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Inside The Ghan’s exclusive new culinary rail journey

Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
We speak with chef Mark Best on the new, flavour-forward rail adventure from Tasting Australia.

From announcing its ultra-luxe new Australis and Aurora Suites to the addition of a new Flinders Ranges stop for 2027, there’s been a lot of talk around The Ghan recently. Now, the legendary train is gearing up for an exclusive new journey spotlighting culinary talent and ancient desert landscapes.  

Part of the 2026 program of Tasting Australia – an esteemed annual festival celebrating South Australia and its people through flavour – the all-new Tasting Australia by Train: The Ghan Edition is a four-day culinary rail adventure between Darwin and Adelaide. Guests can expect fine wines and bespoke menus curated by an impressive line-up of culinary talent, including Michelin-starred Spanish chef Nieves Barragán Mohacho alongside Australian legends Mark Best, Jo Barrett and Shannon Fleming. 

the ghan
Discover the stories of the route’s diverse landscapes.

The exclusive itinerary from 6 to 9 May includes accommodation in a Gold Twin Cabin aboard The Ghan, with culinary and cultural moments thoughtfully woven between encounters with some of Australia’s most striking natural scenery, from Katherine and Alice Springs to the otherworldly landscapes of Coober Pedy. Guests will also have plenty of opportunity to engage meaningfully with the chefs.

South Australia-born, Mark Best says he is excited to be revisiting the region on such an iconic voyage. “It’s quite sparse, and you’re really dissecting the middle of Australia, right through past Lake Eyre and some of the most arid and beautiful landscapes in the world. But you have complete comfort."

Mark Best on the dining

ghan dining tasting australia by rail
Expect exquisite dining on Tasting Australia by Train: The Ghan Edition.

As far as what guests can expect on the culinary front, Best says he will be heroing local South Australian produce, hinting that kangaroo may appear on the menu. He also hopes to create a dish inspired by Adelaide’s iconic ‘pie floater’ (a pie sitting atop mushy peas).

“It’s fairly early days in terms of menu, but I’ll be using produce from Little Tin Co," Best says. “They have super high-quality tinned fish out of Port Lincoln and that area of South Australia – sardines, tuna, all locally tinned with local olive oil. And it’s absolutely fabulous." This produce will feature in one of the snacks: a ‘fish and chips’ using crispy Kettle chips. “It’s just a simple little thing we can do in the confines of the galley, leaving us room to do much more elaborate things."

Best anticipates the informal lunch at Simpsons Gap to be a highlight. Alongside chef Nieves, he plans to cook a kangaroo tail stew and damper in camp ovens followed by the likes of billy tea and quandong crumble. The food will reflect the amalgam of cultural stories that underpin Simpsons Gap, as well as The Ghan – which is named after the Afghan families that forged the route from Adelaide to Darwin. “We’re really trying to tell some of that story through the food," explains Best.

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The itinerary

The Ghan from above
The Ghan traverses cinematic landscapes.

Day one starts off with a bang. Guests will depart Darwin Berrimah Station and settle into their luxe new home aboard The Ghan, before discovering Bollinger’s most memorable vintage Champagnes during a private tasting and masterclass. A curated lunch onboard in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant will follow, along with an off-train stop in Katherine. Learn about the astounding cultural significance of the area as you cruise through a maze of ancient sandstone towers at Nitmiluk Gorge.

Day two enchants the senses in new ways. Journey into the beating heart of Central Australia and discover rich Indigenous lore at Simpsons Gap while marvelling at mulga woodlands believed to be the home of giant goanna ancestors. Here, you’ll enjoy a low-key lunch prepared by chefs Mark Best and Nieves Barragán Mohacho in a unique setting. Come evening, gaze up at wide-open starry skies during a memorable dinner at historic Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

Simpsons Gap
Discover the ethereal beauty of Simpsons Gap.
south australian desert
Witness rust-red desert landscapes.
the ghan dining alice springs
Enjoy dinner at Alice Springs Telegraph Station.

Day three unfolds with a stop in the outback town of Coober Pedy, the opal capital of the world. Here, many residents live underground in dugout homes to escape the harsh heat. Walk among undulating red contours of Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park and savour lunch prepared by chefs Jo Barrett and Shannon Fleming while overlooking a brilliant desert panorama. Then immerse yourself in community art and history at the Umoona Arts Centre and Old Timers Mine. Back onboard, Mark Best will whip up exceptional fare for a final black-tie evening infused with old-school Agatha Christie glamour.

The following morning, guests will pass through the spellbinding rocky landscapes of the Flinders Ranges en route to Adelaide, where they will disembark – no doubt filled with a sense of awe that will linger long after stepping off the train. 

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The details

Tasting Australia by Train: The Ghan Edition
Fine wines come standard aboard The Ghan.

Event: Tasting Australia by Train: The Ghan Edition 

Inclusions: All-inclusive meals, fine wines, beverages, off-train experiences and a stay in a Gold Twin Cabin for the duration of the journey. 

When: Wednesday 6 May to Saturday 9 May 2026 

Price: $7395 per person 

Where to book: Tasting Australia 

Eleanor Edström
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
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8 incredible hikes just outside of Melbourne

    Australian Traveller Australian Traveller
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    Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

    Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford, the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

    1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

    Hanging Rock Summit Walk
    Take in views across the Macedon Ranges.

    Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

    2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

    Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout
    Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

    The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

    3. Mount Alexander Traverse

    Mount Alexander Traverse
    Take in the serenity.

    Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

    4. Murmuring Walk

    Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes
    Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

    Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

    5. La Gerche Forest Walk

    La Gerche Forest Walk
    Walk into history on the La Gerche Forest trail.

    Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

    6. Sailors Falls Loop

    Sailors Falls Loop
    See these spectacular falls. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

    7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

    Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

    8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

    Mount Franklin Summit Walk
    Take in forests and waterfalls along the way to the top of Mount Franklin.

    An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

    The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.