Autopia Tours: Puffing Billy Steam Train & Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary

TOUR CODE: PBH-B

OPERATES: Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun (from 1st April 2024)

DEPARTS: 7:45am

RETURNS: 17:45pm

TOUR DURATION: 9.5 Hours

MAIN PICKUP LOCATION & TIME: Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders St cnr Market St, Melbourne @ 7:45am. 

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Travel back in time aboard the restored Puffing Billy Steam Train and experience Australia's most notable narrow gauge railway.
• Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary offers over 200 species of Australian birds, mammals, and reptiles for guests to explore at their leisure.
• Visit the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery with over 250 chocolate products.
• You will have the opportunity to travel through the magnificent tall forests of the Dandenong Ranges.
• Visit scenic Emerald Park Lakeside with its new Railway heritage-themed Visitor Centre.

Drive approximately one hour from Melbourne through the hills of the Dandenong Ranges with giant Mountain Ash and Ferns trees and take in spectacular views of Melbourne's skyline en-route to Puffing Billy Station.

Step back in time and enjoy a memorable one-hour journey on Australia's most notable narrow gauge railway aboard the restored Puffing Billy Steam Train. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you weave in and out of the forest-covered hills aboard Puffing Billy's iconic open carriages between Belgrave and Lakeside. You may also see kookaburras, cockatoos, lyrebirds, and crimson rosellas in the stunning Sherbrooke Forest. Get to know one of the many dedicated volunteers helping to preserve this 121-year-old steam railway. The ticket includes entry to the state-of-the-art Lakeside Visitor Centre, which includes a railway cafe, mini-museum, and gift shop where guests will have time to purchase morning tea and/or lunch (at their own expense).

Back on the bus we drive through the Yarra Valley en route to Healesville township. Guests will have two hours to explore Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, Australia's premier wildlife and nature sanctuary which is home to over 200 species of Australian birds, mammals and reptiles in a natural bushland setting. You can get up close to koalas, kangaroos, wombats, emus, cockatoos, parrots, and many more. Within the sanctuary, you can witness the amazing and exciting Eagles Fly demonstration. Walk through aviaries and ponds and see the nocturnal house with the shy platypus.

Our final stop for the day will be a visit to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery with over 250 chocolate, truffle and ice-cream varieties! Guests can see the chocolatiers at work, browse the chocolate shop and indulge in a decadent hot chocolate or coffee (at their own expense) before relaxing on the return journey to Melbourne. Relax on the return journey to Melbourne.

Driving Distance: 200km.

*Autopia Tours reserves the right to alter the itinerary route and winery stops due to unforeseen circumstances, such as group sizes, special events and third-party operator closures.

INCLUSIONS:

• Puffing Billy 1-hour train excursion from Belgrave to Lakeside (one-way)
• Admission into Healesville Sanctuary Wildlife Park
• Hosted by an experienced driver-guide
• Air-conditioned comfortable coach travel
• Comprehensive local tour commentary
• Selected Melbourne inner-city pick-up/drop-off points

EXCLUSIONS:

• Any meals or tastings not indicated within the itinerary - at the guest’s own expense. We provide plenty of opportunities for guests to support locals and buy lunch along the way.
• Hotel transfers pre/post tour itinerary to a nominated pickup point.
• Personal travel insurance is recommended
• Personal expenses

WHAT TO BRING:

1L refillable water bottle, hat, sunglasses & sunscreen, all-weather active clothing ie. wind-breaker/raincoat, comfortable walking shoes (closed shoes), small day pack 5-7kg, money for snack and meals, camera to capture every moment.

CHILD POLICY:

Child fare prices apply from 0 to 12 years old. Infants aged 0 to 4 are not permitted to travel on adult laps and must be safely restrained within a child protective seat. Infant protective seats are free of charge and must be requested at the time of booking.

WEATHER:

Please ensure you have checked the average temperatures for the time of year you are travelling and have packed adequate clothing. In the event of rain or inclement weather, your experience will still go ahead, unless contacted by the provider.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Mandatory passenger details are required at the time of booking: phone number.
• Child fare prices apply to children aged between 0 to 12 years old.
• Infants aged 0 to 4 are not permitted to travel on adult laps and must be safely restrained within a child protective seat. Infant seats are free of charge and must be requested at the time of booking.
• This terrain is not suitable for mobility-impaired travellers, wheelchairs, walkers, prams or strollers. Limited storage space on our vehicle, baggage kept to 1 x 5-7kg day bag per person.
• Autopia Tours reserves the right to alter the route or itinerary schedule during seasonal weather fluctuations and/or during park closures.
• Please re-confirm your tour details within 7 days prior to departure on 03 9393 1333.