First Class on World’s Longest Sleeper Train - The Ghan

Today I’m taking the worlds longest sleeper train across Australia, known by many as The Ghan. This luxury sleeper train is iconic, and steeped in history, with routes from the 1920’s.

I’ve booked the best suite onboard, known as Platinum class, so let’s see what it’s like? As always I'll show you exactly what the experience is like, from fine dining, first class amenities such as the exclusive lounge car, or indeed the double bed on rails! It’s a unique train experience and you’re coming with me all the way to from Adelaide.

0:00 - Introduction
1:51 - First Class
3:33 - Room tour
9:47 - Dinner
13:20 - Sunrise
15:08 - Brunch
16:44 - The Cost

[bjw]

As an Australian most of us have heard of these epic train journeys, but the cost limits those who can actually do it, so glad you were doing more videos about I really hope you are doing the east coast as there are just so many things to see.

[anthonymonroe]

Both your air and train travel videos are fantastic, but something about these train videos are so addicting! The story telling, cinematography, your British charm and the amazing production makes me want to watch these videos nonstop!! Keep up the great work! I could watch these all day. You’ve inspired me to take a 18 hour sleeper train this December! - Fan from Oregon USA

[Zordboy]

I've always wanted to do these iconic Australian train trips -- and I live here, you know? There's really no excuse, although, I don't exactly have lots of money for luxury holidays -- but it's so lovely to see your videos onboard these trains. I've been looking forward to this video, ever since your "Indian Pacific" trip.

[poppeta]

When i was 13, we moved from America to Alice Springs in the australian outback. We took the Ghan down to Adelaide for a vacation, but we were in the seats that were basically like an airplane.Let me tell you, as someone who used to live about 3 hours from Baltimore, suddenly being out in the desert at night is TERRIFYING. I have never looked out a window and seen complete darkness (there was no moon and it was cloudy). And what made it worse? The train slowed and stopped TWICE in the MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! Still a cool experience, but as a kid that was horror movie level shit lol.
But seeing this video, Id love to go back and do the first class version!

[julier]

I don't know why, but I've always dreamed of a trip on a sleeper train. But they don't look like they'd work with a wheelchair. So I watch videos like this and live vicariously through you. Thanks!

[Sourav_Ahmed]

Your videos are so feel good type and it has such a cosy vibe, absolutely addicted to the train journey series 🔥

[professornuke]

Melbourne bloke here. My Dad found a railway peg/steel from the old Ghan track back in the 1980's, whilst on an epic trip with his mate from Melbourne to Alice Spring with the Morris Minor Touring Club. He still has it. It's as close to riding the Ghan anyone in my family ever got.

[melissaenglish]

Thank you for visiting Australia, wow what an honour! I've done The Ghan trip from Adelaide to Alice Springs a few times as a child and didn't appreciate it nearly as much as I should have - especially the cost! I remember complaining about how slow the train was and we should have taken a plane because the outback was boring 🤦🏼‍♀️
Thank you for letting me see this through fresh eyes!

[sharimissmanmiller]

I am obsessed with your videos! I appreciate the style and productionl!! Thank you for doing all you do to educate average folk on travel strategy!! Would love a video on how you film and produce behind the scenes! Fascinated with your skills! Also, what’s the thing about NASA? I’m guessing you used to work there?? A Q&A would be amazing!! Thanks and keep up the great content! PS thank you for selecting good companies to partner with also!! Not just out to make $$! You’re awesome!😊

[thespacedingoking]

[Warning: Long comment/full-on review]

I've been on the Ghan myself, took the Gold Service back in the Australian Winter of 2018 and thankfully the only sort of 'jetlag' was a 30min difference between Victoria and South Australia. Your review recaptures every aspect I can remember (although it seems your specific train was maybe a hundred metres or so longer than mine, but even then it only takes about 3 carriages to bridge the difference) and is a whole wave of nostalgia such as the Queen Adelaide Restaurant and the Explorer Lounge, thanking you so much!

Unlimited drinks (albeit at the time I was a minor so lemonade was the pick, still tho, unlimited drinks. My aunt certainly enjoyed that! (she and her 2 kids paired with me and my parents on this journey)) and a dining menu that was to-die for. The first stop in Marla, I noticed you had to make your own barista; in my experience we got asked the previous night if we wanted to be served a drink upon wakeup. Of course, I said yes to a nice hot-choc to wake me up, before seeing that stunning sunrise with the egg and bacon rolls or cheesymite scrolls. I must HIGHLY recommend their dessert option of Wattle Ice Cream if it's ever available, to any of you taking the journey in the future.

The six of us took the full trip from Adelaide to Darwin, but in two separate journeys (we took a week or two, I can't remember exactly, in Alice Springs and the 'nearby' Yulara), but anyways that means I've got some things to add for the half post-Alice Springs.

The train stops quite a decent amount of time in Alice Springs (Population 26, 5k) nestled in the MacDonnell Ranges, which does make sense as it would give the train time to stock up on resources for its guests, deal with any waste etc. in a city which is literally 1, 500 from the nearest major coastal cities. If I remember correctly, travellers do have the option, if they take the full journey all in one, to have an off-train excursion in Alice Springs [further details required, I have no experience for that].

Departing Alice Springs, the Ghan continues to Katherine (Population 6, 3k). Overnight, a HUGE environmental difference is visible, as the train passes through the Tropic of Capricorn. Desert-like, sparse outback one day, 'lush' (by Central Australian standards), green Eucalyptus shrublands the next. One will find it very difficult to miss the hundreds of termite mounds, up to 5m high each, sprawled across the landscape. Arriving in Katherine, the off-train excursion consists of a tour of the nearby Katherine Gorge on the Katherine River. (Haha, I wonder where we are with all these 'Katherine' places!) My group of six took the more standard land & water tour of the Gorge, however there was also the option for an aerial tour. The gorge was to explore, especially worth mentioning were the local fresh-water crocodiles lurking around in the region. A prime habitat for this smaller species, away from the larger, meaner salties at the coast.

The train leaves Katherine and arrives in Darwin the same day, late afternoon. A brilliant, iconic and unforgettable experience, which I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone who has the budget, my trip on the Ghan was a blast, and I definitely look forward to travelling on either it again, or it's other main counterpart the Indian-Pacific!

[relentlesspursuit]

Looked like another incredible experience - the sunrise stop looked very special

[Coolwow]

Hey trek trendy amazing video as always just wanted to say we don’t get recognition much from other big YouTubers in our own back yard. Thank you so much hopefully other content creators will come to Australia visit our country what it has to offer 😁💯❤️

[BloodWashed]

Hey! Just wanted to say thankyou so much for this video and your video about the Indian Pacific! I've just been hired by JB, and I'll be starting on the Ghan in just a couple weeks! Myself and a few others I've been training with have mentioned both videos, and how they've been really helpful in giving us an idea not only of what we're getting into, but what its like from the passengers perspective! I hope I can create amazing memories for passengers just like you experienced! 😊

[goldenredstone]

I went on the Ghan a couple of years ago and stayed in a gold double room. The difference between gold and platinum is basically only in the bedroom. The food and the lounge is basically the same regardless of level from what I can see. I can't eat gluten and don't eat meat. The chef was fantastic and prepared a fantastic gluten free vegetarian meal for me.

[felixormiston]

Thanks will, just what I needed before starting a week of hard work !!! Keep up the good work mate !! 🎉

[paulclausen]

We've watched all of your train trips. In addition to the all the fun and information you bring to your travel, we absolutely LOVE the transition placards with voice-over. And this vid's - AN ETERNITY LATER - is brilliant and will be said in our household for days to come.

[shelagh]

In 2018, I took the Ghan to Darwin. I was in a gold twin and the lounge and diner were lovely. The train ended up being 11 hours late due to heavy rains, swollen rivers, and compromised bridges. Also, on the final day my foot swelled up and the staff was so nice to let me keep my bed set up so I could recline my leg. It was a great trip.

[DJL]

I have to say I love your adventures. I don’t think there is ANYONE who does travel vlogs better! Well done. 🍸👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[rileyuktv]

I’ve travelled on this train twice in 1986 and 2001 - always wanted to see First Class!

[ptaylor]

They stop the train for a sunrise breakfast. Bloody hell that's cool