Golden West Rail Tour
• SYDNEY • THE HAWKESBURY • PATERSON • HUNTER VALLEY GARDENS AND VINEYARDS •
• WERRIS CREEK • BINNAWAY JUNCTION • ORANGE • BATHURST • RYLSTONE •
Next
Departure
Next
Departure
- Overview
- Highlights
- Map & Itinerary
- Trip Inclusions
- Transport & Accommodation
- Reviews
- FAQs
Enjoy the dramatic sandstone cliffs of the Great Dividing Range at the beginning and end of our journey, the vineyards of the Hunter Valley and Orange. A real treat is the spectacular scenery in the Capertee Valley on the way to Rylstone.
Departure Location: | Sydney | |
Return Location: | Sydney | |
Tour Dates: |
24 Mar 2024 - 28 Mar 2024
8 Sep 2024 - 12 Sep 2024 - SOLD OUT 3 Nov 2024 - 7 Nov 2024 |
Tour Code:
2403GWR-VRJ Tour Code: 2409GWR-VRJ Tour Code: 2411GWR-VRJ |
Tour Coddes: |
2403GWR-VRJ 2409GWR-VRJ 2411GWR-VRJ |
|
Price: |
March departure - Twinette: $4495 March departure - Roomette (solo): $4495 September, November departures - Twinette: $4695 September, November departures - Roomette (solo): $4695 |
|
Deposit (per person): | $500 | |
Final payment due by: | 90 days before departure |
- Upcoming Dates
Highlights of your tour
- A ‘Riverboat Postman’ lunch cruise on the Hawkesbury River
- Visit the Hunter Valley and enjoy a day at the Hunter Valley Gardens
- Enjoy wine tasting at a number of Hunter Valley cellar doors
- Meet the locals and enjoy Liverpool Plains, our national food-bowl
- Lunch and view the Victorian Tudor style architecture at Abercrombie House, Bathurst
- Explore Rylstone and the surrounds and train travel back through the Capertee Valley
Your Journey
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
Your Golden West Rail Tour overnight train adventure starts at Central Station, Sydney. Once on board, you can choose to sit in the lounge or dining carriages, or your private compartment while we travel to the spectacular Hawkesbury River. You’ll then take a short walk to board the famous ‘Riverboat postman’ for a lunch cruise.
When you rejoin our train, you’ll enjoy views from the train which we think are some of the best in Australia. You’ll see the whole length of the train as we round the curves and the line traces the waters edge at Mullet Creek. The waterside theme is continued after we go through Woy Woy Tunnel and alongside Brisbane Water. We skirt around Newcastle and on to Maitland in the Hunter Valley. The train will be stabled overnight at The Rail Motor Society, Paterson. (L, D)
Today you will be visiting the Hunter Valley, and we have three choices for you.
• Hunter Valley Gardens and the Village – Visit the 10 amazinglt themed gardens with influences from all over the world. You will then have a choice of staying at the Gardens for longer, or walk/take the coach to the nearby Hunter Valley Gardens Shopping Village with it’s unique collection of boutique retailers promoting the best local produce, artistic talent, contemporary cafe dining and cellar door wine tasting; or
• Hunter Valley Gardens and Audrey Wilkinson Wines – After viewing the gardens, board a coach to visit this winery established in 1866, set on top of a hill with spectacular views overlooking the vineyards. You will enjoy a guided wine tasting; or
• Margan Wines – Travel by coach to Broke (this option does NOT visit the Hunter Valley Gardens). Walk down the garden path through the kitchen garden, then past the olives and vineyards into the winery for a guided, behind the scenes tour. learn how the single vineyard and sustainably farmed wines are made from vine to glass in this award winning winery. Note – to choose this option, you must have good mobility.
• The coach will return you to Branxton Station where we will board our train, travelling the remainder of the Hunter Valley, and on through Ardglen Tunnel to Werris Creek. We will visit the Australian Rail Monument and Railway Journeys Museum. Dinner will be served on-board the train at Werris Creek Station, before we move to the rail yard where we will be stabled overnight. (B, D)
Enjoy breakfast on board the train, and take the opportunity to visit the Werris Creek Railway Journeys Museum, which the volunteers will open especially for you.
You’ll then board coaches to meet with locals and gain a greater understanding of the Liverpool Plains, which boasts some of the best and most productive agricultural land in the country – it is our national food-bowl. We’ll spend the rest of the day travelling along the freight only line from Werris Creek, arriving at Binnaway Junction by mid-afternoon. At Binnaway Junction, you will have the opportunity to watch the locomotives go past the carriages while we change direction.
From Binnaway Junction we travel past Dubbo. Dinner will be served on-board the train on our way to Orange Railway Yard, where we will be stabled for the night. (B, L, D)
We’ll board coaches early this morning to enjoy breakfast hosted by Paula and Allen Charnock at Hillside Harvest. This is a third generation family run orchard, and the family has been growing fruit in the rich volcanic soils of Mount Canobolas since their first orchard was established in 1947. Their 75 acre property proudly yields many varieties of cherries, apples, pears, stone fruit and berries. After breakfast the coach will take you on a coach tour around Orange on the way to rejoin the train;
Our train will take you from Orange RailwayYard to Bathurst Railway Station.
A coach will then take you to Abercrombie House, an outstanding example of Victorian Tudor style architecture, built by the Stewart family in the 1870’s. The Morgan family purchased the house in 1969, have made major restorations and currently live in the house. Lunch will be provided at Abercrombie House. After lunch, the Coach will take you to Bathurst Railway Station to rejoin the train and continue our Golden West Rail Tour overnight train.
We will then have the rare opportunity to ride the closed Gwabegar line from Wallerawang, up the Capertee Valley, the world’s widest canyon. The valley offers truly spectacular views and is credited as being one of the best railway journeys to be had anywhere. Enjoy Dinner on the train as we approach Rylstone where we will stable for the night. (B, L, D)
Enjoy breakfast on board the train. We’ll then board coaches to explore Rylstone and surrounds. The district was settled in the 1820’s, making it one of the oldest settlements west of the Great Dividing Range. Rylstone’s streetscape features 19th century sandstone public houses, cottages and government buildings. You’ll enjoy a visit to either Rylstone Olive Press to see how cold pressed olive oil is made; or visit Kandos Museum to learn about the town’s industrial heritage including the production of cement that built the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
We’ll then reboard the train in time for lunch, as we travel back up the stunning Gwabegar line and cross the Great Dividing Range to Wallerawang. At Lithgow we’ll travel through the 10 tunnels that replaced the Lithgow Zig-Zag, then cross the Darling Causeway on the way to Katoomba.
You will have the option of departing the tour at Katoomba if you wish to spend a couple of days in the Blue Mountains (additional cost) before making your own way home.
We will again board the train for our return to Central Station. You will have had a truly memorable Vintage Rail Journey! (B, L)
What's included
What's not included
Some ways you’ll travel
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
Southern Aurora
AustraliaSome places you’ll stay
Hand-picked hotels and resorts based on location, customer feedback, value and atmosphere. Please Note: Hotels of a similar standard may be substituted.
Our track record
Hear from some of our adventurers that have already ridden the rails with us.
FAQs
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. Tincidunt convallis magna eu ac eu cursus. In duis fusce risus nec eget habitant massa pharetra. Eros a gravida faucibus lorem.
Download the brochure: Golden West Rail Tour
Ready to book your adventure in Golden West Rail Tour
Reserve your place on this exciting exploration of Golden West Rail Tour.
Other Tours
Subscribe for more trip updates
Every adventure begins with a click. Sign up to our newsletter today to be the first to hear about new tours.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to them, their cultures, and to the Elders both past and present.