With more than 100,000 exotic plant species from all over the world, black and white swans from Australia, and multiple ponds and lakes, Monte Palace Tropical Garden is one of the most impressive sights in Madeira. Make sure to stop by the Monte Palace Museum, which houses exhibitions featuring artefacts from a diverse range of international cultures as well as a mineral museum.

The recently modernised Darwin Entertainment Centre in the heart of the city hosts world-class performances and cultural events. The Darwin Symphony Orchestra appears there regularly, and the centre also hosts major international artists and theatre performances.

The Tareq Rajab Museum houses a significant private collection of Islamic art, assembled over decades by its founders. Its diverse holdings, spanning over 30,000 items, include collections of historic jewellery, ceramics, manuscripts, costumes and metalwork. The exhibits provide a thorough overview of artistic development across the Islamic world, from pre-Islamic times to the modern era. As an institution born from a passion for preservation, it serves as a valuable and intimate resource for understanding the region's rich cultural heritage.

The entire trip of 2,000 miles (3,220 km) starts in the tropics of the Northern Territory, in Darwin and leads you through the red desert and Alice Springs, all the way to the green and plentiful province of South Australia and its capital Adelaide. The trains are comfortable and equipped with a dining car; many off-train experiences at stopovers are included in ticket prices.