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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 

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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 experiences to get the most out of Victoria’s Great Ocean Road

    Louis Costello Louis Costello
    Continue
    Beyond the winding bitumen and coastal views lies another side to Victoria’s most famous route.

    There’s something hypnotic about this stretch of Victoria’s coast. Maybe it’s the way the road hugs the ocean so tightly, or how the cliffs catch the sun in colours you can’t name. Or, for local Victorians who drove this route as kids, maybe it’s the memories of winding through the impossibly tall trees as they seemingly guide you on your journey like wooden guardian angels. Most travellers know it for the 12 Apostles, but there are plenty of alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road equally as worthy of your time.

    So, next time you’re in that neck of the woods, park that car, stretch those legs and try these experiences.

    1. Discover living culture at Budj Bim

    Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism
    Walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Breakaway Creek’s Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is a masterclass in educational storytelling. Join a guided tour with Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Tourism to walk across the world’s oldest known aquaculture system, where the Gunditjmara people built sophisticated eel traps and stone channels more than 6,000 years ago.

    Budj Bim’s aquaculture system predates Egypt’s pyramids by roughly 2,000 years, making it one of the oldest examples of human engineering on Earth. If that’s not enough to get your history-loving family members involved in this road trip, we’re out of ideas.

    2. Unwind in the hot springs at Warnambool

    woman relaxing at Deep Blue Hot Springs
    Let mineral-rich water heal you.

    If your legs need a break after a long drive, Deep Blue Hot Springs is your remedy. The geothermal pools sit just metres from the coastline, filled with mineral-rich water that bubbles up from deep underground. Move between open-air baths, waterfall pools and quiet zones made for meditation.

    The water in Deep Blue’s geothermal pools comes from an ancient aquifer nearly 850 metres below the Earth’s surface, which, in non-scientific terms, means it’s far more likely to have healing properties than the mineral water you’d find at the supermarket.

    3. Take to the air at Princetown

    12 Apostles Helicopters flight alternate experiences on the Great Ocean Road
    See an icon from a different view.

    You may have seen the Twelve Apostles from the trusty viewing platform, but a helicopter flight with 12 Apostles Helicopters shows you just how sprawling and rugged this coastline really is.

    The trip covers everything from Port Campbell to London Bridge (not to be confused with the UK’s own), giving you a rare chance to watch waves carving the limestone cliffs from above. It’s worth noting that the limestone stacks of the Twelve Apostles are said to erode by roughly two centimetres each year, so the longer you leave it, the less of the Apostles you’ll see.

    4. Step into the past at Flagstaff Hill

    Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum
    Visit a time of yore.

    Continue the tour through Warnambool at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village and Museum, a recreated 19th-century port town. Hear stories from the days when shipwrecks were as common as seagulls, with an astounding 180 ships believed to have sunk along the Shipwreck Coast in less than five years.

    The night show, complete with lights, sound, and sea spray, brings the coastline’s most dramatic stories to life.

    If you’re staying the night, Simon’s Waterfront offers relaxed dining with fresh local seafood and oceanfront views. Order the catch of the day and toast to the sailors who never made it ashore.

    5. Learn to surf in Torquay, Lorne, or Anglesea

    kid having a lesson with Go Ride A Wave
    Learn how to hang 10. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    Whether you’ve surfed before or can barely stand on a board, Go Ride A Wave will have you upright in no time. Torquay’s calm beaches are ideal for first-timers, while Lorne and Anglesea bring a bit more energy for those unafraid to get dunked.

    Bells Beach, just down the road from Torquay, has even hosted the world’s longest-running professional surfing competition since 1962. So, for those eager to have a gander at pros using surfboards like they’re an additional appendage, the competition usually runs sometime in autumn.

    6. Tackle the trails in Forrest

    Barwon Flow Trails Otways Flow MTB
    Hire a bike and explore MTB trails through the Otways.

    Forrest is a haven for mountain bikers thanks to an expansive network of trails through stunning natural scenery. The Forrest trail network has almost 100 kilometres of singletrack across 36 trails, so there’s something for every level of rider. That’s including more than 60 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails winding through the Otways’ dense forest. Cycle through ancient myrtle beech trees and towering tree ferns, with smaller ferns and soft mosses forming a carpet at your feet.

    Hire a bike from Forrest MTB Hire and take your pick from easy, scenic rides to more challenging singletracks, such as Red Carpet or Rollercoaster.

    7. See wildlife up close in Apollo Bay

    bush rat on Wildlife Wonders tour
    Get help spotting the locals. (Image: Doug Gimsey)

    If spotting koalas and kangaroos in the wild feels like winning the lottery, Wildlife Wonders gives you guaranteed sightings without cages or crowds. Every visit to the sanctuary helps fund the Conservation Ecology Centre which supports endangered species across the Otways, so your business is appreciated by humans and animals alike.

    The guided walk takes you through protected Otways habitat where you might spot potoroos (or joey lookalikes for those unfamiliar with a potoroo), wallabies, and sleepy koalas lounging in the trees.

    8. Visit the Cape Otway Lightstation

    Cape Otway Lightstation
    Delve into the tales of Cape Otway Lightstation.

    Towering over the sea on a cliff above the Southern Ocean, Cape Otway Lightstation has been guiding ships since 1848. Before the lighthouse was built, Cape Otway was one of the most treacherous points on the Victorian coast, with dozens of shipwrecks occurring in its surrounding waters. Pick the right day, and you may bump into a local willing to tell you about the wreck of Eric the Red.

    While at the Cape Otway Lightstation, explore the keeper’s quarters, walk the coastal trails, and take in views that only stop short at the horizon.

    And no, contrary to popular belief, the Round the Twist lighthouse is actually located in Split Point, just shy of two hours in the direction of Melbourne. Nothing’s stopping you from embarking on a lighthouse crawl, though.

    Plan your next no-stone-unturned journey along this iconic Aussie road at visitgreatoceanroad.org.au.