Victorian Rail Adventure 2027

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll make our way to the railway station and board a regional express V/Line train to Echuca – watch the landscape whip past your window as we pass Bendigo, Elmore and Rochester before arriving late morning in Echuca, a historic riverside town on the banks of the Murray River right on the border with New South Wales. Established in the 1850s, the port and town quickly grew into one of Australia’s busiest inland ports during the riverboat trade era, with paddle steamers transporting wool, wheat, timber, and supplies along the Murray River system, until the railway took over in the late 19th century. You’ll have some time to explore this charming town before we transfer to our paddlesteamer for a light lunch while cruising the magnificent Murray. After lunch and our return to port, we’ll enjoy a guided town tour and learn about the Port of Echuca’s colourful history. 

Our private air-conditioned coach will then take us to Bendigo, travelling along a section of Victoria’s Silo Art Trail – Australia’s largest outdoor gallery, featuring massive murals painted on historic grain silos (and some water tanks) in small rural towns. We’ll stop in both Rochester and Colbinabbin to marvel at some of the magnificent art works. 

Upon our late afternoon arrival in Bendigo, we’ll go directly to the elegant and historic Shamrock Hotel, our home for the next three nights, and check in. After some time to freshen up, we’ll head out together for dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast, our private coach will take us to the charming, historic goldfield town of Castlemaine – a town that boomed during the 1851 Victorian gold rush. At one point, the population of Castlemaine briefly exceeded that of Melbourne. While the rush faded by the 1880s, the town retained its grand Georgian-style architecture and broad streets. 

Here we’ll embark from the grand heritage railway station on a return steam-hauled ride on the Victorian Goldfields Railway, one of Victoria’s most authentic heritage rail experiences, along the old branch line between Castlemaine and Maldon. Originally opened in June 1884 to connect the booming gold-mining town of Maldon to the main Melbourne–Bendigo line at Castlemaine, the railway is now operated almost entirely by volunteers from the Castlemaine and Maldon Railway Preservation Society and is Victoria’s longest operational broad-gauge heritage railway. Your first-class ticket entitles you to ride in the wonderful parlour cars with access to the bar for some refreshments along the way.

We’ll pause for a while in Maldon, an iconic gold rush town awarded the ‘most intact townscape’ by the National Trust, where you’ll be able to experience what life was like during the gold rush era – wander past old weatherboard homes, solid stone buildings and decorative shop fronts in this lovingly preserved Australian gold mining town, before reboarding our train for the return journey. 

On arrival back in Castlemaine, we’ll enjoy lunch at the popular Railway Hotel, followed by a tour of Buda House, a classic, beautifully preserved Victorian Goldfields villa set on 8 acres of tranquil gardens that is considered to be one of the most authentic and intact historic homes in the Goldfields region. Beginning as a modest 1861 home, it was considerably expanded over time by the Leviny family, who immigrated from Budapest in Hungary in 1863, bought the property, and lived there continuously for 118 years until the last family member passed away in the early 1980s. The property is now a Museums Australia accredited museum and is heritage-listed. What makes it special is how intact everything remains – it’s not a recreated period house but one filled with the family’s actual furniture, decorative arts, artworks (including many original Australian pieces), personal belongings, and domestic items.

After arriving back in Bendigo your evening and dinner is at leisure. 

Overnight: Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo (B, L)

This morning we delve into the intriguing history and unique character of the vibrant regional city of Bendigo, an iconic gold rush town. Often called Victoria’s “golden heart”, it’s known for its grand gold-rush architecture, rich cultural scene, Chinese heritage, and excellent food and wine. Originally called Sandhurst, the town exploded during the 1850s Victorian gold rush and became one of the world’s richest gold-mining areas, producing massive wealth that funded its ornate Victorian-era buildings, wide streets, and grand public structures, much of which has been retained. 

We’ll start our day aboard a vintage talking tram, for a tour showcasing the main sights and attractions of Bendigo, complete with commentary. After some free time for lunch, we’ll finish up at the Central Deborah Gold Mine – a must-do for anyone exploring the area’s gold rush history. You’ll enjoy a fully guided surface tour, and for those who are interested, you’ll also have the opportunity to don a hard-hat, grab a miners’ lamp, step into the cage and descend 61m for a guided walk in the footsteps of past miners, learning about the daily life and dangerous conditions for miners, gold extraction methods, and the tools and underground transport used. 

The rest of the afternoon is free to grab some lunch and explore the city at leisure, with your Talking Tram ticket allowing you to hop on and hop off at will. Places of interest you may wish to explore include Lake Weeroona and the stunning Bendigo Art Gallery.

Your evening is free to enjoy the many dining options around the city.

Overnight: Shamrock Hotel, Bendigo (B)

It’s a lazy start today, with some free time after check out to continue exploring Bendigo or just relax in the hotel before boarding our private coach for the journey to Maryborough, a historic gold-rush town known for its impressive 19th-century architecture, grand railway station, lush gardens, and relaxed country feel. Unlike some boom towns that faded quickly, Maryborough has retained its importance as a regional hub with agriculture, manufacturing, and rail connections.

On arrival, we’ll spend some time in the town centre for lunch at leisure, before heading to one of Australia’s grandest regional Victorian era buildings, the Maryborough Railway Station. Built in the late 1800s in grand Victorian style with a clock tower, it’s one of Australia’s most impressive regional stations, prompting Mark Twain’s famous description of Maryborough as “a Railway Station with a town attached”. 

After a guided tour of this historic station, we’ll leave our luggage with the coach and board the local V/Line train for a short cross-country run to the fair city of Ballarat, Victoria’s third-largest city and one of the jewels of the Goldfields region, and our base for the next two nights. Gold was discovered here in 1851, triggering one of the world’s greatest alluvial gold rushes. Ballarat boomed rapidly, attracting thousands of miners from around the globe, and the wealth funded ornate public buildings, wide streets, and cultural institutions. The 1854 Eureka Stockade rebellion – a pivotal moment in Australian democracy – took place here when miners protested against harsh licensing fees and lack of rights. By the late 19th century,Ballarat had grown into a prosperous provincial city that retains much of its historic character today.

Upon arrival, our coach and luggage will be waiting to transfer us to our gold rush era grand hotel, located on historic Lydiard Street in the heart of Ballarat. After some time to freshen up and relax, we’ll regroup for dinner on the grounds of our hotel.

Overnight: Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat (B, D)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll board our private coach and travel to Daylesford, a charming little town in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range. Upon arrival, we’ll take a privately chartered Diesel Electric Rail Motor (DERM) railcar for a scenic round trip journey to Bullarto and back. 

After some free time in Daylesford for lunch at leisure, we’ll head back to Ballarat and go directly to the Eureka Centre located right at the historic site of the 1854 Eureka Stockade rebellion. Home to the Eureka flag, this compact but insightful museum focuses on one of Australia’s most significant events in the fight for democratic rights, miners’ freedoms, and social justice during the Victorian gold rush.

From here, we’ll continue to Sovereign Hill, one of Australia’s premier truly immersive living history museums – a ‘township’ that has recreated the atmosphere, sights, sounds, and daily life of the 1850s Ballarat gold rush on the actual site where gold was first discovered in 1851. Wander past authentic-looking buildings including a theatre, school, post office, banks, and stores. Watch costumed characters go about daily life, demonstrations (blacksmithing, candle-making, gold pouring), and interact with “residents.” You may even like to have a go panning for real gold in a creek – you keep what you find! 

After returning to the hotel you’ll have some time to continue exploring your surroundings or enjoy some quiet downtime before regrouping for dinner in a local bistro.

Overnight: Craig’s Royal Hotel, Ballarat (B, D)

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll visit the Ballarat Tramway Museum for a look at their impressive collection of vintage trams, some of which are over 100 years old. Once the city’s main form of public transport, the museum showcases a bygone era of transport which existed on Ballarat’s streets from 1887 to 1971. Located in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens, on the west side of Lake Wendouree, a special treat will be a privately chartered run along a return track of 3.2 kms on Wendouree Parade on a historic Ballarat 4-wheel tram! We’ll take some time to explore the botanical gardens before returning to town for lunch at leisure and, if you like, pay a visit to the acclaimed Art Gallery of Ballarat.

In the early afternoon, our private coach will take us to Halls Gap through the southern part of the Grampians on what is considered to be one of Australia’s most scenic road journeys, pausing at Dunkeld, the southern gateway to the Grampians, for a leg stretch. Upon arrival in Halls Gap, it’s straight to our hotel to settle in. 

Dinner tonight is hosted at a charming local pub just a short walk from our hotel.

Overnight: Country Plaza, Halls Gap (B, D)

This morning we’ll take some time to ‘smell the roses’ in this dramatic Aussie bush setting with a special morning excursion deep into the heart of the spectacular Grampians National Park. Known for its rugged sandstone mountains, dramatic cliffs and plummeting waterfalls, you’ll see why it deserves its reputation as one of Victoria’s (and Australia’s) greatest natural wonders. Our exploration will include stops at the Reed Lookout, MacKenzie Falls, and the Brooke Lookout, so you get a great chance to see and ‘feel’ the magnificence of this area.

After returning to Halls Gap we’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Wendouree railway station to board the V/Line train to Melbourne. On arrival we’ll take a short stroll to our hotel and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure. 

Overnight: The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins, Melbourne (B, L)

After breakfast this morning, we’ll walk to Southern Cross Station and jump on a metro train to Belgrave, the departure point for the legendary Puffing Billy, Australia’s most popular heritage railway situated in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges. Originally built in the early 1900’s as a low-cost 2’6” gauge line to service the local communities and timber industry, a staged closure of the line began in the 1950’s. However, like so many great stories of heritage rail, it was saved by a group of dedicated volunteers and rail fans who worked to restore the line and the rolling stock. Since the 1960’s it has been one of Victoria’s most popular tourist attractions. You’ll get to experience a very special steam-hauled trip along the length of the character-filled narrow-gauge line, winding through towering Mountain Ash forests, fern gullies, and over historic timber trestle bridges, including the iconic Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge.

You’ll have the chance to have a look around the new Lakeside Visitor Centre, which tells the intertwined story of the railway and the Dandenong Ranges, with steam artefacts, railway history displays, and a replica of the railway’s first locomotive. After enjoying lunch together, we’ll reboard the train for the return journey to Belgrave and then back to Melbourne, arriving late in the afternoon. 

Dinner tonight is at leisure.

Overnight: The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins, Melbourne (B, L)

This morning after a lazy breakfast, we’ll catch the tram to Docklands, and from there, a ferry to Queenscliff and a coach transfer to Drysdale for a very special date with the Q Train, Australia’s premier rail restaurant, and the perfect venue for our last meal together as travelling companions. This award-winning rolling restaurant travels along the historic Bellarine Railway between Drysdale and Queenscliff in brilliantly restored carriages that originally formed part of the Queensland Railways Sunlander train. The rural and coastal scenery rolls by while you dine on fresh local produce, a fitting finale to our journey across Victoria. We’ll return to Melbourne later in the afternoon.

Your evening is at leisure to enjoy your last night in this dynamic city. 

Overnight: The Savoy Hotel on Little Collins, Melbourne (B, L)

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. If you’d like to stay in Melbourne for a little longer, please reach out to our office on 1300 800 977 so we can arrange your post-tour accommodation at our hotel. Additional nights are subject to hotel availability, so early requests are advised. 

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