February 2014 marks a decade since The Ghan completed its
extended route from Adelaide to Darwin. Prior to that, it only ran from
Adelaide to Alice Springs in the Red Centre. Today The Ghan offers an iconic
cross continental rail service. To celebrate, Great Southern Rail is offering
travellers 20% off their most popular packages on bookings made between the 6
January and 28 February 2014. The offer is valid for travel between the 1 May
2014 and the 31 October 2014.
Discounted fares from Darwin to Alice Springs or vice versa
start from £525 (AU$952) per person travelling in Gold Class or from £1052
(1,832 AU$) per person travelling from Darwin to Adelaide (and vice versa). The
price includes all off train tours, all standard beverages, including soft
drinks, beers, standard wines and spirits and meals.
Passengers travelling on the Ghan will have the opportunity
to explore some of Australia’s most fascinating towns and landscapes. In three
days and two nights, covering 2,979km, travellers can make their way leisurely
from the Northern Territory’s capital of Darwin all the way to Adelaide. But
who in their right mind would not get off the train for a few days to explore
the quintessential Australian landscape around Alice Springs?
On board The Ghan travellers have time to soak up and enjoy
the moving landscapes as they change from lush green when leaving Australia’s
Top End to dust red as the train makes its way through the heart of the Red
Centre and then return to green as it travels through the vineyards surrounding
Adelaide.
The name of The Ghan comes from the pioneering cameleers
(many of them Afghans or Ghans as they were more commonly known), who were the
first to establish a permanent trail to the Red Centre over 150 years ago. When
the train departed Adelaide on its inaugural journey to Darwin, it was the
longest passenger train in Australia’s history, stretching more than 1km with
two locomotives and 43 carriages. For further information on the Ghan visit: www.greatsouthernrail.com.au
