Traverse Australia surrounded by lavish creature comforts in The Ghan’s Gold Premium carriages.

Whisking passengers through the Australian outback for almost a century, The Ghan has undergone countless upgrades since its first cross-country journey in 1929. While its amenities and cuisine continue to evolve with the years, the whimsical and romantic air associated with this tried and true way of travel remains rock solid.

The Ghan is a sightseer’s holy grail—an all-inclusive train ride spanning the southern and northern coasts of Australia, cutting through rarely explored terrain to bring you the best sunsets and skylines the country has to offer.

With the inclusion of Gold Premium, embark on a familiar route with the added luxuries of ultra-modern cabins, Gold Premium dining and lounge, all-inclusive Off Train Experiences and newfound travel essentials such as silk eye masks.

Cocoons of comfort

Switch off from the outside world and embrace the updated art deco cabins, home to exquisite brass detailing and plush fixed furniture with all the bells and whistles. The redesigned Gold Premium carriages feature Woods Bagot designs that pay tribute to painter Albert Namatjira’s lasting legacy of stunning artistic landscapes, and his impact seeps through the cabins and out to the newly designed lounge and dining carriages.

There are two variations of cabin configuration: Gold Premium Twin and Gold Premium Suite.

The Gold Premium Twin features comfortable lounges that convert to sleeping vessels when the desire to snooze becomes overpowering; the Gold Premium Suite comes fitted with a train-sized double bed for those who prefer to spread out a bit when they enter their REM cycle. Both options come complete with cosy cotton bedding and, as touched on, those enviable silk sleep masks that will soon become a staple in the getting-ready-for-bed routine. Keep an eye out for complementary amenities tucked away in the ensuite bathrooms attached to each cabin. Each cabin comes well-equipped with powerpoints.

All-inclusive access

Both the twin and suite cabins give passengers access to some significant perks found aboard The Ghan.

For social butterflies, the Gold Premium Lounge is a mingler’s delight. Make use of the all-inclusive drinks menu and settle into the elegant booth-style seats that line the spacious carriage. From there, it’s only a matter of time before fellow rail riders will be regaling those around them with tales of their travels, either over a morning coffee or an evening cocktail.

Alternatively, bring a book for travel inspiration and perch on a chair near the window to lean into the serenity of a train ride. There’s no wrong way to ride The Ghan and everyone is free to move at their own pace.

Over in the Gold Premium Dining carriage, a feast awaits. From a berry-topped brioche in the morning, to a two-course, locally sourced lunch and a four-course dinner to round out the day, including regional and seasonal dishes like grilled Murray Bridge pork loin or a fragrant buffalo curry, nary a stomach will be left rumbling as you glide across the outback. As the carefully crafted menu is included in the train fare, there’ll be no reason to fret about choosing one or the other—when in doubt, get both.

Turn dinner into a buzzy affair and pair succulent dishes with the appropriate wines for an evening of merry bliss, before retiring to the cabins for a much-needed reunion with the eye mask.

Off-train exploration

The Ghan isn’t merely a mode of transport – it’s a destination en route to the next. Included in the Gold Premium packages are a smorgasbord of off-train experiences that serve as an opportunity for legs to be stretched and sights to be seen.

For those travelling from Adelaide to Darwin, spend time in Marla and Katherine. Coober Pedy awaits those on the Darwin-to-Adelaide route, providing an opportunity to explore the opal capital of the world.

Regardless of which way the train is headed, passengers will stop in Alice Springs, often considered the centre of Australia. Here, along with a range of land-based experiences, there’s an optional upgrade available to join a 15-minute helicopter flight, providing a birds-eye view of Simpsons Gap, Mount Gillen Ridgeline and the Larapinta Trail all with expert commentary on what you’re seeing from the pilot. Another option is a guided camel tour through the MacDonnell Ranges.

For those on The Ghan Expedition, the star-soaked dinner at the Old Telegraph Station is a definite highlight, where the sky comes alive and each course is more delectable than the last.