The Ghan to stop at Coober Pedy

For the first time in its 86 year history, The Ghan will make a regular extended stop at Coober Pedy from 2015.

Guests will be free to enjoy a full day in the world's opal mining capital as part of The Ghan's new extended journey, on sale now for travel between 23 May and 22 August 2015.

Coober Pedy (flickr user: mlbm)

Coober Pedy is one of Australia's most unusual and intriguing travel destinations. Celebrating its centenary in 2015, the town offers a range of attractions including tours of its amazing network of underground residences and the nearby arid landscapes of the Breakaways Reserve.

The four-day Ghan will add an extra day and night to the standard Ghan journey from Darwin to Adelaide, taking guests through the heart of the Australian Outback on a 76-hour adventure.

The four-day, three-night Ghan includes:
Off Train Excursions at the magnificent Nitmiluk Gorge in Katherine
Day and night Off Train Excursions in Alice Springs, including a dinner under the stars at the MacDonnell Ranges
The option to undertake a fly-in visit of Uluru (at extra cost), getting back in time to rejoin The Ghan
A full day to explore underground at Coober Pedy, the opal mining capital of the world

“We've previously featured some of these experiences in our special events program and on every occasion, the feedback from our guests has been extraordinary,” Great Southern Rail spokesman Steve Kernaghan said.

“It was important for us to share these incredible Outback moments with a wider audience, which is why we've now included them as highlights in our regular schedules.”

“There's really no other way you can visit three or four iconic Australian destinations in such a short space of time, while still enjoying the luxury and comfort that The Ghan delivers.

Great Southern Rail's 2015/16 journeys for The Ghan, Indian Pacific and The Overland are on sale now. Visit www.greatsouthernrail.com.au or call 1800 725 993 to book.