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Before moving to her new home in northern NSW with her fellow tour leader husband Duncan, Barbara lived and worked in the Blue Mountains for numerous years and has a solid background in travel, tourism and hospitality. Her career began…

Bernadette is a trained actor, psychologist, businesswoman, and writer. Passionate about the arts, culture, and how others live, Bernadette’s travel experiences are many and varied. She’s explored every state and territory in Australia and has the greatest fondness for those…

Duncan grew up in South Australia, and in 1977 made the leap from studying Road Design to Theatre at the University of Queensland. He first met Scott McGregor, the founder of Railway Adventures, in 1982 when they co-starred in a…

SCOTT MCGREGOR has been involved in the media for over 30 years as an actor, presenter, writer and producer, but sharing his love of travel, and particularly railway travel, is where his passion now lies. Graduating from NIDA in 1979, he appeared in…
Join us for a fully-escorted spectacular weekend away as we travel by private heritage train from Sydney through the Blue Mountains and Capertee Valley, the world’s second largest canyon, to Mudgee, a food and wine lovers paradise in the central west of New South Wales. Visit iconic wineries, eat at award-winning restaurants and have lunch at a local brewery, immerse yourself in the preserved gold rush town of Gulgong, enjoy a private tour of a horse stud that has its own winery, and enjoy a special sunset soiree at Ruwenzori Retreat, the private railway-themed Orient Express style getaway owned Scott McGregor, the founder and CEO of Railway Adventures!
Your tour starts this morning as we gather on the Grand Concourse of Sydney’s iconic Central Station. After checking in and meeting your Tour Leaders, it’s on to our very own private heritage train, hauled by two heritage locomotives. Our train, lovingly restored by the volunteers at East Coast Heritage Rail consists of sitting cars, a Bar/Lounge car and a dedicated Dining Car. Buying a ticket on this adventure means you have directly supported its continuing service for future generations to enjoy.
Once on board, we’ll roll through the western suburbs of Sydney and up across the stunning Blue Mountains onto the former Gwabegar Line, commonly referred to as the “Mudgee Line” but in fact once went all the way to the tiny town of Gwabegar just north of Coonabarabran. Your journey today to the end of the line at Rylstone skirts the magnificent Capertee Valley, one of the world’s greatest natural wonders that’s right here, on our doorstep. A dramatic chasm carved out over 600 million years, the valley is renowned as the widest enclosed canyon on Earth, and the world’s second-largest canyon – the Grand Canyon in the USA being the largest.
Lunch today is onboard in the Dining Car, a rare experience of enjoying a proper sit down meal on a train as you revel in the scenery passing by. Upon arrival in the historic hamlet of Rylstone, we’ll transfer to our private coach for the scenic journey through the Rylstone Hills to Mudgee, your home for the next three nights.
After checking in and freshening up you’ll join your tour leaders and fellow travellers for a welcome dinner including drinks at “Cellar by Gilbert”, right next door to the hotel.
Overnight: Parklands Resort, Mudgee (L, D)
After breakfast this morning, we’ll make the short journey to the historic town of Gulgong, a charming, 19th-century gold rush town renowned for its well-preserved historic streetscape. With over 130 National Trust-listed buildings featuring wide verandahs and intricate iron lacework, you’ll feel like you’re stepping back in time. The birthplace of Louisa Lawson, Australia’s first published feminist and the mother of suffrage in New South Wales, and the childhood home of her firstborn, the iconic bush poet Henry Lawson, it was featured on the original Australian $10 note that stayed in circulation until 1993.
After visiting Flirtation Hill lookout to take in the local views you’ll have some time for a wander around town and a coffee break. In addition to the marvellous streetscape, Gulgong is home to a rich collection of museums, including the magnificent Holtermann photographic collection and the vast Gulgong Pioneer’s Museum. There’ll be plenty of time to explore and discover.
It’s then back to Mudgee to relax over a delicious meal at the Mudgee Brewing Company where you’ll also have the opportunity to sample some of their local brews before exploring the town a little bit more on a quick tour and drop in to the local Museum.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll take a short journey north to Cooks Gap on the Great Dividing Range for a sunset soiree at Scott McGregor’s private and unique railway themed retreat, Ruwenzori. Perched high on the mountains overlooking the valleys below to both the east and west, Ruwenzori is a collection of vintage railway carriages, restored in the Orient-express style, set amongst themed gardens and railway memorabilia. Featured in many travel articles and TV shows, it is a place he loves to share with family and special friends. Here, on top of the mountain, you’ll enjoy a Mudgee sunset with canapes and local beer and wine.
Overnight: Parklands Resort, Mudgee (B, L, D)
This morning after breakfast we embark on a day that showcases local produce at its best. Our first visit is Gooree Park – a renowned thoroughbred stud and winery. Gooree’s origins date back some 40-plus years when Filipino businessman Eduardo Cojuangco realised his agricultural dreams, purchasing three historic local properties as a place to call home in Australia, creating the agglomeration known as “Gooree Park”. Our fascinating behind the scenes tour will be with one of the horse breeders, providing an amazing insight into an important local industry. As the stud has its own winery, we couldn’t possibly depart without stopping for a wine tasting, complemented by a High Valley Cheese platter, as we enjoy views of the surrounding hills.
Our next stop is the award-winning Robert Stein Winery, Vineyard and Farm, which traces its winemaking roots back to 1838, when the Macarthur family (of sheep-breeding fame) sponsored Johann Stein to emigrate from Germany to Australia, bringing the first surviving cuttings of Rhine Riesling. Under his supervision, the Macarthur family’s Camden Park vineyard became one of Australia’s earliest wineries, and the Stein name became synonymous with quality wine from vineyards around Sydney.
In 1976 the family established their vineyard in Mudgee, starting with just 2 hectares of Shiraz. Now spearheaded by the third generation, winemaker Jacob Stein, the vineyard and winery has grown to span 202 hectares, including a much expanded vineyard, a working farm with livestock and crops, a state-of-the-art winery, a cellar door, restaurant, and the original family homestead. The property emphasizes regenerative farming, sustainability, and a farm-to-plate philosophy, producing award-winning single-vineyard wines from nine grape varieties. It’s rated as a 5 Red Star winery by James Halliday’s Wine Companion.
We’ll enjoy a guided tour of the winery to learn about its operations and production, sample some wines and – for those who love vehicles of the two wheel variety, tour the vintage motorcycle display. We don’t have to go too far for lunch. The winery’s Pipeclay Pumphouse restaurant is a relaxed, shared-plate dining experience inspired by the vibrant flavours of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Set against the stunning backdrop of the vineyard, our lunch will feature a menu designed for connection – perfect for grazing with our new friends.
Later this afternoon, after a bit of a rest back at the hotel, it’s off to the certified organic and biodynamic farm, vineyard, winery and food gardens at another award-winning winery, the Lowe Family Wine Co. Headed up by David Lowe and his partner, the award-winning Chef, Kim Currie, their passion is producing exceptional food and wine that reflects the place it is grown and the people who care for it.
Our venue this evening, the Pavilion at Lowe, is something to behold – a magnificent marquee-like structure featuring vintage glass doors, chandeliers, persian rugs and antique furnishings, all framed by clear side opening walls leading to sloping lawns and the surrounding vineyards. We’ll enjoy drinks and a seasonal set menu designed to showcase the organic and biodynamic produce from the gardens and farm, accompanied by quality produce from other local growers. And of course, the wines will be all Lowe, with tasting hosted by David himself.
Our leisurely dining experience will make the most of the surrounding gardens and vineyards, while enjoying entertainment by guitar and violin duo, Skerrett & Watts.
Overnight: Parklands Resort, Mudgee (B, L, D)
This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll travel by private coach back to Rylstone and the old railway station where our train will be waiting to take us back down the valley with lunch on board as we take in the magnificent views on the journey back to Sydney.
(B, L)
3 nights accommodation at the Parklands Resort Mudgee
Breakfast daily, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Private heritage rail travel from Sydney to Rylstone and return
Onboard tea, coffee and unlimited bottled water
All meals, drinks excursions provided for in the itinerary
Full-time Tour Leaders
Knowledgeable local guides
All tipping and gratuities
Travel to tour departure point and from tour end point
Travel insurance (Recommended for domestic travel)
Meals and drinks not provided for in the itinerary
Things of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, room service, etc
The best train trips possible, private luxury coach for off-train travel, guided walking where suitable, and other appropriate and appealing options to make exploration easy
Hand-picked hotels and resorts based on location, customer feedback, value and atmosphere. Please Note: Hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.
Hear from some of our adventurers that have already ridden the rails with us.
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Reserve your place on this exciting exploration of Mudgee Weekender.

Train traveller, well known TV personality and travel company owner, Scott McGregor, has travelled on some of the world’s most inspiring railway tours and led the most exclusive group adventures to numerous exotic destinations over the years.
“Rustic, character-filled, zig-zagging railways of Burma, opulent hotels on wheels in India South Africa and Sri Lanka, steam-hauled heritage trains in some of the most staggeringly scenic parts of the world, dinky little rail-cars in outback Queensland, bullet trains in Japan, cliff-hugging lines in Switzerland and Norway—if it travels on a rail track, I’m there!”, exclaims self-confessed train travel tragic, Scott McGregor. “In my mind, travelling by rail is still the most wonderful way to immerse yourself in the country you’re visiting. It’s romantic, relaxing and about as much fun as you can have!”.
Aa a child of the last days of steam trains in the busy junction town of Orange, NSW; trains heading in all directions offering temptations and dreams of faraway places, left an indelible impression on a young, inquisitive boy and Scott has been riding the rails in one form or another ever since. While Scott’s acting career of 30 years kept him busy starring in numerous TV shows and stage plays and then as an on-air presenter on programs such as Better Homes and Gardens, Room for Improvement and various pay-TV programs, his passion for railway tours was ever-present. “Presenting a series of Railway Adventure travel programs for Channel 7 was a career highlight”, he says with as much enthusiasm now as he had then.
In 2012 Scott decided to combine three of his passions; travel, trains and presenting, and launched Railway Adventures. Not only does he get to expand his own horizons and indulge his love of train travel, he gets to use his extensive hosting experience and love of people to lead other like-minded travellers on escorted train tours around the world. Since then, Railway Adventures has mounted more than 50 tours from Sweden to Sri Lanka, Tasmania to Transylvania, Britain to Burma and Venice to Vietnam, thrilling over 1,000 travellers. New tours are launched regularly, inspired by new trains, new routes and the growing interest in taking a train to some of the world’s most fascinating places. But you don’t have to be a train ‘nut’ to enjoy a Railway Adventures tour – there’s something for everyone!
Just one example of how Scott finds inspiration for a tour can be found in Outback Queensland. “There you find some of Australia’s most eccentric and appealing trains and together with a mail-plane flight over the Gulf and some interesting local coach and boat trips you have the essence of a quintessential Aussie outback adventure. The sleeper train, The Spirit of the Outback, the Savannahlander and the Gulflander (which has been running on the same timetable for more than 125 years!) are all iconic trains that traverse various parts of the wild Outback, Savannah and tropical rainforest landscapes of the vast state of Queensland. Along with some other special treats not available to the ordinary traveller, Railway Adventures passengers get to do it all!.
One of his favourite journey’s is by private train in Sri Lanka. For 2 weeks every year Scott charters the Viceroy Special heritage train to tour the island on a gentle rail cruise with a lucky group of travellers. Staying in luxury resorts and hotels along the way, his special train travels to almost every corner of the scenic island. “Having a private train at your disposal for an adventure around this magic island is a rare treat and a great way to immerse yourself in the scenery and culture of the country.”, he enthuses. “Our Vietnam tour makes use of private carriages attached to regular trains to explore that great country in comfort and in South Africa we use a variety of trains including the luxurious Rovos Rail and the Royal Livingstone steam train to move from one incredible adventure to another”.
Apart from the obvious joy of seeing a country by train, travelling in a small group of like-minded travellers with a dedicated, experienced tour leader and knowledgeable, English-speaking local guides is what really sets Railway Adventures apart. “The camaraderie that comes from both shared purpose and shared experiences on tour is an important aspect of the journey” Scott adds. “We’ve seen many people become life-long friends from the time they shared together along the line. The best feeling in the world is when I welcome these same people on repeat journeys”.
Along with popular destinations like Switzerland, Scandinavia, Outback Queensland and Sri Lanka, a new breed of more unusual destinations has gained great interest. Java, Cuba, Southern Africa, India and the New England region of NSW are just some of the newer adventures on offer. As for Scott’s next escape, it’s most likely some quality time at Ruwenzori Retreat, his own personal train on the Great Dividing Range near Mudgee, Central NSW. Built from a collection of vintage railway carriages it’s now a boutique tourist accommodation, comprising exclusive Orient Express style comfort for up to 13 guests. “When the travels are done, coming back to my own train in the beautiful Mudgee mountains is the most restorative and magical time for this committed rail romantic”, Scott says.