Across Australia by train

Darwin and Adelaide can be reached by plane from all major Australian cities and a few international destinations like Singapore, Denpasar, or Kuala Lumpur. Darwin does not serve any other passenger trains, while other passenger trains in Adelaide are limited to a twice-weekly service from Melbourne and its suburban rail network.

Sydney and Perth are well-connected by air, each with services to all other Australian capital cities and international destinations. There are public train services from the country towns of New South Wales to Sydney, as well as trains from Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne. Perth is also served by trains connecting it to nearby country towns in the southern part of Western Australia.

This itinerary assumes you start from Darwin and head south, but it's also possible in the opposite direction. The Ghan takes 54 hours to travel 2,979 km (1,851 mi). The Ghan only operates between March and November, and does not operate between December and February as that is the rainy season in northern Australia.

• 🌍 Darwin — From Darwin (0 km), there is a departure every Wednesday at 10AM between March and November. The three-day, two-night journey takes around 50 hours from end to end. The station is a fair way from central Darwin, about 20 minutes drive. The railway's primary purpose is freight, and the line goes straight to the port at East Arm, without passing through any built-up areas. Dedicated buses connect between the Darwin Transit Centre in Mitchell St and the rail station for an additional fee. Taxis are possible, but expensive. There is no scheduled bus.

From Adelaide (2979 km), departures are on Sunday 12:15PM between March and November, with an additional train on Wednesdays at the 12:10PM between April and October.

• 🌍 Katherine (312 km) — The Ghan stops here for around five hours, with an optional guided "Whistle Stop Tour" available. The old railway from Darwin to Katherine stopped in central Katherine, and you can visit the site of the railway station. You can walk the old high level railway bridge across the Katherine river following the old alignment. However, it is around 10 km from the old station to the new one, so if you want to see Katherine, the tour may be your best option. You may not begin or end your journey here.

• 🌍 Alice Springs (1420 km) — Alice Springs is the former northern terminus of The Ghan and the largest town by far en route. The train stops here for around four hours, long enough for a quick peek around town. The station is on the edge of the CBD, a couple of blocks walk to the Todd mall. Many people opt to break their journey here for a few days and visit Uluru, about 400 km away, but there is plenty to do for a few days in Alice and surrounds even if you don't venture to the Rock. Alice Springs has all the services to make it possible.

• 🌍 Marla — Marla is a purpose built highway service centre with nothing else there except the highway, train line and the station. The highlight of any visit there is to see The Ghan when it passes through, and the desert stretching off into the distance, if you are actually on The Ghan looking at the desert stretching off into the distance, best to stay on board. Only the northbound train stops here, during which you may step off the train to stretch your legs and watch the sunrise, but you may not begin or end your journey here.

• 🌍 Manguri — Only the southbound train stops here, and only between on journeys made between March and November, during which you can get off to stretch your legs and gaze at the stars, but you may not begin or end your journey here.

• 🌍 Adelaide (2979 km) — The end of the line — unless you switch onto the Indian Pacific and continue onward to Perth or Sydney.

This route connects the Perth on the Indian Ocean with Sydney on the Pacific Ocean. The 4,352 km trip takes about three days and is distance-wise by far the longest in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the longest domestic rail journeys in the world. It's notable for the 478 km long section across the Nullarbor Plain, which is the longest straight railway stretch in the world. Unlike The Ghan, the Indian Pacific runs year-round. From Sydney, the train departs every Wednesday at 1:55PM, while from Perth, the train departs every Sunday at 10AM. Motorail service (taking your car onto the train) is only available between Perth and Adelaide.

• 🌍 Perth — Either the destination of the Indian Pacific journey, or the point of departure, Perth is a useful terminus. The train Indian Pacific departs from the East Perth terminal, just two stations away from the Perth CBD. The city caters for all levels of travellers, with budget backpackers well catered for in Northbridge, the suburb immediately north of the city railway station - to the hotels in the CBD which cater for the high spenders.
• 🌍 Kalgoorlie — Only the eastbound train stops here. An alternative to the long distance train Indian Pacific, the local Prospector rail service runs a daytime service daily between Kalgoorlie and Perth, but covering the distance in half the time it takes the Indian Pacific to do so. The Kalgoorlie railway station itself is easy walking distance to the centre of town and accommodation Passengers on the eastbound train may join at tour of the town here while the train is stopped, but this is not available to westbound passengers as the train passes through in the middle of the night. The train passes through the picturesque Avon Valley on its way between Perth and Kalgoorlie.
• 🌍 Rawlinna — Only the westbound train (towards Perth) stops here, and there is a live music performance on the platform. During the summer months, dinner is served on the platform, while at other times of the year, you will return on board the train to have dinner in the restaurant car.
• 🌍 Cook — Originally founded to service the railway, today it is a ghost town, where you will be allowed to walk around the station while your train is refuelled.
• 🌍 Adelaide — The capital of South Australia has many attractions and facilities, and is the gateway to many more. The Keswick station has been renamed the Adelaide Parklands Terminal, on account of it being on the outside of the Adelaide city greenbelt. There is no suburban rail service from Adelaide Parklands Terminal to Adelaide Railway Station in the City, and the nearest bus stop is a 15 minute walk from Adelaide Parklands Terminal. Taxi to the city is expensive, around $20, or you can call Uber. There are no real facilities or attractions in the station vicinity. The station itself is very basic, its only purpose to serve the Indian Pacific, Ghan and Overland trains that arrive a couple of times week. You can get your car off here, and transfer between the two transcontinental services.
• 🌍 Broken Hill — Only the westbound train stops here. Tours are offered here in the couple of hours that the train is at the station, with the coaches pulling up at the station at the same time as the train. If you choose not to take the coach tour, the railway station is right in the centre of town, and you can easily walk and spend time browsing the windows of a few galleries, returning to the station for breakfast. The tour is not available to for passengers on the eastbound train as the train passes through in the middle of the night.
• 🌍 Mount Victoria — Only the eastbound train (towards Sydney) stops here. Passengers may get off here to join a tour of the Blue Mountains, and you will be later transported onwards to Sydney on one of NSW Trainlink's trains.
• 🌍 Sydney — The orange-coloured Sydney Central station is located just south of the Central Business District, and is actually smaller than you might expect. In addition to being the eastern terminus for the Indian Pacific, it is one of the main nodes in the city's public transport system. Things to see at the station itself include the flags of Australian states and territories hanging from the ceiling and the small exhibition of Australian railway history. If you've just arrived by train, exit the main entrance, and walk straight on for half an hour or so and you'll see the Opera House on your right-hand side and Harbour Bridge on your left.

Though the journeys are long, and there are few chances of people just wandering in onto the train like in other countries, it is nevertheless wise to secure your room or items.