Old Ghan Railway Tour
NORTHBOUND – Old Ghan Railway Tour – Follow the Old Ghan railway line from Adelaide then Port Augusta to Alice Springs with Pitchi Ritchi railway to Quorn then 4WD via the Old Ghan Railway & Overland Telegraph Line (OTL), Beltana, Farina, Marree, via Lake Eyre shore walk, Curdimurka, Coward Springs, Strangeways, Algebuckina, William Creek, Oodnadatta, Dalhousie Springs, Mt Dare, Simpson Desert, Chambers Pillar to Alice Springs. Small Group 4WD touring from Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Broken Hill, Marree, with Lake Eyre Tours and Flight –
or SOUTHBOUND – Old Ghan Railway Tour – Alice Springs or Uluru to Adelaide via Old Ghan Rail history, Cooper Pedy, Oodnadatta Track & Lake Eyre – Includes 2 nights for Uluru & Kata Tjuta walks, flight over Lake Eyre, travel the Oodnadatta Track, following the Old Ghan railway line, visit Marree, Coober Pedy (sleep underground), William Creek, Coward Springs, Leigh Creek, Copley – 5 days/ 4 nights. – Ask for details – 4WD transport, fully accommodated Code AMA5. Meets evening flights in Adelaide to return to Sydney or capital cities Sunday evening. See Availability or Book Now
Next Tour Details …
Old Ghan Railway Tour – Follow the Old Ghan railway line from Port Augusta to Alice Springs with Pitchi Ritchi railway to Quorn then 4WD via the Old Ghan Railway & Overland Telegraph Line (OTL), via Beltana Farina Marree via Lake Eyre shore walk, Curdimurka, Coward Springs, Strangeways, Algebuckina, William Creek, Oodnadatta, Dalhousie Springs, Mt Dare, Simpson Desert, to Alice Springs. Small Group 4WD touring from Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Broken Hill, Marree, with Lake Eyre Flight optional
Daily Overnights + Highlights
If from Sydney – via Broken Hill pickup option with Peterborough 3 gauge yard, stunning light show and overnight or
From Adelaide – Arrive day prior to visit the National Rail Museum & rail photo exhibition.
Day 1 – Depart Adelaide 8 am via. Port Augusta, Pt Wakefield, wind farms, Pt Pirie port and rail history, Spencer Gulf, Ride steam train Pitchi Ritchi Afghan Express from Pt Augusta to Quorn, Inspect steam engines, engine sheds and yards
The rail ride – Depart Port Augusta railway Station 10:30 – See the ancient Flinders Ranges landscape unfold before you on the full-day Afghan Express from Port Augusta Railway Station to the historic outback town of Quorn.
Travelling the old Ghan route over red earth and bluebush plains from Port Augusta, you’ll watch the ranges creep ever-closer before entering the Pichi Richi Pass with its rocky outcrops, dry riverbeds and beautiful hilly scenery.
The Afghan Express is the name railwaymen gave to the passenger train that ran from Terowie to Oodnadatta, through Quorn, in 1923. In time, this was abbreviated to the Ghan.
The railway was ultimately extended to Alice Springs by 1929. The Ghan used the Pichi Richi Railway route until 1956 when a new standard-gauge railway from Stirling North to Brachina bypassed the narrow gauge railway through the Pichi Richi Pass.
- Half-day journey from Port Augusta Railway Station
- Port Augusta to Quorn (37 km)
- Approximately 2 hour journey,
- Wherever practicable, original Ghan steam locomotive NM25 and genuine timber-bodied carriages built in the late 1920s will be used
- Diesel services use an historic Ghan locomotive, either NSU52 or NT76
- Single (one-way) tickets are available for a one-way journey from either Port Augusta or Quorn
- Departs Port Augusta at 10.30 am, and arrives at Quorn at approximately 12.15 pm.
On arrival in Quorn, we enjoy lunch, and an engine shed and workshop tour. Closed-in footwear must be worn on workshop tours for safety reasons.
Overnight Quorn at the Transcontinental Hotel
Day 2 – Marree Beltana, Farina, Parachilna, see Leigh Ck, Overland Telegraph Station Line, Old Ghan loop & cattle yards, engines,2 gauge platform, Tom Kruse “Outback Mailman” truck & Oodnadatta Track to Curdimurka – overnight William Creek
Day 3 – William Creek Lake Eyre flight (optional extra), Coward Springs, Strangeways, Rocket Park, 4WD travel Old Ghan route via Algebuckina Bridge (the largest on Old Ghan) Overnight Oodnadatta
Day 4 – Oodnadatta Rail museum and precinct, Dalhousie Springs, Painted Desert, hot springs swim under the palm trees. Overnight Mt Dare Hotel
Day 5 – Finke, Lamberts Centre of Australia, Rodinga Siding, Maryvale Station & Aboriginal community, Ewaninga Rock art – Overnight Alice Springs
Day 6 – Alice Springs National Transport Museum – flights home or Ghan to Adelaide or Darwin or tour to Darwin via Devils Marbles & /or Lost City – Overnight Alice Springs
Day 7 Optional – Alice Springs optional extra day or tour to Uluru via Western MacDonnell Ranges, Meerenie Loop & Palm Valley
Our Lake Eyre component has time for an optional spectacular 1 hr flight with Warburton Groove which includes viewing Cooper Creek, Warburton Groove (the major inflows), Elliot Price Conservation Park, Campbell Point, Jackboot, Halligan & Belt Bays, Lake Eyre South, major islands & landmarks. Learn of the Marree Man giant sculpture. Visit Lake Eyre South shoreline, Mound Springs ( including “The Bubbler”) in the Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs Conservation Park and the old Afghan created palm grove of the old Ghan town of Coward Springs with great railway heritage. Plus Painted Hills flight option.
Includes Alice Springs Transport Museum & historic steam engines and railway steam engine workshop visit.
Meet in Adelaide or travel overland from Sydney by rail or 4WD. Finish Alice Springs or optionally join new Ghan to Darwin or return to Adelaide. Tour includes all Accommodation, all Meals, Pitchi Ritchi Railway from Port Augusta to Quorn, all National Park entries. Price includes 6 nights hotel/motel accommodation
Old Ghan Railway Tour
Includes Alice Springs Transport Museum & historic steam engines and railway steam engine workshop visit.
Meet in Adelaide or travel overland from Sydney by rail or 4WD. Finish Alice Springs or optionally join new Ghan to Darwin or return to Adelaide. Tour includes all Accommodation, all Meals, 2.5 hr Lake Eyre Flight, Pitchi Ritchi rail ride, all National Park entries. Price includes 5 nights hotel/motel accommodation.
OR SOUTHBOUND – Alice Springs or Uluru to Adelaide via Old Ghan Rail history, Cooper Pedy, Oodnadatta Track & Lake Eyre – Includes 2 nights for Uluru & Kata Tjuta walks & sightseeing, Lake Eyre flight, Oodnadatta Track, following the Old Ghan railway line, visit Marree, Coober Pedy oplas), William Creek, Coward Springs, 5 days. 4WD transport, accommodated from TBA Code UMA5. Meets evening flights in Adelaide to return to Sydney or capital cities Sunday evening.
Diesel loco may substitute steam train on some tour dates.
Call 08 8120 0366 or 1300 763 188