Melbourne: Puffing Billy & Penguin Parade Combo Tour
Duration
1 day(s)
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Languages
English
Live tour guide available in the language you select
Skip the line
Included
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Enjoy a scenic journey aboard the historic Puffing Billy Steam Railway
Witness dramatic blowholes along the rugged coastline of Victoria
Evening visit to Summerland Beach to watch little penguins return
Historic trains provide a nostalgic ride through scenic landscapes
€ 123.57
€ 113.68
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Adults
Children
Infant
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Join the operator for a delightful afternoon journey aboard the iconic Puffing Billy Steam Railway as it winds through the lush Dandenong Ranges. The ride offers a timeless experience as the historic locomotive chugs along the scenic track between Belgrave and Gembrook. Passengers are treated to sweeping views of verdant forests, fern gullies, and rolling hills that seem untouched by time. The rhythmic puffing of the steam engine and the gentle sway of the carriages create a sense of nostalgia and adventure. For those wishing to enhance the journey, there is an optional visit to Maru Koala and Animal Park, where visitors can encounter Australia’s native wildlife. Hand-feed friendly kangaroos, marvel at koalas, and enjoy close interactions with other charming creatures, creating memorable moments that linger long after the visit. This optional experience adds a unique wildlife element to the scenic rail journey, though it may not be included on the day, and an additional entrance fee applies.
The adventure continues along the coast with a stop at The Nobbies, where panoramic views of Bass Strait unfold from the cliff-top boardwalk. Visitors can witness dramatic blowholes as the waves crash against rugged cliffs, offering countless photo opportunities and a chance to soak in the natural beauty of the region. As the day turns to evening, the journey leads to Summerland Beach, a magical destination where little penguins emerge from the ocean to return to their homes in the sand dunes. Watching hundreds of these tiny creatures waddle across the beach is a captivating and heartwarming experience. The combination of scenic train rides, encounters with wildlife, and coastal wonders makes this excursion a rich and unforgettable exploration of Victoria’s natural beauty and charm, leaving travelers with lasting memories of landscapes, wildlife, and timeless adventure.
Admission to Puffing Billy Railway
Admission to Penguin Parade
English-speaking driver or guide
Complimentary onboard Wi-Fi
Live commentary on board
Transportation in an air-conditioned coach
Admission to Maru Koala & Animal Park
Food and drinks
Other personal expenses
Gratuities
Sunscreen & Sunglasses
Camera
Raincoat or poncho
Cash
Maximum capacity of twenty-two passengers
Keep personal essentials
Wear comfortably clothing and sturdy shoes
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Type in your hotel/accommodation to see how far the attraction or departure point is.
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Activity Provider: Vast Group Pty Ltd
Customer Reviews
Rufus
A beautiful way to see the Dandenong Ranges. If you want the best views of the iconic bridge, try to sit on the right-hand side of the train when departing Belgrave.Sitting on the carriage sills with our legs dangling out is a one-of-a-kind tradition my kid has not stopped talking about. The volunteers are incredibly passionate & knowledgeable. Pro-tip: Dress in layers! Even on a warm day, the open carriages can get very breezy and chilly once you're moving. Also, don't wear your best white clothes—you will get a few tiny specks of soot from the steam engine, which just adds to the authenticity. Arrive at least 45–60 minutes early for check-in to get your carriage allocation and avoid stress."
Jason
What a joyous train ride through beautiful hills! I tried to take Puffing Billy Railway once in summer and once in winter. Both were absolutely fun! The choice of the route from Belgrave to Lakeside (return) is somehow the best: 3 hours with one hour side spent at Lakeside. Take the Belgrave line from Melbourne CBD to Belgrave station, which is an approximately 70-minute long journey. From the platform, follow the blue line to reach Puffing Billy's Belgrave station. A ride aboard the Puffing Billy train offered us the rare opportunity of riding an ancient styled train. To make the experience even more authentic, guards waved at us as the train departed each station, bells ringing to mark the departure and arrival of trains. Enjoy this “ancient” journey through natural forests and a lot of wilderness. Experience it yourself instead of just reading reviews / watching videos online!
Anastasia
Puffing Billy Railway was absolutely incredible! We had so much fun from start to finish. Started with a nice coffee and snacks from railway cafe. Then boarded our carriage. The scenery is stunning and the experience is pure joy for all ages. The staff were friendly and professional, everything felt extremely safe and well organised, and the whole ride was smooth and relaxing. We even heard our safety officer in our carriage checking that everybody was safe. It’s such a unique and memorable way to explore the Dandenong Ranges. We laughed, took amazing photos, and genuinely enjoyed every minute. Kids under four aren’t allowed to ride on the window rails and kids from 4 up to 13 need to be supervised by an adult. We did the Belgrave to Lakeside trip. It takes about an hour to get to Lakeside. Then you have around two hours to have some lunch and view the lake and about an hour to get back to Belgrave. We would 100% come back again and highly recommend it to anyone visiting Melbourne. 🚂🌿
Lynne
Absolutely fantastic experience, The drizzling rain didn't take away from our trip on the train. We had a stop for lunch in Gembrook which was a great stop. Scenery is amazing and a fantastic view from another perspective. There are a variety of trips to suit everyone's tastes.
Kevin
Puffing Billy Railway is a unique Victorian tourist experience. (To get to Belgrave, we travelled by train from Southern Cross, transferred at Flinders Street Station and arrived fifty minutes prior to the departure of our booked train.) Booking on line is recommended, and it is an easy process. Upon arrival, one must line up at the ticket office to collect the paper ticket. This is needed to be clipped on the platform by the conductors prior to boarding the train. The Station Master, Guard, and conductors were rather perfunctory prior to departure from Belgrave. Due to late passengers, the train departed ten minutes late. We were not fussed by this, but were somewhat disappointed by the attitude of the latecomers. The PBR staff treated the offenders with patience. Good on them. The locomotive, carriages and infrastructure are all beautifully restored and obviously well maintained. The journey to Lakeside was spectacular. The views were wonderful. Listening to the loco work up the grades was a real treat. Terminating at the lovely Lakeside Station allowed one to take a look at the Garratt locomotive and its train. (This train was the earlier service and was about to return to Belgrave.) The steam crew were more than happy to chat about their roles on the footplate and the mechanical features of the loco. This was much appreciated. One then had time to wander through the Visitors Centre. The historical display is informative and well presented. Reading about the history of the rail line and the district was quite interesting. The cafeteria was incredibly busy, but after ordering our food, it arrived promptly. The food was tasty (a chicken focaccia and soup of the day), and obviously freshly made. The catering staff were great. Very efficient. A walk around the lake was a real treat. The Dandenongs are a beautiful part of Victoria. Many passengers took advantage of the long break prior to the train departing to return to Belgrave. Returning to the Lakeside platform, and taking the opportunity to checkout the NA loco, I was able to chat to the young fireman. He is a great PR rep for PBR. We were able to talk about the loco and firing techniques. The return journey to Belgrave again a wonderful experience. A highly recommended experience well worth the effort to visit.
Oksana
A lot to do in one day but we really enjoyed the experience.
Michelle
The tour guide, William, was a very efficient and friendly tour guide. When you book the tour, you have an option to be picked up/dropped off from 3 separate spots in the downtown Melbourne area. William messaged us all the day before to ensure we knew the time and the spot we agreed to meet, and we met up with him in a white mini bus the day of the tour. He spoke to us about the history and some points of interest about Melbourne and took us to the following areas: Puffing Billy Railway, Maru Wildlife Park, the Nobbies and Phillips Island to watch the penguins come in from the sea. From there, it was like a two hour drive back to Melbourne. It's handy because if you don't drive, the tour guide takes you from place to place and tracks attendance to make sure no one is left behind. He gives you the freedom to explore and just sets meet up times for everyone. He also gives tips on how to best enjoy sights and even points out cool wildlife if he sees it. William is great!
Andrew
Great trip out, a lot of driving but plenty of stops to break it up and Daniel kept us to time so we didn’t miss the amazing sunset. Puffing Billy was great, get on the platform side if you can for best views. Penguins were little disappointing as not many came ashore when we were there. One thing not on the itinerary was a stop at a wildlife park, cost a little extra but got to get up close to lots of animals and well worth it.
Sayali
Recommend this tour a 100%, Daniel our guide was very good he was guiding us and giving us interesting facts about each fact and about Melbourne. Definitely should book through them.
Steven
The tour was called for 10am, but my immediate notification from the tour operator Vast told me, due to the time of year (and the penguins) pick up would be at noon. Fabulous communication right off the bat! Daniel, our guide, showed up promptly and gave us a run down of the schedule of the day. He also gave us some interesting history. We arrived at the Puffing Billy train in plenty of time to absorb the ambiance. So much fun on the train. The scenery was amazing, and dangling your legs out of the train made me feel like a kid! Daniel awaited us at the end of the line and off we went to the (optional) koala park was perfect timing for refreshments (we had been to the Australia Zoo earlier, so we opted out), Off to the town of Cowes where we ate dinner then on to Nobbies, filled with tons of wild wallabies, then to Phillip Island and the penguin parade. What a perfect day, that was made even better with a small group and our amazing guide and driver Daniel. You MUST do this tour!