South Australia, Ghan and the Top End

Day 1 - Thursday 29 April 2021

Melbourne - Adelaide (L,D)

Welcome to Sisterhood Womens Travel.  Your tour hostess and fellow travellers will meet you at the Melbourne Airport for our flight to Adelaide.  Upon arrival into Adelaide we are met by our local coach captain and travel into the heart of Adelaide to enjoly a light lunch at the Lions Hotel.  We then make our way to the Adelaide Oval to meet up with our expert guide and venture behind the scenes to discover hidden secrets and relive celebrated moments in the sporting, musical and civic history of this world famous arena. Our tour also includes the famed Bradman Museum where we will learn about Australia’s greatest ever cricketer. After leaving the oval we travel through the “City of Churches” taking in the iconic building, parks and gardens that the city is renowned for. Late afternoon we check into our hotel before dinner.

Overnight Adelaide: Ibis Adelaide 

Day 2 - Friday 30 April 2021

Barossa Valley (B,L,D)

This morning after breakfast we travel up into the Barossa Valley wine region, our first stop is the Menglers Hill Lookout and Barossa Sculpture Park. See sweeping, 180 degree views of famed wineries and fields that make up the region’s stunning landscape. The park hosts a number of distinctive abstract art pieces that have been sculpted by a number of renowned artists at a duo of symposiums. Next is the Barossa Valley Chocolate Company where we can watch the team of chocolatiers making the artisan, homemade chocolate and experience a chocolate and wine pairing carefully curated by the cellar door and chocolatier teams. For lunch we visit Maggie Beer’s Farm Shop and Eatery, talent chef Tim Bourke creates a daily menu that we enjoy on the deck (weather permitting). Visit the Farm Shop and browse the exclusive items before we depart for the historic Seppeltsfield Wines and enjoy a heritage tour and tastings. Our tour includes a behind-the-scenes look through the estate’s treasure trove of historical buildings and spectacular surroundings. Learn of the Seppelt family history and their profound influence on the Australian wine industry. This afternoon we visit the magnificent Chateau Barossa, showcasing the Antique Museum containing a private collection of antique furniture and Meissen porcelain, considered one of the most valuable and important in the world. Later we return to our accommodation for a rest before dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Overnight Adelaide: Ibis Adelaide

Day 3 - Saturday 1 May 2021

Hahndorf (B,D)

This morning we visit St. Peters Cathedral to experience a guided tour of the church. Completed in 1904 after the foundation stone was laid in 1869, the Towers and Spires were built and consecrated in 1902 and have the heaviest and finest bells in the Southern Hemisphere. A major feature is the fascinating stain glass windows within the Cathedral, each with their own story. Next we visit the Historic German Village of Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest surviving German village with many original buildings housing interesting German and Australian History. We take time to stroll along the main street with its numerous craft and souvenir shops and cafes to purchase lunch. This afternoon we visit the Cedars, home of Hans Heysen where we enjoy a tour through the untouched family home and studio of one of Australia’s most celebrated artists. His inspiration stemmed from the Adelaide Hills area and the rugged beauty of the Flinders Ranges. Our last stop of the day is the Mount Lofty Lookout, providing us with amazing panoramic views across the city of Adelaide and its seaside suburbs. We return to our accommodation to refresh before dinner at the Mayflower Restaurant.

Overnight Adelaide: Ibis Adelaide

Day 4 - Sunday 2 May 2021

Adelaide - Alice Springs (B,L,D)

We enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning before we checkout and transfer to the Adelaide Parklands Terminal to board The Legendary Ghan for our 12.15pm departure. On our rail journey we experience one of the most fascinating and great train journeys of the world where it takes us on an ultimate journey through the heart of the Australian continent. There’s no better viewpoint to watch the rolling pastoral lands of South Australia change into rugged Mallee scrub, as the spectacular Flinders Ranges disappear into the horizon.

Overnight The Ghan: Gold Service

Day 5 - Monday 3 May 2021

Alice Springs (B)

Wake up with a coffee and step off the train to witness an unforgettable outback sunrise at Marla – a remote outpost 160 kilometres from the Northern Territory border. After more incredible outback scenery, we’ll arrive into Alice Springs in the early afternoon at approx 1.45pm. We will have time in Alice to experience one of the optional off train tours at own cost. Visit the Alice Springs Desert Park, join the Alice Explorer, do the "Discovery Walk" at Simpson’s Gap, take a scenic flight, ride a camel or just spend your free time down the mall. Later this afternoon we are back on The Legendary Ghan for our 6.15pm departure for Katherine and Darwin.

Overnight The Ghan: Gold Service

Day 6 - Tuesday 4 May 2021

Katherine - Darwin (B,L,D)

Welcome to Katherine! Upon reaching the Northern Territory we'll enjoy another full breakfast before leaving the train for a day of cultural delights. Endless options with our optional off train experiences await in Katherine (own cost). Enjoy a leisurely cruise on the Katherine River gazing in wonder at towering sandstone cliffs. Alternatively, gain an insight into the culture and ways of the traditional owners of Nitmiluk, the Jawoyn people, with an exclusive cultural experience. Spend the day with the Aboriginal people, sharing their culture, learning their ways and trying some of the skills developed over thousands of years. Activities include basket weaving; spear throwing, fire lighting, painting, and learning the Didgeridoo. We can also choose to upgrade our excursion with a helicopter or scenic flight over Kakadu and Nitmiluk National Parks where aside from magnificent views, we may witness ‘Bolung’, the rainbow serpent who is believed to inhabit the deep green pools found in the Second Gorge. A late lunch awaits back on board then kick back, and savour the last few hours of this epic journey. We arrive into Darwin at 5.30pm where we disembark The Ghan and transfer to our hotel for check in and dinner. 

Overnight Darwin: Double Tree By Hilton Darwin

Day 7 - Wednesday 5 May 2021

Darwin (B,D)

This morning we take in a leisurely highlights tour of Darwin, followed by a visit to the Cyclone Tracy Gallery, along with “Sweetheart” the crocodile and changing history of the Northern Territory all housed in the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory. We then visit the Darwin East Point Military Museum housed in its original concrete bunker. On display is a fascinating array of weapons, photographs and equipment used by the men and women of the day as well as a short film of the dramatic footage of the Japanese bombing on Darwin harbour. Next is Crocosaurus Cove where we can see an ‘up close and personal’ view of the massive Saltwater crocodiles, watch them feed and visit the world’s largest display of Australian reptiles! For those daring, enter the Cage of Death and come face to face with a 5m long Saltwater crocodile! (Must be booked, additional cost) A quick chance to refresh at out hotel before enjoying a wonderful Sunset Dinner Cruise on the waters of the Darwin Harbour.

Overnight Darwin: Double Tree By Hilton Darwin

Day 8 - Thursday 6 May 2021

Darwin - Yellow Waters (B,L,D)

This morning after breakfast we depart Darwin and make our way into Adelaide River to view the Adelaide River War Cemetery, the most visited war cemetery in Australia. During the Second World War, Adelaide River was the headquarters of a large base and the war cemetery was created especially for the burial of servicemen who died in this part of Australia. The cemetery now contains 435 Commonwealth burials of service men and women. We continue into Pine Creek, stopping for a refreshment at Mayse’s Cafe. Pine Creek is full of colourful characters and the Cafe is no exception, filled with decor inspired by 1950’s American diners, walls adorned with pictures of classic Hollywood glamour and the shirt Leonard De Caprio wore in Romeo and Juliet, this charming pit-stop also serves delicious mango smoothies. We enjoy lunch in Pine Creek before visiting the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, where the displays include artefacts that illustrate the stories that the traditional owners wish to share with us. The Centre mixes contemporary techniques – such as videos – to cover various subjects, ranging from personal histories to bush tucker. Following this we enjoy the world renowned Yellow Water Sunset Cruise where crocodiles, birds and occasionally wild horses are seen amongst paperbark forests, pandanus, freshwater mangroves and exotic tropical trees. After our cruise we check-in to our accommodation then gather for dinner in this unique setting beside Yellow Water Billabong. 

Overnight Cooinda: Gagudju Lodge

Day 9 - Friday 7 May 2021

Kakadu National Park - Jabiru (B,L,D)

Today after breakfast we visit the Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, where the displays include artefacts that illustrate the stories that the traditional owners wish to share with us.  The Centre mixes contemporary techniques - such as videos - to cover various subjects, ranging from personal histories to bush tucker. 
we then continue to Nourlangie Rock where we witness ancient aboriginal rock art and also enjoy the scenic lookouts.
We then travel to Jabiru making our way to the Mercure Kakadu Crocodile Hotel to check in and enjoy lunch.  Our afternon includes a visit to the Marrawuddi Art Gallery followed by a short sightseeing tour of Jabiru before making our way back to our hotel for dinner.

Overnight Jabiru: Mercure Kakadu Crocodile

Day 10 - Saturday 8 May 2021

Jabiru - Adelaide River - Darwin (B,L,D)

This morning we can relax with breakfast befofre checkout and depart for Adelaide River for our exciting encounter with the jumping crocodiles.  On arrival we'll enjoy a light lunch before our wildlife cruise with a difference.  The Adelaide River is home to an array of Top End wildlife including magpie geese, brolgas, kites and kingfishers along with the rivers most famous residents, the fearsome saltwater crocodiles. The cruise takes us to a feeding ground where we witness the giant crocodiles leaping out of the water using their tails for propulsion, often getting all four legs clear of the waters surface, a sight one will never forget. After our cruise we make our way to join our Aboriginal Cultural Tour at Pudakyl give us a chance to learn and understand the local customs and traditions of the aborginal people of the region.  A very informative tour based on aboriginal land delivered by local guides is an experience not to be missed.  We return back to Darwin for hotel check in and a our farewell dinner.

Overnight Darwin: Double Tree By Hilton Darwin

Day 11 - Sunday 9 May 2021

Darwin - Home (B)

Today we say goodbye to the Top End and begin our journey home.  Thank you for travelling with Sisterhood Womens Travel and we look forward to welcoming you back for your next adventure.