9 Day Kangaroo Island, The Ghan & Kakadu
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.
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.
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.
✓ Incredible sightseeing, travel on The Ghan from Adelaide to Darwin through the fiery red centre, explore Kangaroo Island and witness crocodiles in Kakadu and stunning landscapes
✓ 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
✓ 2 day guided tour of Kangaroo Island staying at Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge
✓ 6 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels
✓ 13 meals throughout
✓ Guided day tour to Kakadu National Park
✓ Transportation included as per the itinerary
✓ In depth sightseeing as per itinerary
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.
Welcome to Adelaide! On arrival, make your way to your centrally located hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Adelaide on your own.
Today start with an early morning pick-up from your hotel for a scenic coach transfer to Cape Jervis taking in the picturesque Fleurieu Peninsula with its vineyards, coastal views and rolling hills. On arrival, board the SeaLink ferry for the 45-minute crossing to Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island. Here you will board your luxury SeaLink coach, and your local driver/guide will take you on a tour of South Australia’s premier nature-based tourism destination. Visit Seal Bay Conservation Park where you will be taken on a guided beach walk with an experienced guide and be amongst a colony of rare Australian sea lions. Get up close and see these wild creatures frolic and laze about – a truly amazing and unforgettable experience.
Then enjoy a delicious two course lunch at Vivonne Bay Bistro, located on the south coast of Kangaroo Island. Spend the afternoon in the Flinders Chase National Park, which was devastated in the worst fire to ever hit the island in January 2020. You’ll see that the regeneration of the native bush occurs so quickly after the event and there will be many opportunities to take photos. As you travel through the park, keep an eye out for echidnas, wallabies, reptiles, and koalas. See the rugged coastline from walks aroundRemarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch. Remarkable Rocks provide great photographic opportunities, and the Admirals Arch boardwalk takes you down a rugged cliff face to reveal the spectacular rock archway, a natural nursery and safe haven for playful Long-nosed Fur Seals.
Your last visit of the day is to theKangaroo Island Wildlife Park to feed some kangaroos and get up close to the Kangaroo Island Koalas while listening to the Keeper talk about the cuddly mammals. There is also a possibility that you will see more kangaroos and wallabies on your way to your overnight accommodation.
Start your day with a delicious, cooked breakfast before heading off on day 2 of your tour. Today your local guide will introduce you to some of the island’s leading creators where you will see a “Free Flight” display of raptors and taste some local Kangaroo Island produce. Your first official stop will be the fascinating Birds of Prey Presentation at Raptor Domain for an educational, interactive, and inspiring experience. The only “Free Flight” Birds of Prey display in South Australia, it is thought by many to be the most interactive Birds of Prey
presentation in Australia.
Next, travel toEmu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery for a delicious lunch followed by an introductory talk about the history of the oil distillery and take a guided tour. You may choose to taste Kangaroo Island Ciders’ range of Colony Cove products including Apple Sparkler and Cider (additional cost). Finish off with some free time in their souvenir shop where you will find an assortment of Eucalyptus products.
Your next stop is Clifford’s Honey Farm, where you’ll enjoy an informative guided tour of the honey room where you will learn about the extraction process, taste a honey soft drink, and have the option to sample the Drunken Drone Brewery’s Honey Wheat Ale. In the farm gate shop, you can see a working beehive where you can try to spot the Queen bee. There are different varieties of pure Kangaroo Island Ligurian honey and beauty products to purchase as well as their famous honey ice-cream.
Continue to Pennington Bay, a spectacular beach on the south coast of Kangaroo Island for a photo opportunity before arriving at your final stopFalse Cape Wines Cellar Door. This stunning new cellar door is made from recycled wood, jetty timbers and limestone sourced on the property. Here you can take part in a structured wine tasting while enjoying the peaceful views of the surrounding vineyards.
Your tour ends at the Penneshaw Hotel where you have ample time to have dinner (own expense) before returning to the Penneshaw Ferry Terminal for your ferry and coach transfer back to Adelaide where you will arrive at approximately 10.40pm.
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
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.
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.
This morning you’ll be collected from your hotel for your day trip to Kakadu National Park.
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.
Today is a full day at leisure to enjoy the tropical surrounds of Darwin.
This afternoon, make your way to the pier to board your sunset cruise at 5:45PM. It’s a great way to take in the view of the famous Darwin sunset whilst enjoying a delicious Territory style buffet. The menu typically includes Australian seafood, a variety of meat and poultry options, fresh salads, a selection of cakes and local fruits. You can choose to enjoy the spread from the air-conditioned comfort of the lower deck or capture the stunning scenery from the Captain’s Deck whilst the infamous Darwin sunset spreads magnificent colours across the harbour.
The cruise departs from: DOCK 3, located at the very end of Stokes Hill Wharf, City Side. Crew members will meet guests under the large white umbrellas and will commence boarding 20 minutes prior to the cruise departure time.
Today your Red Centre and Top End discovery comes to an end.
Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.
Gold Service (Included)
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.
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)
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:
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.
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:
The online flight portal is unable to process the following requests and you must book these yourself independently:
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.
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 $2,800 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.
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
20-60 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:
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 and Post accommodation is subject to availability and pricing may differ based on your season of travel.
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.
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