Welcome to Railtrail Tours
A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.
Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care
01538 382323
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Experience the trip of a lifetime for any dedicated steam enthusiasts! Our escorted rail holiday to Australia boasts at least nine steam train rides including exclusive charters, outback towns, the scenic Blue Mountains, a vintage wooden paddle steamer cruise, and some amazing railway museums. Enjoy comfortable day time rail journeys between Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide with free time in these amazing cities to explore and create unforgettable memories.
View Dates & Book18 days from £4599 (Ground Only Fare)
DEPARTS
Friday 24 May 2024 - (Arrival in Sydney)
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Zig Zag Railway in the scenic Blue Mountains
Exclusive charter to Thirlmere Railway Museum
Steam charter on Illawarra Light Railway
1st class XPT train ride from Sydney to Melbourne
Relaxing vintage paddle steamer cruise on the Murray River
Vintage tram ride in Bendigo
Ride the Puffing Billy Railway
Broad gauge steam to historic Maldon
Premier class travel on the "Overland" train to Adelaide
Port Adelaide Railway Museum with steam
Steam hauled "Cockle Train" along the coast to Victor Harbour
Steamtown Heritage Centre at Peterborough
Charter of the unique "Coffee Pot" steam railmotor
Steam hauled journey over part of the original "Ghan" route
Free time in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide
Also included in your Tour Fare:
17 nights' bed & breakfast plus 5 lunches and 3 evening meals
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
Read our Australia Steam on Five Gauges 'taster' blog here - https://www.railtrail.co.uk/Australia-2023
DAY 1
Friday 24th May 2024
After making your own flight arrangements to Australia, you will meet the group at the Mercure Hotel which is situated by the rail station for a five night stay.
DAY 2
Saturday 25th May 2024
Experience a scenic train ride into the Blue Mountains and take a steam hauled trip on the famous Zig Zag railway. Enjoy the thrill of traveling through tunnels and over viaducts to Clarence and back. There is an optional stop at Katoomba on the way back to Sydney where you can ride one of the world's steepest funiculars to the rainforest walkway (additional fee may apply). Don't miss out on this unforgettable adventure.
DAY 3
Sunday 26th May 2024
Join us for a thrilling day of rail exploration! Ride a special train from Picton along the historic main line to the impressive New South Wales Rail Transport Museum in Thirlmere. Enjoy a guided tour of their vast collection of 38 steam locomotives and get an exclusive look at the workings of the roundhouse. A lunch is included before we embark on a scenic steam ride to Buxton and back.
DAY 4
Monday 27th May 2024
Enjoy a day of leisure or adventure in Sydney with our inclusive transport passes! You can hop on the rail, tram, bus, or ferry for spectacular views of the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Our tour manager will also provide recommendations on routes and attractions for your convenience. Don't miss out on the opportunity to explore this beautiful city hassle-free!
DAY 5
Tuesday 28th May 2024
Join us on a picturesque rail journey along the South Coast of Sydney, culminating in an unforgettable steam charter aboard the Illawarra Light Railway's 2ft gauge collection. Explore the impressive range of locomotives with an exclusive guided tour through Albion Park.
DAY 6
Wednesday 29th May 2024
A journey on the XPT train (like our HST's) travelling in 1st class over the scenic route from Sydney to Melbourne, which includes a spiral. There is a café car on board to purchase snacks or hot lunch. We will stay for five nights at Batman's Hill on Collins across the road from the station.
DAY 7
Thursday 30th May 2024
Today we experience a day excursion by road to the historic port of Echuca for a leisurely cruise on board a vintage wooden paddle steamer along the Murray River with a light lunch included. Afterwards we travel to the gold rush town of Bendigo and enjoy a ride through the streets on one of their vintage trams.
DAY 8
Friday 31st May 2024
Today is a free day to explore Melbourne. The route 35 'circle' tram route uses historic cars whilst all other tram routes within the central area are free. The tour manager will advise on attractions that can be visited by tram or just enjoy a stroll along the banks of the Yarra River.
DAY 9
Saturday 1st June 2024
We travel by local train to Belgrave for the Puffing Billy Railway, perhaps the most well-known of all the steam lines in Australia. Grab the opportunity to photograph the first train of the day on the famous curved trestle before riding behind one their classic 100-year-old engines through forests and open landscapes to Lakeside. After time here for lunch, we take a look around the new visitor centre and model railway, before returning by steam to Belgrave.
DAY 10
Sunday 2nd June 2024
Taking the diesel railcar to Castlemaine, we board the 5'3" gauge Victoria Goldfields Railway for a steam hauled ride over one of the last remaining branch lines built in the 19th Century to open up the rural parts of Victoria. Reaching the delightfully preserved historic town of Maldon there is time for lunch, browse the interesting shops or take a drink in the Kangaroo Hotel before returning to Castlemaine and taking the main line train to Melbourne.
DAY 11
Monday 3rd June 2024
We will depart at 8am on the "Overland" train from Melbourne to Adelaide. Travelling in comfortable Red Premium Class, breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea are included and served at your seat. With only 36 seats per carriage in 2 and 1 configuration there is plenty of leg room. Arriving in Adelaide late afternoon, we will stay three nights at the Stamford Plaza Hotel.
DAY 12
Tuesday 4th June 2024
Today we travel to Port Adelaide by rail to the excellent Railway Museum, where we have requested locomotive "Peronne", a Barclay of 1919 to be in steam for the group. A miniature railway also circles the museum site and nearby is the Aviation Museum and Maritime Museum. This evening, we take an optional tram ride out to the coast at Glenelg for a meal.
DAY 13
Wednesday 5th June 2024
We will travel by road to Mt. Barker for a visit to the Steamranger depot and vintage railcar charter train. We continue by road to Goolwa for the steam hauled "Cockle Train" along the coast to Victor Harbour. You could also stroll over the causeway to Granite Island or take the horse drawn tram. We return to Adelaide by road.
DAY 14
Thursday 6th June 2024
We journey by road into the remote interior of South Australia. Firstly, to Peterborough for Steamtown Heritage Rail Centre set in a roundhouse with its unique triple gauge turntable. After lunch, which is included, we visit Wadlata Outback Centre in Port Augusta for an insight into the area. We will stay for three nights at the Standpipe Golf Motor Inn with dinner included each evening.
DAY 15
Friday 7th June 2024
We will travel by road to the historic town of Quorn and the Pichi-Richi Railway. After a depot visit, we ride the "Coffee Pot" steam railmotor, built by Kitson in 1905, on an exclusive charter to Woolshed Flat where we have a picnic lunch. We return to Port Augusta by road later in the day.
DAY 16
Saturday 8th June 2024
We take another steam train over part of the original route of the "Ghan" until 1956 when a new line was built. We are hauled by one of the original engines and rolling stock from the 1920's as we take a relaxing trip through the Pichi-Richi Pass.
DAY 17
Sunday 9th June 2024
We return to Adelaide via the Clare Valley Wine Region with one night at the Stamford Plaza. We will spend the afternoon at leisure, perhaps riding the trams in the city centre which are free.
DAY 18
Monday 10th June 2024
After your fantastic holiday experience with Railtrail, you will head to the airport independently to catch your flight home.
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
HOTELS
Mercure Hotel, Sydney
Just yards from Central Station, this hotel is ideally situated for restaurants, Darling Harbour, and trams to Circular Quay. It has a restaurant and two bars, and the bedrooms include a walk-in shower, tea/coffee making facilities, hair dryer, Wi-Fi, TV and radio, iron and ironing board, and air-conditioning. A large buffet breakfast is served daily.
Batmans Hill on Collins, Melbourne
This classic hotel is across the road from Southern Cross Station, close to Melbournes top attractions, and within the free tram zone. It boasts two restaurants and two bars, perfect for relaxing, while rooms feature tea/coffee making facilities, Wi-Fi, TV, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, fridge, and air-conditioning. A sumptuous buffet breakfast is served daily.
Stamford Plaza Hotel, Adelaide
This hotel is just a 3-minute walk from the rail station and right by the city centre free tram stop. Facilities include a bar, restaurant, access to an indoor pool, and gym. Rooms have a shower/toilet, Wi-Fi, TV, and tea/coffee making facilities.
Standpipe Golf Motor Inn, Port Augusta
This award-winning property is surrounded by landscaped gardens whilst being near the centre of Port Augusta. Breakfast and evening meals taken in the historic 1883 Homestead are included each day or relax in the lounge bar. Rooms have air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, tea/coffee making facilities, flat screen TV, and bar fridge.
FARES
Ground Only Fare: | |
Join Sydney/leave Adelaide: | £4,599 |
Single Traveller Supplement | £1,400 |
For reference, please see below the flights and times we intend to use for the flight inclusive tour:
SQ305 23 MAY LHR SIN - 0925 - 0530+1 - London Heathrow to Singapore
SQ241 24 MAY SIN SYD - 0715 - 1655 - Singapore to Sydney
SQ278 10 JUN ADL SIN - 0910 - 1510 - Adelaide to Singapore
SQ322 10 JUN SIN LHR - 2330 - 0555+1 - Singapore to London Heathrow
17 nights bed & breakfast plus 5 lunches and 3 evening meals
All train rides, transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
GUARANTEED FARE
** We reserve the right to travel by diesel train should the steam locomotive not be timetabled at the time of our visit
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Below is a list of pick-up points available on this tour.
Name | Address |
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Sydney/Adelaide | Pick up Sydney/Adelaide Australia |
From Price | Book Now | Call Back | Telephone | Favourites |
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