NSW Rail Journey to the Leeton Art Deco Festival

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll return to the station and our private train to continue our journey – to another heritage-listed, John Whitton designed railway station at Junee for lunch. Sit back and enjoy the changing countryside and charming towns as we roll along. Just past Cootamundra, you’ll experience an unusual rail arrangement – the iconic Bethungra Spiral, where the northbound track spirals around a hill to ease the gradient of trains heading up the hill. 

Upon arrival in Junee, we’ll enjoy lunch in the historic Junee Railway Cafe – once the Railway Refreshment Rooms.

Junee was a major rail hub in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, reflecting the golden age of steam-powered rail travel in NSW, and it still serves as a key stop between Sydney and Melbourne, as well as a junction for regional services. The town itself grew around the railway, bolstered further by gold discoveries in the area during the 19th century. A pivotal chapter came in 1947 with the completion of the Junee Locomotive Depot’s 42-road roundhouse in January, the last steam locomotive depot built by the NSW Government Railways and claimed to be the largest in the southern hemisphere at the time. It serviced massive steam locomotives for over 25 years until the shift to diesel in the 1960s, until its closure in 1993. 

After lunch, we’ll head off for some real railway history at the Junee Roundhouse Railway Museum, located in this significant building, along with the Junee Railway Workshop, which still uses a 30.5 m turntable for commercial reconditioning and the rebuilding of locomotives. You’ll have plenty of time to explore the fascinating displays including model layouts, real heritage locomotives and carriages.

It’s then back on board our railmotor and onto the old Hay Line and our final destination for today – the charming Riverina town of Leeton, home of Australia’s largest Art Deco Festival. Upon arrival, we’ll check into our accommodation and take some time to freshen up (or dress up) ready to step into the dazzling world of the Roaring Twenties for a night of glamour, games, and Gatsby-style revelry at ‘High Rollers at the Hydro’. This is your opportunity to dress to impress in your most dapper suit or glamorous flapper dress from a bygone era at this spirited and stylish celebration.

On arrival, you’ll receive your stash of Hydro Money to try your luck at a range of exciting games at ‘A Night at the Casino’ using your casino “winnings” to bid on fabulous prizes at the live auction held to close the evening out. You’ll enjoy elegant platter-service canapés and finger food plus live entertainment transporting you straight into the jazz age! 

Overnight: Heritage Motor Inn, Leeton (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast we begin our full day of joining in on all the fun of the Art Deco Festival.

Founded as part of a grand irrigation scheme, Leeton was designed in 1912 by renowned architect Walter Burley Griffin, who also planned Canberra, and was one of the first planned towns in Australia under the progressive nation-building Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area project, aimed at turning arid land into productive farmland via the Murrumbidgee River’s waters. It grew rapidly in the early 20th century with Italian, Indian, and later post-WWII migrant communities contributing to its multicultural fabric. Known as the “jewel in Australia’s Art Deco crown,” Leeton boasts an exceptional concentration of preserved 1910s–1940s architecture, including the iconic Roxy Theatre (a Spanish Mission-style cinema built in 1930) and the historic Hydro Hotel, which hosted us last night.

The annual Festival transports visitors back to the glamour of the Roaring Twenties and beyond, blending history, culture, and entertainment to highlight Leeton’s rich heritage tied to early 20th-century design and its agricultural roots. Era-appropriate attire is everywhere – think flapper dresses, pinstripe suits, and feathered headpieces – and shop windows, streets, and venues transform into a living tableau of the 1910s–1940s, with bootlegging-themed pop-ups and vintage car displays adding a playful tone. You’ll have plenty of free time to wander at your own pace to soak it all up.

We’ll start with an expertly guided Art Deco Walking Tour, taking you back in time to the elegance and intrigue of Leeton’s architectural past, before joining a ‘hands-on’ cocktail workshop in the stylish front bar of the Hydro Hotel. From the zesty Bee’s Knees of the 1920s to the smooth Daiquiri of the ’30s, you’ll learn how to craft classic concoctions and discover new favourites inspired by the elegance and spirit of the Art Deco era – you’ll even get to enjoy the cocktails! 

We’ll cap off our morning with a short tour of Henry Lawson’s cottage, where the poet spent several months in 1916 sobering up and writing. Local expert Geoffrey Graham brings Lawson to life through an interactive and informative session at the cottage, taking you on a visual journey through words, describing the poet’s life and work, which were significantly affected by depression, alcoholism, and partial deafness. 

The rest of the afternoon is yours to immerse yourself as little or as much as you want in the activities of the day. 

This evening we’ll join the spectacle and style at the Art Deco Roxy Theatre for the festival’s signature Gala Dinner. Enjoy a complimentary champagne on arrival before sitting down to a sumptuous three-course meal showcasing premium local produce, all within the glamour of the theatre’s main auditorium. With prime views of the stage and front-row seats to an unforgettable mix of cabaret, live music and theatrical delights, it’s set to be a fabulous night.

Overnight: Heritage Motor Inn, Leeton (B, D)

This morning after a leisurely breakfast and checking out, we’ll return to the station and our waiting rail motor. As we travel west, you’ll notice the rolling farmlands suddenly change to vineyards and orchards, heralding our arrival into Griffith – our base for the next three nights.

Upon arrival we’ll transfer to our private coach for a short town tour to help you get your bearings, including a visit to the ‘Big Hill’ to take in the views of the surrounding vineyards and orchards, before travelling on to nearby Lake Wyangan for an unforgettable exclusive experience – a tour and private lunch at the esteemed Piccolo Family Farm. Established by the Piccolo family, it embodies a “farm-to-fork” philosophy, emphasising sustainable, chemical-free agriculture and the celebration of Italian heritage, local produce, and storytelling. You’ll be hosted by the owner, Peter, who will lovingly show you around this spectacular property, before sitting down to lunch, catered by his son, the award-winning Chef, Luke Piccolo and the team from his own restaurant, Limone Dining. Showcasing local and home grown ingredients, teamed with their very own wines, this is the quintessential long lunch. 

Mid afternoon we’ll arrive at our hotel and check in with the rest of the day and evening at leisure. Our hotel is located a short walk from Banna Avenue, the main street of Griffith, where several restaurants and pubs will be open for dinner. 

Overnight: Quest, Griffith (B, L)

For those up early this morning a must do for any visit to Griffith is a visit to Bertoldos Pasticceria for a coffee and pastry – right across the road from where we are staying. After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll all head off for a full day of exploring this vibrant region.

Our first stop is one of the most famous names in wine – De Bortoli. We’ll visit their Bilbul facility to learn about the wine production and enjoy a tasting – all guided by one of the lead winemakers. A very special treat for our group will be a guided tour of Emeri De Bortoli’s private garden. 

Next up we head to Whitton and a visit to the fabulous Whitton Malthouse for a guided whiskey tasting and lunch. We’ll also pop in next door for a private tour of the Southern Cotton Gin – cotton is widely grown in the region and you’ll get to see just what goes into making the very threads you may well be wearing!

After returning to town, there’ll be some to relax before regrouping for dinner at Zecca Handmade Italian – another true highlight of any visit to the Riverina. Owners Daniel, Ben & Michaela bring their Italian heritage to the table with food inspired by recipes handed down from generations of family, and made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. 

Overnight: Quest, Griffith (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast, it’s back on our private railmotor for a journey on one of the forgotten branch lines – The Hillston Branch. Originally part of the Temora to Roto Line, it was an important link between Broken Hill and the Riverina. After disembarking in Hillston, on the banks of the Lachlan River, you’ll have the option of either taking a short guided walking tour of the historic main street or visiting the local museum with its fascinating collection. 

After lunch at the local ex Services Club, we’ll reboard our train and head back down the line to one of the little towns we passed this morning – Merriwagga, with a population of around 100. One of the most unexpected highlights of the region is here – the tallest bar in the Southern Hemisphere at the Black Stump Hotel. We’ll call in for an afternoon drink – and the bar tab is on us!

After trundling back through the flat farming lands of the Riverina to Griffith we’ll enjoy a night at leisure. With over 20 restaurants on your doorstep, you’ll be spoiled for choice!

Overnight: Quest, Griffith (B, L)

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll climb aboard our private coach for a day of touring off the beaten track. Our first stop will be in the tiny hamlet of Rankins Springs, a “one-pub, one shop” village that started as a coach stop in the 1860s. The railway arrived in 1922, which helped the village grow for a while, but the line closed many years ago. We’ll visit a local highlight that you would possibly drive straight past without ever realising it was there – Wally’s Junk Art Gallery, an offbeat gallery showcasing whimsical sculptures made entirely from recycled junk like scrap metal, old farm tools, and discarded machinery. The brainchild of a local character, artist Raymond “Wally” Lamont, it has been decades in the making and truly embodies the spirit of “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” From here, it’s a short walk across the road to see the remains of the branch line, with its turntable still in place, waiting for a train that will never come.

Staying with the local branch line, albeit by road, we’ll travel on to the small town of Weethalle and have a look at the magnificent silo art. Completed by artist Heesco Khosnaran, the captivating mural serves as a heartfelt tribute to the rich agricultural heritage of the town and the surrounding Bland Shire Communities.

Back on our coach, we’ll head north across the wide plains of Western NSW, passing the end of the still open Naradhan Branch, to the town of Lake Cargelligo. After a stop on the shores of the lake, we’ll wander the main street and enjoy a hearty lunch at the local Commercial Hotel.

After lunch it’s back on our railmotor for a rare treat – a journey on the freight-only branch line all the way to Temora, heading away from main roads into countryside that you wouldn’t be able to see any other way.

Upon arrival at Temora’s impressive station, we’ll transfer by private coach to the famous Temora Aviation Museum for a guided tour of the incredible collection followed by dinner in the display hall surrounded by part of the collection – a unique and special experience! 

Overnight: Temora Local Motels, Temora (B, L, D)

This morning we’re going out for breakfast to Gidgee Estate, a charming country-style event space that combines a thriving garden nursery and cut flower production. After breakfast we’ll head back to the station, where the wonderful volunteers will have opened it all up for us to explore. Built in stages between 1893 and 1915, the station sadly closed when passenger services were withdrawn in the late 1970s.

Back on our train, we’ll make the short run to the now disused Cootamundra West station for a leg stretch before the railmotor winds its way towards the Cullerin Ranges, the highest point on the line, and then down into Goulburn to pick up our dinner, which we’ll enjoy onboard on the run through the Southern Highlands back to Sydney, arriving in the mid-evening. 

End of Tour (B, L, D)