The Australian outback is one of the wildest places on Earth.
A vast void of deserts and semi-arid wilderness, it stretches across about 80% of the country’s interior — an area roughly equivalent to seven times the size of Texas.
The Ghan is one of the longest train journeys in the world, spanning 1,851 miles (2,979 kilometers) and multiple climate zones, from tropical Darwin in Australia’s “top end” to the lush hills of Adelaide on the southern Indian Ocean.
With top speeds of 71 miles (115 kilometers) per hour, the train could complete the entire journey in around a day and a half if it was running non-stop.
The transcontinental service operates twice a week in either direction, north or south, and runs year-round (except for December through February, the hottest months during the southern hemisphere’s summer).
It’s a tourist train that operates like a slow-moving cruise ship on rails, with several extended stops and guided excursions along the length of the route.
These settlements are often hundreds of miles away from any other major city.
The Ghan lets you experience the region’s rugged beauty and heritage without ever needing to lift a finger. Which is why this train is a highly rated bucket-list adventure for so many travelers, including Aussies.
On any given day, the Ghan is one of the longest passenger trains in the world.