
  • Partially Escorted - A portion of these packages runs as a group tour where you will be escorted by an expert tour leader. Another portion is independent, whether conducted by rail, cruise or land, and you will travel between destinations on your own, with free time to explore at your own pace.
  • Fully Escorted - This tour is fully escorted by an expert English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour.

Who is operating this package
We have partnered with a wide range of third party operators who assist in fulfilling your booking and delivering an enjoyable on-tour experience. Each package will consist of multiple operators meaning both guides and fellow travellers may change day to day. But don't worry, regardless of the operator, you'll be in good hands to experience the most out of each destination.

You can enhance your holiday by arriving early or staying longer upon conclusion of the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:

Pre and post tour accommodation

  • Pre-tour accommodation in Adelaide: from $296 per room per night for double/twin/single including breakfast
  • Post-tour accommodation in Cairns: from $253 per room per night for double/twin/single, room only rate

Pre and Post accommodation is subject to availability and pricing may differ based on your season of travel.

  • International or domestic airfares
  • Airport transfers
  • Visas (if applicable)
  • Travel insurance (compulsory)
  • Tipping
  • Anything not mentioned in the itinerary
  • Optional activities
  • Personal expenses
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