PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GHAN
Australia
THE GHAN With nearly 85 % of its population living along the coast , Australia ’ s rugged interior is a vast and colorful world less traveled . Red rocks and blue skies , the country ’ s scorched terrain is dotted with strange rock formations akin to a planet far , far away . Fearlessly traversing the Outback ’ s otherworldly center is The Ghan , a distinct passenger train that offers transcontinental adventures and interior getaways on the world ’ s smallest continent .
Each route frequented by The Ghan departs from either Darwin or Adelaide with Darwin being one of Australia ’ s northernmost cities and Adelaide one of its southernmost cities . Alternatively , travelers can also opt for a route that ends in Alice Springs , a gorgeous town in Australia ’ s Northern Territory that is conveniently located halfway between the two coastal towns .
Inside , there are three service levels to choose from — Gold Service , Platinum Service and the Chairman ’ s Carriage . Gold Service is the most popular accommodation of the three with many finding a Gold Service Twin or Single Cabin to have all the essentials that they need for the multi-day adventure . Additionally , every guest on The Ghan can enjoy all-inclusive dining at the Queen Adelaide Restaurant , bottomless Australian wines , beers , spirits and non-alcoholic beverages and all-inclusive off-train excursions and short stops .
SUMMER 2022 / THE COMPASS / 41