Travel in 1960s style along the scenic North Coast of NSW

Your fare excludes:

Day 1, Sunday: Sydney - Kempsey

Your North Coast adventure starts at Central Station, Sydney at approximately 9:30am. Welcome aboard the Aurora Australis where you can choose to sit in the lounge or dining carriages, or your private compartment. 

Today we’ll spend all day on the train. We’ll travel over the spectacular Hawkesbury River, alongside Mullet Creek and through the ‘Venice of Australia’ to Brisbane Water. We skirt around Newcastle and on to Maitland in the Hunter Valley, where we turn right to join the meandering North Coast Line. 

At Gloucester, the North Coast Line starts to follow the Gloucester River, continuing the enjoyment of travelling beside the water. The Gloucester river joins the Manning River and we follow it through Taree and on to Kempsey on the Macleay River, where we will stable at a nearby siding for the night.

Lunch and Dinner will be served on board the train in the Dining Carriage today.

Day 2, Monday: Kempsey - Port Macquarie - Casino

Enjoy breakfast on board the Aurora Australis before boarding coaches to explore Port Macquarie. 

We’ll take a scenic lunch cruise of the tranquil waters of Port Macquarie, with the possibility of seeing dolphins, turtles, osprey and sea eagles. Enjoy the peaceful rural landscapes and abundant wildlife on the Hastings River.

We’ll return to the train after lunch, as we continue up the North Coast Line.  We will be travelling for around five hours through fascinating scenery. We will be inland for a while before turning to the coast again and travelling along the water, past Sawtell and through Coffs Harbour. We then head inland again, traversing curves following the Orana River, as the line climbs through banana plantations.  You will enjoy dinner on our way to Casino, where we will stable at a nearby siding for the night.

Day 3, Tuesday: Casino - Northern Rivers - Kempsey

Enjoy breakfast on board the Aurora Australis before boarding coaches to explore the Northern Rivers Region, known for its natural attractions and eclectic community.

While in the region, you have the option of visiting Zentveld’s Coffee Plantation and Roastery which will see you walking through the plantation and seeing the coffee being grown, watching as the team roast the beans and tasting their Australian coffee creations. You’ll also visit Duck Creek Macadamia Nuts, who have built a reputation as a producer of Australia’s finest Macadamia Products. Alternatively, visit Cape Byron Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.

Lunch today is at your own choice and cost.

Your coaches will return you to the train and we will then head south travelling inland for a while before turning towards the coast and travelling along the water through Coffs Harbour, past Sawtell and on to Kempsey where we will stable at a nearby siding for the night.

Dinner will be served on-board the train this evening.

Day 4, Wednesday: Kempsey - Paterson

Enjoy breakfast on board the train before boarding coaches to enjoy a scenic drive to the Arakoon National Park and the South West Rocks area. National Parks in this area have the best vantage points to see whales during their annual migration (from May to November). Guests will walk through the Trial Bay Gaol, an open air museum which captures the history of the area. 

Alternatively, visit the Kempsey Museum, where you can experience First Nations history, boot making, timber industry, military history, natural history, dairy industry, shipping, historical vehicles to name just a few subjects touched on in the collections, displays and historic artefacts. You can also spend time in the Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery, the gallery showcases and markets works of prominent, established and emerging Aboriginal artists of the Dunghutti region and Mid North Coast area. 

We will then visit the Slim Dusty Centre, an innovative museum dedicated to Australia’s Cultural Icons, Slim Dusty and Joy McKean. The museum honours the positive impact on rural and regional Australia by these two amazing people. You will also enjoy lunch at the Slim Dusty Centre.

Your coaches will return you to our train where we will continue South along the North Coast Railway line to The Rail Motor Society, Paterson where we will be stabling for the night. The rolling hills of this prime dairy country are really shown to best effect as sunset approaches.

Dinner will be served on-board the train this evening.

Day 5, Thursday: Paterson - Sydney

Enjoy breakfast on board the Aurora Australis at The Rail Motor Society, Paterson.

Today we will discover Maitland where you will spend time at the 1870 built Grossmann House, restored by the National Trust in the 1960’s and the Maitland Regional Art Gallery. 

Then discover Morpeth, an historic inland river port alongside the Hunter River. A visit to Morpeth is a real journey through time. Visit the narrow laneways, walk along sandstone footpaths and into heritage buildings where you’ll discover unique shopping, artisan treasures and delightful treats. 

Lunch is at your own choice and cost today.

At Maitland we will board the train for the last time, as we travel back past Brisbane Water and the Hawkesbury River, concluding your rail journey at Central Station, Sydney at approximately 8:00pm. 

You will have had a truly memorable Vintage Rail Journey!

Subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.

Please note prices are subject to availability at time of booking and may change without notice.

• Twin / Single - from $4,495 per person
• 20-24 October 2024

Call our local travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure your place on these new rail journeys.

The iconic Southern Aurora operated between Sydney and Melbourne from the 1960s to the 1980s. The darling of Australian travel, the Southern Aurora was first class in its day. Today, the carriages have been lovingly restored to their original condition. This is luxury 1960’s style!

The Aurora Australis will be stabled overnight for sleeping and you may elect to sleep on the train in a twinette (twin share cabin) or a roomette (single use only). Twinette cabins have bunk beds and one member of your party will need to be able to climb a ladder up to and down from the top bunk.

• By day, cabins feature lounge chairs for your comfort
• By evening, beds (double bunk or single bed) hinge down over the lounge chairs as your sleeping accommodation
• Twin cabin includes ensuite with shower, toilet, and vanity
• Single cabin includes vanity with two shared ensuite/shower at the end of the carriage
• USB adapter power outlets
• Drinking water in every cabin
• Air-conditioning
• Shelving and hanging closet
• All bedding
• 30kg per person luggage allowance

Fully Escorted:

Your rail holiday will be led by a professional, trained Tour Manager, assisted by onboard crew to ensure you will enjoy a trouble free adventure.

Joining and Departing the Tour:

The tour starts at Sydney Central Train Station at 9:30am and ends at Sydney Central Train Station at 8pm

Fitness & Mobility:

The tour requires a reasonable level of fitness and a good level of mobility. Heritage trains are not designed to accommodate wheelchair bound or walker reliant passengers. If booking a twinette room, one member of your party will need to be able to climb a ladder up to and down from the top bunk. You will need to be able to embark and disembark trains, coaches and other methods of transportation without assistance, handle your own luggage, walk moderate distances, stand comfortably and climb steps and stairs.

Luggage:

As a guide, the space for luggage in the Twinette (twin share) cabins is 98cm length x 24cm width x 59cm height. There is also hanging space available in the cabin. In the Roomette (single) cabins, the luggage can be placed on the luggage racks above your footrest. Slim or soft luggage can be stowed under your seat. If this rail tour is part of a longer tour, you will be able to store larger items in our luggage van.

Wine and Alcoholic Drinks:

Water, soft drinks and juices are included. The bar on the Aurora Australis is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks and are an additional cost.