The Red Centre to the Kimberley | Rail & Sail

A legendary train. An unforgettable Australian adventure. Travel aboard The Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin on an all-inclusive journey through the heart of Australia. Departing from Adelaide, travel coast to coast through the fiery red centre, experiencing Australia at its dramatic best.

Join pioneering small ship expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions on a thrilling in- depth exploration of Australia's world-famous Kimberley Coast, one of the world's most pristine and untouched wildernesses, aboard our luxurious, 140-guest expedition ship Heritage Adventurer.

Forged by nature and spanning more than 400,000 square kilometres, Australia's world-famous Kimberley Coast features a treasure trove of towering, fractured iron-tinged red cliffs, torrential waterfalls, azure waters, hidden coves and caves, secluded white sand beaches perfect for expedition cruising. Explore magnificent reefs and encounter rare and endangered wildlife; experience indigenous customs, rock art and connections to ancient lands; and discover the area's rich history on a Kimberley cruise with Heritage Expeditions.

Your Fly, Rail & Cruise Package Includes:

• $1000 flight credit per person
• 1 night 4-star accommodation in Adelaide with breakfast
• 2 night rail journey aboard The Ghan, Adelaide to Darwin
• Includes all meals, fine wines & beverages, off train experiences in Marla, Alice Springs & Katherine plus more
• 1 night 4-star accommodation in Darwin with breakfast
• 9 night Kimberley Explorer expedition cruise onboard Heritage Adventurer, Darwin to Broome
• Includes meals, house beer, wine & soft drinks with lunch & dinner, shore excursions, landing fees plus more
• Select private transfers

Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 20 July – 02 August 2024

Solo traveller pricing available, speak with your travel consultant

Rail Itinerary:

DAY 01

ADELAIDE

Departing Adelaide, what lies ahead is rugged, beautiful and spectacular – through the Red Centre to the tropical north of Australia. Settle into your cabin and watch the rolling pastoral lands of South Australia from your window, or meet your fellow travellers in the lounge car. Before long some of the oldest rock formations in the world, the Flinders Ranges, come into view. As darkness envelops the rugged outback, it’s time to indulge in a regionally-inspired dinner and all-inclusive fine wines and beverages.

DAY 02

ALICE SPRINGS

Begin with a freshly brewed coffee or juice as the day dawns at Marla, an outback outpost in the remote reaches of South Australia. It is here, deep inland, that you will enjoy a one of a kind experience, as you watch the desert come to life at sunrise. All aboard for brunch as you make your way through the MacDonnell Ranges to Alice Springs where a choice of Off Train Excursions awaits. Alice is an iconic Red Centre outpost. 1,500 kilometres from the nearest major city, it may be remote, but offers plenty to explore – home to doctors who fly, rivers that run dry, and a cast of colourful characters. Your time in the ‘capital out of the outback’ offers numerous opportunities to explore its historic legacy and unique environment.

DAY 03

KATHERINE AND DARWIN

Your day dawns in the tropical north. The pristine wilderness of Katherine is stirring and powerful, and you’ll have the chance to explore it from the water on an Off Train Experience. Cruise the jaw-dropping Nitmiluk Gorge, learn more about its ancient Indigenous rock paintings and gain insight into the culture of the traditional owners of Nitmiluk, the Jawoyn people.  As evening falls, arrive in Darwin to complete your epic Australian journey.

Cruise Itinerary:

Arrive Darwin, Embark Ship

Be met at the airport before being transferred to your premium expedition ship, Heritage Adventurer, your home for the next nine nights. Get to know your fellow travellers at a relaxed dinner on board this evening.

Koolama Bay, King George River, King George Falls

Arrive in Koolama Bay this morning before joining a Zodiac cruise along the King George River, winding through towering red cliffs and passing by mangrove forests. You’ll also enjoy your first Insider Experience at the river’s greatest attraction.

Vansittart Bay

Explore beautiful Vansittart Bay today, landing and experiencing its greatest sights. Venture out across the salt flats to see the US Air Force C-53 plane which famously crash landed here during World War II in 1942.

Ashmore Reef

Arrive at Ashmore Reef Marine Park today and savour a Zodiac tour of the seabird haven, where up to 100,000 birds breed each year. In addition to the prolific birdlife, beneath the clear tropical waters, the coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sandflats and lagoons of Ashmore Reef are home to a colourful array of marine life including 255 species of reef building coral, the greatest number of any reef on the Western Australian coast.

Bigge Island

See incredible galleries of ancient Wandjina rock art today in the many caves of Bigge Island. Some of the artworks are thought to have been repainted annually by the Wunambal people for up to 5,000 years, while there are also others offering remarkable depictions of European tall ships dating to the 15th century.

Prince Frederick Harbour, Hunter River, Mitchell Falls

Arrive in Prince Frederick Harbour today and explore its lush mangrove ecosystems surrounded by impressive red sandstone cliffs. The harbour fosters an array of wildlife including saltwater crocodiles, mudskippers, kingfishers and white-bellied sea eagles. Next, reboard a Zodiac to discover the wonders of the Hunter River and the picturesque Naturalist Island. If you’d like to soar high above the Kimberley’s incredible landscapes, you can board a helicopter flight for a birds-eye view of the tiered Mitchell Falls (additional expense).

Montgomery Reef, Doubtful Bay, Freshwater Cove

Soak in the amazing scenes aboard a Zodiac as Montgomery Reef dramatically rises out of the ocean as a result of the region’s strong tides. Cruise through narrow channels between the world’s largest inshore reef as you admire the spectacle and the incredible wildlife exposed by the cascading water.

Be guided by a local Indigenous guide through an incredible millennia-old Wandjina rock art site at Freshwater Cove.

After a special Insider Experience, cruise through Doubtful Bay on the lookout for whales, which are commonly seen during the season. Enjoy another Insider Experience at Freshwater Cove to end your day.

Talbot Bay, Horizontal Falls

Enjoy viewing the incredible Horizontal Falls aboard a Zodiac in Talbot Bay, subject to tidal conditions. Forged by the bay’s impressive 12-metre tides as the water squeezes through a narrow gap between gorge walls, the powerful currents are a sight to behold.

An exciting day exploring the Kimberley by Zodiac awaits today after arriving in Talbot Bay. Enjoy an Insider Experience and explore the bay and Cyclone Creek as you wind your way past impressive rock formations on the lookout for the region’s amazing wildlife.

Lacepede Islands, Buccaneer Archipelago

Today you’ll set out on a Zodiac for a guided tour of the spectacular Lacepede Islands. A certified Important Bird Area for an abundance of marine birds and Western Australia’s most important Green Turtle breeding habitat, the quartet of islands are havens for a variety of wildlife and a joy to explore. Later, your ship cruises to the Buccaneer Archipelago, a beautiful cluster of more than 800 islands home to a broad range of unique wildlife.

Disembark Ship, Depart Broome

Arrive in Broome this morning, where your tour ends after.

Prices listed are per person in Australian/New Zealand Dollars, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking and shown on the lowest inside category available at the time.  Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 26 March 2024 and can be withdrawn without notice.   Cabin categories include prepaid government fees and port taxes unless otherwise stated.  Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Visas are not included.  Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge. Air credit is applicable on airline of choice, subject to availability and subject to the carriers’ flight schedules and conditions.