Embodying the meandering rail route via the landscape, the visitors journey is nuanced around the bush landscape. Menzies Creek MuseumLet your guests be truly immersed in some of Australia’s rarest and most unusual railway artifacts as they dine and dance the night away at the Menzies Creek Museum. The museum is an hour’s drive from the CBD – or board Puffing Billy at Belgrave for an iconic 30-minute rail journey passing over the historic Monbulk Creek trestle bridge and thru the forests of the Dandenong Ranges. Travel through the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, with lush fern gullies brushing previous and Mountain Ash trees towering overhead.
For birdwatching fanatics, Puffing Billy Railway presents numerous habitats and plentiful birdlife to observe. Whether in search of adventure, leisure, or cultural immersion, Puffing Billy Railway promises an unforgettable expertise for all. Plan your trip right now and embark on a journey to discover the wonders of this iconic vacation spot. Nestled amidst Victoria’s picturesque landscapes, this iconic railway provides charming experiences for guests of all ages.
Puffing Billy operates every day besides Christmas Day, and is definitely accessible from Melbourne by Metro Train on the Belgrave Line. Function spaces may be employed independently or mixed with our steam practice journeys, together with non-public constitution trains, exclusive carriages for groups, and onboard dining in enclosed heritage first-class carriages. Experience the time-honoured custom of sitting on the carriage sill – a real thrill for young and old! Ride in open-sided carriages over the rolling hills, down the valley and into the forest on the unique 24km mountain track between Belgrave and Gembrook and benefit from the simplicity and fantastic factor about the region on board our Excursion prepare journey. With lush fern gullies brushing previous your open facet carriage and Mountain Ash bushes towering overhead, the whole household will love riding the Puffing Billy steam train in your next weekend trip or school holidays tour. Thanks to Puffing Billy’s signature open-side carriages, you’ll have front-row seats to the journey’s mountains, forests, valleys and iconic timber trestle bridges.
With a range of delicious picnic packs available, pre-order your meals and spend the relaxation of your time making reminiscences to treasure endlessly.Located adjoining to Lakeside station sits Puffing Billy’s new Lakeside Visitor Centre. Featuring a café with a few of the finest produce on offer in the area, and a gift store with domestically produced crafts. The Train of Lights show seamlessly blends the timeless allure of steam locomotion with the modern allure of LED technology, promising passengers an unforgettable journey by way of the enchanting Dandenong Ranges.
We are able to nab a picnic desk right by the lake with wonderful views of the paddleboats and the water. The new state-of-the-art Lakeside Visitor Centre means that even on a rainy day you have someplace to shelter, which was previously a failing of the Emerald Park expertise when you have been unlucky to encounter inclement climate. So I am actually excited to have the chance to journey the Puffing Billy again, invited this time as an grownup with two kids in tow. Passengers can view the complete timetable and fare forms of day by day tour trains for 23 December 2024 to 26 June 2025 at
Puffing Billy Railway is a superbly preserved steam practice that’s been operating since 1900, capturing the spirit of the steam age in all its charming glory. We have stood the check of time being preserved, restored, and maintained by passionate individuals and championed by the native community. Volunteers put the life into our residing museum, supporting our efforts to protect and function our heritage railway. Discover diverse wildlife on a safari journey and explore the pristine wilderness surrounding Puffing Billy Railway. Marvel at the beautiful national parks with their lush rainforests and rugged mountains, offering distinctive opportunities for exploration. Unwind on tranquil beaches, absorb the sun, and luxuriate in swimming, browsing, or simply lounging on the sand.
The ladies perused the native Op Shop whilst us dads shepherded the youngsters around the quaint native lolly shop, filling small paper baggage with a spread of sweets from quaint jars. Then, bursting with sugar-fuelled energy, we unleashed the youngsters onto the train-themed playground that sits beside the station. There are some small shed-like stations along the monitor to Gembrook and temporary emergence into the passing cities, but the main attractions are the three wood bridges that the practice traverses. One of those is the largest on the Puffing Billy line, spanning over 60 metres in size and 15 metres in peak; an engineering feat of wood and metal to assist the great weight of the practice and its passengers. You will find inside native knowledge on parks, playgrounds, cafes, household actions, markets and more all ready to be uncovered, rediscovered and enjoyed. Puffing Billy, a renowned Victorian vacationer gem nestled in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges, has been a beloved a half of the hills neighborhood for over a century.
Enjoy your entrée within the enclosed eating carriages earlier than arriving at the unique function venue, the Nobelius Packing Shed, where mains and desserts are served. The evening’s entertainers will ensure your night out is enjoyable with reside music that everybody is aware of and loves! Whether you like to bounce or prefer to have a chat with your fellow passengers, you will be certain to benefit from the ambiance of ‘The Shed’ till it’s time to return to the prepare. Add a stylish twist of steam to your next event, with choices to constitution a practice, rent unique carriages on your group, or take pleasure in First Class wine and dine experiences in superbly restored heritage dining carriages. Plus, there are diverse experiences off the rails – from paddle boating to bike hire – to reconnect and inspire your group. The Lakeside to Gembrook return journey departs from the picturesque Lakeside station within Emerald Lake Park.
The Puffing Billy Running Festival is an iconic working challenge against the ability and pace of the famous Puffing Billy steam locomotive from Belgrave to Emerald within the stunning Dandenong Ranges. Belgrave to Lakeside journeys operate daily and additional journeys like Belgrave to Gembrook and Lakeside to Gembrook operate Friday – Sunday. Reconnect with household and associates whilst respiration in the fresh air of the Dandenong Ranges. Relive your individual childhood memories whilst introducing the following generation to this unforgettable a part of Victorian historical past.
Puffing Billy makes for an exquisite opportunity to chill out and breathe in the contemporary air whilst the train makes its way through the temperate rainforest. Passengers can disembark at numerous stations alongside the greatest way, exploring charming cities and villages. The Lakeside Visitor Centre boasts a modern cafe, a present shop showcasing native crafts, and a gallery that includes historical railway artefacts.
We celebrate the stories, tradition and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of all communities who additionally work and reside on this land. On your next college excursion expertise the magic of a day at Puffing Billy Railway. Start your journey at Lakeside Station, located within the lovely Emerald Lake Park. This 45-minute journey starts at the Lakeside Visitor Centre, goes by way of eucalypt timber in Wright State Forest, and crosses three timber bridges before arriving at the charming village of Gembrook. Puffing Billy Railway has been part of Victoria’s railway historical past for 123 years, with generations of households making the journey by way of the Dandenong Ranges at the much-loved attraction. Puffing Billy passengers can now sit on the sills of the historic train for the total size of the journey from Belgrave to Gembrook.
In maintaining with the Fun Run’s theme of ‘Kids Helping Kids’, all of the cash raised has been donated to projects supporting and assisting children. The Fun Run is structured round 5 events, where kids aged 3 to 8 years, run towards Thomas the Tank Engine, and a sixth event sees 9 to 12 12 months olds running against Puffing Billy. Sign as a lot as our free newsletter and receive weekly updates on occasions and things to do with children on the Mornington Peninsula. The return journey lasts for a serene 2.5 hours, with a stopover in Gembrook Station the place you probably can seize refreshments and winter warmers. It provides passengers the chance to expertise the pure surrounds of the Dandenong Ranges at night while being immersed in a wide ranging gentle present designed by acclaimed lighting manufacturing company Resolution X. The century-old custom of sitting on the carriage sills was banned about six years in the past, after a minibus did not cease for an activated level crossing exterior Menzies Creek and collided with the heritage prepare.
Puffing Billy Railway is dedicated to providing an enjoyable experience for everybody and has a spread of accessible facilities obtainable for our passengers. Rotary brings collectively a global community of volunteerleaders who dedicate their time and expertise to tacklethe world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.Rotary connects 1.4 million members from extra than200 countries and geographical areas. Our members are devoted individuals who share apassion for both neighborhood service and friendship.Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diversegroup of execs who share your drive to provide again. Finally, a District Conference permits Rotarians to see the bigger picture and gain a renewed sense of function. While club activities are integral, the convention highlights the broader scope of Rotary’s affect both regionally and globally. Sessions usually showcase humanitarian tasks, discuss Rotary’s areas of focus, and supply updates on Rotary International’s objectives.
You might be responsible for implementing initiatives and activities that enhance the expertise of our visitors. This consists of making certain the supply of high standards of customer service for the entire buyer journey and the Lakeside Visitor Centre, on website passenger interaction and safety administration. Established in 1900, the railway served the local communities that lived within the hills and carried anything from passengers to timber, livestock, potatoes and crops. Today, we have become a tourism icon due to the tireless efforts of over 300 volunteers and group of dedicated employees. The volunteers and employees who preserve the trains, arrange excursions and the timetables are all a wonderful group of characters who make it such a particular expertise to journey on the trains.
Puffing Billy Railway travels through the Dandenong Ranges, only one hour east of Melbourne. Experience the appeal of Puffing Billy and the magic of the Penguin Parade in a single unforgettable day journey. Proceeds from the 2024 Puffing Billy Running Festival will be donated to heritage railway initiatives, corresponding to the development of Puffing Billy Railway’s Belgrave Station Signal Box. Puffing Billy Railway acknowledges the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people because the Traditional Custodians of the land on which Puffing Billy Railway operates, and pay our respects to their Elders previous, current and emerging. Puffing Billy Railway is proud to work with tourism businesses in our local community.
Ride in the open sides carriages as the historic steam trains proceed to run on their original mountain track between Belgrave and Gembrook, in the natural surrounds of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges. The iconic Puffing Billy Railway is a much-loved vacationer attraction situated inside the Dandenong Ranges, 40 kilometres east of Melbourne. Emerald Lake Park is a scenic vacation spot for many, centrally positioned on the railway.
Puffing Billy have a spread of delicious picnic and lunch packs out there for adults, youngsters, couples and families. These can be found for pre-order along with your train tickets and could be collected at Belgrave and Lakeside station. Nestled amongst the towering rainforests of the Dandenong Ranges sits Puffing Billy Railway’s new state-of-the-art Lakeside Visitor Centre. Located adjacent to Lakeside station sits Puffing Billy’s new state-of-the-art Lakeside Visitor Centre. From Lakeside, you’ll experience on Puffing Billy via Wright Forest, which is rich with tall, fragrant eucalypt bushes.
Puffing Billy is positioned in the Dandenong Ranges, solely forty kilometres or one hour east of Melbourne. For details on the means to get to the different stations go to puffingbilly.com.au/visit-us/getting-here/. Pre-order your meals and spend the the rest of your time making memories to treasure forever. Kids will be excited from the second you arrive at the station because of the historic locomotives, the smell of the steam and the sound of the train’s whistle. This indoor attraction contains interactive play areas, thrilling rides, and imaginative constructing challenges. Children may unleash their creativity by constructing their own LEGO masterpieces, while adults can go on a nostalgic journey, rediscovering the allure of their favorite bricks.
The Santa Specials characteristic face painting, a Little Elves play and create workshop, Australian animal exhibition, Santa pictures, presents and a 60-minute return journey via the Dandenong Ranges. Puffing Billy steam prepare within the Dandenong Ranges is one of Melbourne’s main vacationer attractions and it’s a must-do for locals and vacationers alike. Whether you’re an area or visiting from afar, there are lots of alternatives to enjoy the heritage steam expertise at considered one of Victoria’s most iconic points of interest. Once at Lakeside, passengers can chill out at the Railway Café, the place a full menu and drinks bar featuring a number of native beers, wines, and ciders can be found earlier than the return journey.
Explore natural attractions and national parks, from cascading waterfalls to scenic lookout points, promising awe-inspiring views and memorable experiences. Prepare for a day brimming with pleasure as you discover the varied vary of activities available. From scenic prepare rides to immersive wildlife encounters, the choices are endless for unforgettable experiences.
You also can enjoy an early lunch at the Lakeside Visitor Centre’s Railway Café, the place canines are welcome within the outside eating space. The operators of Victoria’s iconic Puffing Billy steam practice say it faces an unsure future without higher monetary help from the State or Federal Governments. Welcome the end of time period three and the beginning of college holidays with a trip to Puffing Billy Railway – it’s the perfect time to get exterior, maintain the youngsters transferring and exploring, and make household memories that final a lifetime. Emerald Lake Park is important to the competition, internet hosting the 1.2km and 5km occasions, the end areas for the thirteen.5km and 21.1km races, in addition to the race trains and parking.
For me, an interstate migrant, steam trains are a dream image from watching Thomas the Tank Engine. I had no idea that there was a super amazing choo-choo practice, an hours drive from the Peninsula, that whisked you away to that world of the previous. However, doing a self-guided trip to the Dandenongs is very easy and an entire day can easily be spent up right here. Ride the steam train and discover Emerald Park Lake or do the return journey to Belgrave after which take a hike in the forest. Along the means in which you will cross the historic Monbulk Creek trestle bridge, wave at the friendly locals from their backyards and spot the Cardinia Reservoir in the distance.
For these looking for an adrenaline rush, the Edge—a glass-floored platform dangling 300 metres above ground—is an amazing experience. This place contains panoramic views of Melbourne and its environs, the thrilling Edge experience, interactive exhibitions and multimedia displays, and a café and bar where you may enjoy the views whereas drinking refreshments. That mentioned, Puffing Billy Railway operates year-round, and each season offers its distinctive allure. In summer season (December to February), warmer weather makes it ideal for picnics and different outdoor activities, although it can be busier with higher temperatures.
While the Council has partially reopened the Emerald Lake Precinct, together with Nobelius Heritage Park and Emerald Lake Park, the bush tracks will stay closed throughout ongoing cleanup. “We are honoured to obtain this prestigious award, which has been a labour of love for so many people, including the groups at TERRIOR Architects and Kane Constructions,” Puffing Billy Railway CEO Peter Abbott stated. The Andrews Labor Government is securing the method forward for the enduring Puffing Billy Railway with the introduction of recent legislation into Parliament at present.
Whether it’s an lively journey, a contact of nostalgia, or cultural experiences, there is something for everyone at Puffing Billy Railway. There are additionally several specialty practice occasions taking place throughout the year such as ‘Day Out with Thomas’, ‘Jazz on Puffing Billy’, ‘Rock N Roll Train’ and ‘Murder Mystery Train’. The railway has been nicely cared for and maintained by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society. The journey aboard Puffing Billy takes you thru the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, positioned only one hour east of Melbourne.
Embark on a guided tour and delve into the wealthy history and pure wonders of Puffing Billy Railway. Expert guides will lead you through lush forests, charming villages, and iconic landmarks, offering fascinating insights alongside the way. Providing limitless return travel on any excursion train journey, entry to the Menzies Creek Museum and soon-to-be Lakeside Visitor Centre, special discounts on distinctive dining experiences and occasions, in addition to major food Even four-legged family members can get in on the steam train fun, with particular monthly Lakeside to Gembrook Dog Express journeys on board enclosed compartment carriages. Enhance your expertise with audio guides, studying in regards to the historical past, tradition, and pure wonders as you discover.
The line was closed in 1954 after a landslide, however because of devoted volunteers it was partially re-opened as a tourist prepare in 1962. Companion card holders journey freed from charge onboard Puffing Billy’s every day train journeys, and their shopper (with an Australian Government issued concession or healthcare card) pays a concession fare. Start off the day at Emerald Lake Park together with your pup, where you can discover strolling trails collectively earlier than boarding dog-friendly carriages at Lakeside Station.
Arrive early to benefit from the park, together with Lake Treganowan and Lake Nobelius, fern gullies, open eucalypt forests, and plenty of native and unique plants. Or simply stop in at the Lakeside Visitor Centre for a small chunk to eat at the Railway Café and a look at the Visitor Centre’s free museum in the Lakeside Hall. Whether you’re in search of adventure, leisure, or family-friendly fun, this tour guarantees an unforgettable experience for all who go to. Plan your journey today and embark on a journey to discover the wonders of those iconic destinations. The Biosis ecology and heritage teams lately had the pleasure of helping an iconic Victorian vacationer attraction, the Puffing Billy Railway.
In 1962 the Preservation Society officially opened the line from Belgrave to Menzies Creek, but this time as a vacationer attraction. An extension to Emerald opened in 1965, to the Lakeside Station in 1975 and at last all the way in which to Gembrook in 1998. It’s an icon and nothing brings again extra childhood reminiscences than happening a journey on Puffing Billy. The smell of the engines and the clunks and grinds of equipment as you enter the Belgrave platform, is all a part of the experience. Add within the volunteers wearing traditional uniforms blowing whistles and waving flags – you are feeling like you are a part of the Thomas the Tank Engine story.
On Sunday, the state authorities introduced guests would now be able to dangle their ft outside the carriages all the finest way through the forest to Gembrook. Most Puffing Billy trains commence their journey from Belgrave, the headquarters of the railway. You purchase a ticket for a particular departure time in Belgrave and can return from Emerald on any scheduled prepare. Most people choose to travel the route between Belgrave and Lakeside / Emerald Lake Park.
The project brings together practice enthusiasts and local park goers, creating a novel tourism amenity providing which collects the various customers of the positioning in a single however advanced building. Step right into a timeless world of surprise with Australia’s favorite steam practice, Puffing Billy, positioned within the coronary heart of the Dandenong Ranges and only one-hour east of Melbourne. The dwelling legend that’s Puffing Billy was built in 1900 to serve the native communities that lived within the hills, carrying something from passengers to timber, livestock, potatoes and crops. Today, the railway is a century old not-for-profit steam railway that connects and enriches folks with the past, the surroundings and each other. Start the out of doors journey on board Australia’s favorite steam prepare as you dangle your legs from Puffing Billy’s conventional open-side carriages; a really iconic expertise that can’t be discovered anywhere else on the planet. Feel the wind in your hair and watch the bushes cross by in front of your ft because the practice winds by way of the most magnificent scenery of the Dandenong Ranges, only one hour from Melbourne.
Puffing Billy Railway is a child-safe organisation committed to protecting youngsters and young people from hurt. Employees are required to signal our Child Safe Policy and Code of Conduct and bear a Rail Safety Medical, participate in a National Criminal History Check, and hold an employee status Working with Children Check. Evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination status is required from the profitable applicant. You shall be part of a caring and supportive staff of go-getters who love what they do and who’re passionate about ensuring our clients have the very best expertise. There is a superb walk from Belgrave to Sassafras, 12 km or so, but really pretty.
It’s additionally probably the most picturesque and well-known part of the monitor, allows a return trip again to Belgrave and takes 60 minutes a technique (2 hours return). For spectacular panoramic views of Melbourne, visit the Melbourne Skydeck, on the 88th level of the Eureka Tower. This remark platform provides a novel view of the metropolitan skyline, with sweeping panoramas that attain the Dandenong Ranges.
Whether you are craving thrilling adventures, serene nature escapes, or family-friendly outings, there’s something for everyone to take pleasure in along the Puffing Billy Railway route. More than four hundred,000 guests enjoy the preserved heritage steam railway yearly, and the return of leg dangling all the way in which from Belgrave to Gembrook is a really welcome development. It joins the latest upgrade to each the Gembrook Historic Station and Menzies Creek Station. Embark on a fascinating afternoon adventure with us, starting your journey through the verdant Dandenong Ranges aboard the long-lasting Puffing Billy steam prepare. Marvel at the lush landscapes and historic locomotive because it winds its means from Belgrave to Lakeside throughout this hour-long expedition. At The Nobbies, relish panoramic coastal vistas of Bass Strait from the clifftop boardwalks and witness the awe-inspiring blowhole.
At the time of the abuse Mr Drew was dwelling in Upwey and a student at Ferntree Gully Tech School, where he said different college students knew what was occurring to boys on the vacationer railway. The court paperwork determine members of the preservation society and the board who knew that Whitehead was a paedophile as early as the Sixties. Mr Drew claims Victorian Railways failed to analyze Whitehead’s previous conviction, failed to investigate his actions with kids and enabled him to use his position in the organisation to meet youngsters. In 1983, Mr Drew’s fascination with trains led him to volunteer for Puffing Billy alongside dozens of different kids and young youngsters.
Only the rich and elite members of society could afford the luxury of first-class eating again in the 1900s but now it’s out there to all, eating within the heritage eating carriage is great. We recently loved a beautiful meal aboard Puffing Billy and suggest the expertise to anyone wishing to indulge a little and on the similar time expertise some of the most beautiful countrysides in Australia. Starting on October 10, Twilight Trains will run every Thursday night until December 12, and supply passengers a three-and-a-half-hour return journey from Belgrave to Lakeside. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos at present joined Chair of the Puffing Billy Railway Board Tim North KC OAM at the railway’s Lakeside Visitor Centre in Emerald to announce the return of the complete iconic expertise. Our design ensures the Puffing Billy story embraces visitors with an attractive narrative and spatial experience that evokes everybody from locomotive buffs to curious day-visitors. Puffing Billy is an icon of Victorian tourism, its new customer hub, Lakeside Visitor Centre, enhances customer connection to the living history of the famous railway and to the spectacular Dandenong Ranges.
Puffing Billy often runs particular family-friendly events such as A Day Out with Thomas in Spring and Autumn and Santa Specials in December. You can peek inside people’s backyards, look out for wildlife in the fern gullies and respect the views of Cardinia Reservoir. You can choose to go additional to Gembrook, which is approximately another 50 minutes away however the return journey takes 5 hours. In the spirit of reconciliation, Holidays with Kids acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of nation all through Australia and their connections to land, sea and neighborhood. We pay our respect to their Elders previous and present and lengthen that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples right now.
Opened in 1900 because the rail connection between Upper Ferntree Gully and Gembrook, the road was unique in its slender gauge construction (one of only four in Victoria), permitting the practice to negotiate the Dandenong Ranges’ mountainous terrain. Step again in time at Australia’s oldest and best-preserved heritage steam railway, Puffing Billy, situated within the picturesque Dandenong Ranges and just one hour from Melbourne CBD. Visit the new state-of–the-art Lakeside Visitor Centre at Emerald Lake precinct to study extra about the railway and the area.
Each carriage was full of children, teens and adults chatting, snapping selfies and shutting their eyes as they leaned out into the wind. The whistle sounds as it approaches each curve within the track, the engine turning into its personal plume of steam and disappearing momentarily from sight. Passengers had been photographing and Instagramming like mad as they tried to capture the fantastic factor about this journey. Now, the carriages are where the Harry Potter connection departs as they aren’t closed-in compartments however open-sided windows to the world. We all caught our heads out the aspect of the prepare as it chugged its method out of Lakeside station and started the 40-minute journey to Gembrook.
The exhibition not solely highlights Alsop’s creative talents but also strengthens the hyperlink between the Puffing Billy Railway expertise and the natural environment of the Dandenong Ranges. If you join us on tour, Puffing Billy is not the only iconic Melbourne expertise you’ll have on the day. This is where you’ll find a way to take a guided wildlife stroll and meet and hand-feed many species of native Australian animals. There’s the enduring species corresponding to kangaroos, koalas, emus, and wallabies, as nicely as lesser-known favourites together with quolls, owls, bandicoots, and Tasmanian devils.
You’re welcome to pack your personal snacks and lunch, discover the native companies inside Emerald or pre-purchase a grazing field to gather from the Lakeside Visitor Centre. For a singular expertise, board the century old Puffing Billy steam practice and revel in a scenic journey to the attractive Dandenong Ranges. You’ll get to ride the train all the way to Gembrook Railway Station and grab a fast bite to eat. The advanced transient resulted in a constructing larger than would have historically been located on the railway line. The determination was made to design a brand new spatial experience and a singular geometry that is distinct from the old train stations, however one that relied on the relationship between visitors and the train platform for its organisational logic. With lush fern gullies brushing previous and Mountain Ash trees towering overhead, Puffing Billy makes for a wonderful opportunity to chill out and breathe within the contemporary air whilst the prepare makes its way via the temperate rainforest.
Immerse your self within the great outside with a big selection of actions similar to mountaineering, biking, and picnicking alongside the railway route. Experience the fun of journey amidst breathtaking pure beauty, from bushwalking by way of pristine forests to exploring hidden caves. Create cherished memories with family-friendly actions, including interactive reveals and hands-on workshops. Escape the hustle and bustle of metropolis life with a calming day trip aboard the enduring steam practice, transporting you to charming destinations filled with historical past and allure. Puffing Billy Railway is an icon of Victorian tourism, which required a new flagship Visitor Centre was wanted to support the poppular historic prepare experience experience.
It will also assist Puffing Billy’s partnerships with the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley businesses, including wineries and gourmand producers, to showcase the region and their merchandise to guests. It offers a contemporary framework to future-proof the operations and governance of the attraction so it can function more successfully and continue to draw visitors to the Dandenong Ranges. People from all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, folks from culturally and linguistically numerous backgrounds, and folks with disabilities who’ve the relevant experience, are encouraged to apply. We have an thrilling alternative for a hands-on and proactive Passenger Services Manager to affix our group based mostly in Belgrave, VIC and oversee the customer experience of our passengers. The commissioners’ Train solely runs a couple of instances a year and passengers are proven the workshop the place the trains are maintained – engines are fully overhauled. It stops in Menzies Creek the place the brand new Puffing Billy Museum is being constructed, before rambling off to Emerald, Lakeside, and Gembrook.
The historic steam train departs from Belgrave and weaves by way of the huge Dandenong Ranges. Enjoy hearty meals, good firm and live music with a bunch of friends.Travelling aboard Dine Enjoy a 1-hour journey through lush rainforests, embracing the time-honoured custom of dangling your legs out of the practice. Lakeside Visitor Centre combines its natural surroundings with the genuine sights, smells, and sounds of Puffing Billy Railway to supply friends a cultural hub with world class amenities. Attending a Rotary District Conference as a Rotarian provides a singular alternative for inspiration, development, and connection.
Lakeside Visitor Centre Discover Puffing Billy Railway’s new state-of-the-art facility set in the scenic surrounds of Emerald Lake Park. Designed by famend architects Terroir, Lakeside Visitor Centre’s light-filled event areas echo the railway’s heritage with out compromising on comfort or amenities. Lakeside Visitor Centre features indoor and out of doors occasion spaces, native meals and wine, and inspiring group experiences. The Railway was in-built 1900 to serve the local communities that lived within the hills, carrying something from passengers to timber, livestock, potatoes and crops.
Riding on these historic locomotives right now, you’ll be ready to smell the steam from the train’s chimney and hear every blast of the train’s whistle. The open-side carriages provide you with wonderful views of the hills, valleys, temperate rainforests, and timber trestle bridges. Explore the delightful Dandenong Ranges with this family-friendly day journey from Melbourne. Chug via an emerald forest aboard the historic Puffing Billy steam practice, and enjoy a conventional Aussie ‘billy’ tea and bird feeding among the many contemporary mountain surroundings.
Bike racks at Belgrave Station make it easy to safe your ride while you explore. After Moonlit Sanctuary we arrive on Phillip Island, where we’ll visit Point Grant. You can take in the spectacular views of The Nobbies and Seal Rocks in this location.
After boarding, Puffing Billy chugs away and also you and your family can take within the spectacular scenery of the attractive Sherbrooke Forest, an excellent temperate rainforest with native ‘Mountain Ash’ trees. Within minutes, you will cross Puffing Billy’s most well-known landmark – the long-lasting Monbulk Creek trestle bridge. Hop on board Puffing Billy for an outside adventure by way of the Dandenong Ranges to the picturesque Emerald Lake Park.
Something that has made driving on Puffing Billy an exciting expertise for a quantity of years is the custom of sitting within the carriage window sills. Including trees ferns, ground ferns and the towering mountain ash eucalyptus timber. The area is understood for having cool temperatures and is the proper place to flee the summer warmth. The journey by way of the Dandenong Ranges is what makes this an even more particular expertise. However, in 1953 a landslide blocked the track and prevented the practice from operating. It was only because of the onerous work of volunteers that the road was capable of be reopened.
As daylight fades and the crisp winter air sets in, passengers embark on a charming 2.5-hour journey from Lakeside Station to Gembrook. Along the historic narrow-gauge observe, the train comes alive with a mesmerising array of lights and colours, casting a fascinating glow in opposition to the night sky. The Train of Lights is back on the tracks for 2024 and ready to captivate passengers with a magical winter journey by way of the Dandenong Ranges. Australia’s favourite steam practice Puffing Billy might be your conductor for this two-and-a-half-hour spherical journey that illuminates the pure fantastic thing about the area with 1000’s of dazzling lights. Puffing Billy Railway is situated at the finish of the Belgrave metro line or a simple 40km drive from Melbourne GPO (free automotive parking is available). If you’re able to build lifelong friendships, contribute to the neighborhood and be part of living historical past – we might love to have you ever on board!
Alternatively, beat the queue by pre-ordering a grazing box or basic scones and tea to take pleasure in at your leisure. Puffing Billy Railway is thrilled to unveil a new timetable full of plenty more journey, running from 23 December 2024 to 26 June 2025 and out there to e-book from 18 September. Along with a fresh lineup of every day tour prepare providers, passengers will soon be handled to an exciting new expertise underneath the stars; Twilight Trains, working every Thursday night and kicking off on 10 October.
The park has two beautiful lakes, Lake Treganowan and Lake Nobelius, surrounded by magnificent trees, a few of that are so spectacular that they’re listed with the National Trust of Australia. Visitors might get pleasure from many strolling pathways that run via the natural bushland, offering peaceful vistas and alternatives to reconnect with nature. The park also has a playground and a wading pool that are open in the summer, making it a perfect location for households and nature enthusiasts. Ask any Melburninan about it and they’ll little question remember a time they climbed on board to make the scenic journey by way of the Dandenong Ranges. Puffing Billy’s steam engine billows smoke as you allow the stration and leaves a path through the bushes as you cruise along the tracks. Puffing Billy is certainly one of the most interesting preserved steam railways on the earth and operates due to the tireless efforts of their volunteers.
Visitors might even see the ocean’s wonders as they travel by way of a range of marine environments, from vibrant coral reefs to the icy wastes of the Antarctic. Highlights include all kinds of marine life reveals, interactive displays, and academic programs, in addition to immersive underwater tunnels that provide a singular viewpoint. There are additionally possibilities to interact with superb aquatic species like sharks, penguins, and sea turtles. Hop on the Belgrave line of the Metro Trains Melbourne community and ride to Belgrave Station. The Victorian Government acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and current. In the early 1900’s four low price gauge traces had been opened up in Victoria to serve folks living in remote areas.
The Puffing Billy prepare is Australia’s premier preserved steam practice, transporting visitors back to the golden age of steam travel. Puffing Billy is positioned in the coronary heart of the Dandenong Ranges, solely an hour east of Melbourne. Whether you are looking for adventure, a taste of historical past, or a cultural expertise, Puffing Billy Railway has one thing for everyone, making it a well-liked destination for locals and vacationers. Today, Puffing Billy Railway is a significant tourist attraction and incites guests to come back and expertise a century old custom.
You can benefit from the iconic steam prepare journey all the greatest way to Menzies Creek station. After a brief while where this wasn’t allowed – nevertheless it has returned to be a half of the expertise once more. You can climb about the railway carriages, sit on the window sill with your legs hanging out, and be proper on the sting as you cross over the trestles bridges, and past rolling hills. The magic is in the whistle blowing, the steam billowing and the practice chugging out of the station. The Puffing Billy Steam Train and railway line is maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers. Today the century-old steam prepare still runs on the mountain monitor between Belgrave and Gembrook.
Or do the stroll just as far as the well-known Grants Picnic Ground – take pleasure in a cuppa, see the birds and both walk again to Belgrave or take a bus again down the hill. Abandoned for years close to Erica, Climax 1694 was purchased by the Puffing Billy Preservation Society. Initially meant as a stationary show practice, it was restored to working order in 1988.
This historic constructing has an impeccably managed collection of steam relics, including a reproduction of Puffing Billy Railway’s first engine, 3A. Visitors may marvel at 3A’s original elements, a lot of which have helped to revive and maintain right now’s NA locomotives. The hall additionally has photos and informative displays, giving guests an perception into the early days of steam travel in the twentieth century. The Menzies Creek Museum at Puffing Billy Railway incorporates a wealth of railway historical past. The museum, which has a major assortment of locomotives, carriages, and railway relics, provides guests with an intriguing have a glance at Australia’s steam railway historical past. Its interactive displays and educational displays make it an pleasant vacation spot for both history aficionados and families.
The Daily Excursion Trains at Puffing Billy Railway present a nostalgic experience over the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, with three main routes catering to varied experiences. The Belgrave to Lakeside return route is in style, transporting passengers by way of lush woodlands and past beautiful landmarks including the famend Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge. For these looking for to go farther, the Lakeside to Gembrook return route takes you into the stunning metropolis of Gembrook, where you may discover local points of interest. The Belgrave to Gembrook return route provides an extensive journey, integrating one of the best of both preceding journeys right into a full-day adventure. Each route offers open-sided carriages, letting visitors enjoy leisure in the pure environment. The Puffing Billy Dog Express is a novel prepare service designed for canine lovers and their animal pets.
An incredibly dedicated group of round 900 volunteers and dozens of workers hold Puffing Billy and all the opposite trains operational. Local Emerald resident Craig Appelby was the primary man to cross the finish line within the 13.5km occasion, with a time of 44 minutes and eleven seconds. Cockatoo resident Sarah Klein was the primary feminine to take out high spot with a time of 48 minutes and 11 seconds. Both runners beat Puffing Billy, which arrived in fifty six minutes and 12 seconds.The gruelling half marathon noticed John Dutton take home the gold medal with a time of 1 hour, quarter-hour and fifty four seconds.
When the steam engine is ready to depart the depot, you’ll hear the practice whistle blow. As you begin exiting Belgrave, there will be plenty of employees and guests waving to you. With a unique expertise and lots to see, there isn’t a going incorrect with a Puffing Billy train ride. Linear plan association The linear arrangement of operate is simple, legible and accessible.
Find time to explore the Lakeside Visitor Centre, the place you’ll be able to seize a chunk at the Railway Café. There’s one thing for everyone, from local beers and wines to grazing bins and classic scones with the staff. Additionally, the present can be witnessed touring between Emerald Lakeside and Gembrook stations every night through the college holidays, providing a wide ranging sight for spectators of all ages.
The pleasure begins from the moment you arrive on the station with the sight of the historic locomotives, the smell of the steam and the sound of the train’s whistle. As with all 120-year-old steam locomotives, their race time varies primarily based on numerous components, including monitor situations, climate, and meals (coal) intake main into the race. We respectfully acknowledge the standard owners, the Wurundjeri and Bunurong people of the Kulin Nation, as the custodians of the land and waters the place we reside, supply, and share hospitality. We pay respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community Elders, previous, current and rising.