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Golden West Rail Tour

  • Australia
  • Sydney Return • Sep - Nov 2025 / Aug - Nov 2026
  • 5 Day Itinerary
  • From $4,195 (AUD)
  • 48 Max.
  • Operated by one of our trusted partners
  • OVERVIEW
  • ITINERARY
  • TOUR DATES AND PRICES
  • BOOK A GROUP

Sydney Return • Sep - Nov 2025 / Aug - Nov 2026

The original and most popular vintage rail tour – enjoy the dramatic sandstone cliffs of the great dividing range at the beginning and end of our journey, the vineyards of the Hunter Valley and Orange, and we have the rare opportunity to travel on freight only lines across the Liverpool Plains from Werris Creek on the way to Orange. A real treat is the spectacular scenery in the Capertee Valley on the way to Rylstone.

AURORA AUSTRALIS

Aurora Australis is a restored 1960s sleeper train, formally known as The Southern Aurora which ran overnight passenger express journeys between Sydney and Melbourne from 1962 up until 1986. Now fully refurbished, carriages have been brought back to life, restored with love back to their original condition.

The Cabins have two room options available, Heritage Twin Cabins cater for couples and Heritage Single Cabins for singles. By day the compartments feature lounge chairs for your comfort with the evening being changed into beds which hinge down over the lounge chairs – double bunk for Twin Cabins or single bed for Single Cabins. Twin Cabins also includes an ensuite with shower, toilet and vanity and the Single Cabins includes vanity and mirror with two shared ensuite/showers located at one end of the carriage and a shared toilet at the other end.

The Lounge Carriage is where you can enjoy pre and post dinner drinks which is a perfect place to catch up with fellow travellers and meet with friends – new and old. Bar attendants are on hand to serve you, with water, soft drink and juices included. Aurora Australis is licensed to serve alcohol which can be purchase at an additional cost. Their liquor license does not allow BYO.

The Dining Carriage serves regional cuisine, freshly prepared by chefs onboard and where possible using locally sourced and fresh produce. Seating 48 guests, set to tables of four, staff onboard will do their very best to ensure you are seated at your preferred time and with your preferred travel companions.

Unpack only once and enjoy everything that slow rail touring provides!

Tour Highlights

  • Take a Riverboat cruise on the Hawkesbury River including lunch

  • Enjoy a winery experience in the Hunter Valley

  • Visit the quaint heritage village of Quirindi in rural New South Wales

  • Discover Bathurst’s Abercrombie House or Mayfield Gardens

Gallery

Aurora Australis – All aboard!

Heritage Twin Cabin

Heritage Twin Cabin

Heritage Twin Cabin: By evening, an upper and lower bunk hinge down over the day lounge

Heritage Single Cabin

Heritage Single Cabin

Heritage Single Cabin: By evening, a single bed hinges down over your day lounge

Lounge Carriage

Lounge Carriage: Enjoy a pre or post dinner drink

Lounge Carriage

Dining Carriage: Enjoy regional cuisine

Southern Aurora

5 Day Itinerary

Day 1: Sydney - The Hawkesbury

Your Golden West adventure starts at Sydney’s Central Station.
Once onboard you can choose to relax in the lounge carriage, or
settle into your cabin while we travel to the spectacular Hawkesbury
River. Here you step off for your first off-train experience, joining
the famous ‘Riverboat Postman’ for a lunch cruise. Enjoy the
magnificent scenery of the lower Hawkesbury River as we deliver
the mail and other essentials to the river-access-only settlements
upriver from Brooklyn.

When you rejoin our train, you’ll enjoy views from the train which
we think are some of the best in Australia. You’ll see the whole
length of the train as we round curves and the line traces the waters
edge at Mullet Creek. The waterside theme is continued after we
go through Woy Woy Tunnel and alongside Brisbane Water. We skirt
around Newcastle and onto Maitland in the Hunter Valley. The train
will be stabled for the night at Paterson.

Day 2: Hunter Valley Vineyards

Today you will be visiting the Hunter Valley, and we have three offtrain experiences for you to choose from.

Option 1: Lunch at Twine Restaurant Hunter Valley
Established in 2013, Twine Hunter Valley celebrates seasonal local
produce and delectable dining options, paired with quality wines,
picturesque views & impeccable service. Overlooking some of
the oldest vineyards in the region, Twine is home to a wonderful
restaurant, also the perfect spot for our Muscat tasting experience.

Optional Upgrade: Hunter Valley Helicopter Experience
(limited capacity)
Soar to new heights with a breathtaking helicopter flight at additional
cost. Experience unforgettable aerial views of the Hunter region,
before joining lunch.

Option 2: Margan Wines
Travelling by coach to Broke, you’ll walk down the garden path
through the kitchen garden, then past the olives and vineyards
into the winery for a guided, behind the scenes tour. Learn how the
single vineyard and sustainably farmed wines are made from vine
to glass in this award-winning winery. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch
at this family owned winery and restaurant.

Following your tour, board the coach for the return journey to
Branxton Station where you’ll board the train, travelling the remainder of the Hunter Valley, and on through Ardglen Tunnel to Werris Creek. Dinner will be served onboard the train at Werris Creek, where it will be stabled for the night.

Day 3: Werris Creek

This morning enjoy breakfast onboard the train, before another day
of discovering the charms of the Golden West.

Your adventure begins with a visit to the Quirindi Rural Heritage
Village. The village has been designed to collect, preserve, restore,
interpret and exhibit artefacts that relate to the history, heritage and
culture of the region. From here we head to Werris Creek,
the first and last railway town in NSW, located on a major railway
junction. The Werris Creek railway station is the third largest in NSW.
It houses the Werris Creek Rail Journeys Museum, which brings this
town’s railway past back to life.

Your afternoon is then spent travelling along the freight only line from
Werris Creek, headed for Orange. Dinner will be served onboard as
your train makes its way for a late arrival into Orange for the evening.

Day 4: Bathurst

Waking up in Orange this morning, your adventure continues as we’re soon departing for Bathurst, where you will again have the choice of two off-train experiences.

Option 1: Abercrombie House
It wouldn’t be a visit to Bathurst without first taking on the mountain Mt Panorama. You’ll then head onto Abercrombie House, a heritage
treasure of NSW set in stunning grounds at Stewarts Mount just west
of Bathurst. A grand country home, and a 1870s cultural gem, the
home of the Morgan Family for half a century, see gardens, paths
and outbuildings, explore the reception rooms, grand staircase,
ballroom, first floor bedrooms and more, before enjoying lunch.

Option 2: Mayfield Gardens
A spectacular 65-hectare private garden that delivers not only
a significant horticultural experience but also a day out that is both
magical and unexpected. Mayfield Gardens is considered to be
one of the largest and most spectacular cool climate gardens
in the Southern Hemisphere. Here a self-guided tour awaits, with
a delicious boxed lunch which can be enjoyed in your own quiet
spot of the gardens.

 

Day 5: Mudgee - Sydney

Enjoy your final breakfast onboard the train. We’ll then board coaches traveling from Rylstone, a beautiful district settled in the 1820’s, making it one of the oldest settlements west of the Great Dividing Range. Rylstone’s streetscape features 19th century sandstone public houses, cottages and government buildings. From here we are welcomed to the Lowe Family Wine Co in Mudgee. Based around certified organic & biodynamic farm, vineyard, winery
and food garden, enjoy a spectacular last lunch in the cellar door
before returning to Rylstone Station and your return journey arriving
late into Sydney Central station.

Itinerary subject to change due to circumstances beyond tour operators control.

Tour Inclusions

  • All-inclusive dining, wines, beverages, tea & coffee throughout your journey

  • A range of curated tours

Tour Dates & Prices

Departure Date Return Date Price Per Person From  
22/09/2025 26/09/2025 $4,195 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,145 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
05/10/2025 09/10/2025 $4,195 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,145 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
20/10/2025 24/10/2025 $4,195 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,145 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
03/11/2025 07/11/2025 $4,195 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,145 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
17/11/2025 21/11/2025 $4,195 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,145 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
17/08/2026 21/08/2026 $4,490 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,290 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
31/08/2026 04/09/2026 $4,490 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,290 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
14/09/2026 18/09/2026 $4,490 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,290 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
28/09/2026 02/10/2026 $4,490 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,290 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
26/10/2026 30/10/2026 $4,490 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,290 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
09/11/2026 13/11/2026 $4,490 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,290 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip
23/11/2026 27/11/2026 $4,490 per person twin share – Twin Cabin / $4,290 per person single – Heritage Single Cabin
Plan Your trip

HERITAGE TWIN CABINS
  • Heritage Twin cabins accommodate 2 guests
  • By day, you have a 3-seat lounge
  • By night, you have upper and lower bunks (one member of your party will need to be able to climb the ladder to the top bunk)
  • You have your own ensuite, complete with the original fold down hand basin and fold down toilet
HERITAGE SINGLE CABINS
  • We love to welcome solo guests onboard, and there is no single supplement for our Heritage Single cabin
  • Each has a Day Lounge, foot rest, fold down washbasin and mirror
  • By night, your cabin converts to a cosy bed
  • A large, shared bathroom is available at either end of the Singles carriage

 

Terms and Conditions

All pricing is on a per person twin share basis, unless otherwise noted ie: stated as a single. All prices based on cash payment – credit & debit card fees may apply. Deposits, amendment and cancellation conditions apply. Please note that many of the prices shown on this website are not shown in real time. Whilst we endeavour to keep our pricing as up-to-date as possible, the advertised prices shown here may differ slightly from the live prices in our booking system. All pricing and offers are subject to availability at time of booking. Whilst all information is correct at the time of publication, offers are subject to change. We reserve the right to correct errors without penalty. Full Terms & Conditions of tour/cruise operators will be supplied on booking, or ask us for full Terms & Conditions at the time of enquiry.

Region

Sydney Return • Sep – Nov 2025 / Aug – Nov 2026

Operator

Operated by one of our trusted partners

Duration

5 Day Itinerary

Prices from

$4,195
ENQUIRE TODAY

Book Your Own Group

Do you have a club or group interested in travelling as a group on this tour? Call us to discuss how we can tailor this package for your group.

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