Experience the heart of Australia’s food bowl, stopping at regional towns and attractions throughout the Riverina. You will also travel on rail lines which don’t have scheduled passenger services, making this a real adventure. Discover acclaimed wines, taste gorgeous fresh produce and explore spectacular natural scenery throughout the region.
Only unpack once and enjoy everything that slow rail touring provides. The itinerary is designed so that you only travel during daylight hours.
Highlights include:
Day 1, Sunday: Sydney - Goulburn
Your Riverina Rail Tour adventure starts at Sydney’s Central Station. Once on board the Aurora Australis, you can choose to sit in the lounge or dining carriages, or your private compartment while we travel along the Main South Line to Goulburn.
Lunch will be served onboard the train today as we travel to Goulburn, where you will explore the sights and historic offerings of Australia’s oldest inland city. Off-train experiences include the Goulburn Locomotive Roundhouse (Vintage Rail Journeys’ restoration base); Rocky Hill War Memorial; and the Goulburn Historic Waterworks Museum.
Dinner will be served on-board the train at Goulburn Railway Station where we will be stabled for the night.
Day 2, Monday: Coolamon - Griffith
Enjoy breakfast on board as we leave Goulburn and continue along the Main South Line. We pass many interesting villages and towns today as we travel through the Canola Trail, so keep an eye out for the many grain silos adjacent to the rail line. Today we spend time in Coolamon, stopping at the Coolamon Railway Station dated 1881. Coolamon is named after the Wiradjuri word for a vessel carrying goods, children and water, “Gullaman” and this little town offers us a warm welcome.
Flanked by the Train Station at one end of the street and the Fire Station at the other, we have developed an afternoon experience of ambling the beautifully preserved heritage main street of Coolamon. A stop at the Coolamon Cheese Factory is a must for anyone who likes cheese or is interested in the cheese making process. The Up-To-Date Store, built in 1909 plays host to a variety of museum displays and collections. A stroll through this heritage listed building will bring back memories for some and offer interesting stories for others. The Coolamon Fire Museum hosts a truly amazing private collection of fire fighting equipment, uniforms and memorabilia. Along with heritage museums and buildings, the main street contains many local shops, restaurants and cafes, making this afternoon an unforgettable experience for all.
We will return to Coolamon Railway Station where we will travel by train along the Yanco to Griffith Line. Dinner will be served on-board the train at Murrami Grain Siding, where we will be stabled and you will be sleeping on the train for the night in the serenity of the Australian bush.
Day 3, Tuesday: Griffith - Temora
We’ll board coaches early this morning to enjoy breakfast at Piccolo Family Farm in Griffith. Peter & Luke will explain their sustainable farming practices before you enjoy breakfast in their new ‘cellar door’.
You’ll then choose from three optional off-train experiences:
Coaches will then take you to Yenda Grain Siding to re-board the train where we will travel on the freight only Lake Cargellico Line. Dinner will be served on-board the train at Temora Grain Siding, where we will be stabled and sleep for the night.
Day 4, Wednesday: Temora - Orange
Breakfast this morning is on board the Aurora Australis before experiencing Temora. Today you can choose one of two Temora tours:
Coaches will return you to Temora Station where lunch will be served in the Dining Carriages as we travel on freight only lines via Stockinbingal. There are many freight trains to pass on this single track line, and we are likely to experience substantial delays. Dinner will be served on-board the train as we travel through Parkes and onto the Broken Hill line to Orange Rail Yard at an unknown time (!) where we will be stabled and you will sleep in the comfort of your sleeping train for the night.
Day 5, Thursday: Katoomba - Sydney
Enjoy breakfast as we travel from Orange and towards the Great Dividing Range.
For the last day of your tour we will stop at Lithgow and board coaches to the recently re-opened Zig Zag Railway. Arriving at Clarence Station, guests will board the historic steam train and traverse the Zig-Zag, experiencing 3 viaducts and 2 tunnels on the scenic route to Bottom Points. Take the opportunity to watch the lcoomotive change ends while experiencing the nostalgia of heritage train travel
Once back at Clarence, guests will enjoy lunch, eating either in the historic carriages or at picnic tables. Guests may also like to take the opportunity to visit the gift shop for souvenirs of their fantastic day.
After lunch you will once again board coaches to see the vibrant Blue Mountains Villages on a guided coach tour. This afternoon board the train for our return to Central Station where a light dinner will be provided on our way down the mountains.
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.
Call our local travel team on 1300 414 198 to secure your place on these new rail journeys.
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.
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:
This Rail Tour commences and ends at Sydney Central Railway Station. Departs at 9:30am and returns 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.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply.
Deposit / Final Payment - A 10% non refundable deposit is required at time of confirmation with the balance due at least 95 days prior to departure. If the booking is made within the 95 day period, full payment will be required at time of confirmation.
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