North Coast Rail Tour
- Australia, New South Wales
- Sydney Return • Oct 2024
- 5 Day Itinerary
- From $4,495 (AUD)
- 48 Max.
- Operated by one of our trusted partners
Sydney Return • Oct 2024
This exceptional 5 day, 4 night journey takes you along the scenic North Coast Line through the Central Coast, the Mid-North Coast and Northern Rivers regions of New South Wales.
The North Coast Rail Tour is fast becoming one of our favourites. Every day there is a different view of the NSW coastline. Our guests have told us that they saw the North Coast in a way they never have before. You’ll discover the beautiful Hastings River at Port Macquarie, the breathtaking hinterland rainforest and eclectic community of Byron Bay, the crystal clear creeks and uncrowded surf beaches of the Macleay Valley Coast, and the history and heritage of Maitland & Morpeth.
Relax aboard a refurbished 1960s sleeping train – fully restored ex-Southern Aurora carriages to their original condition. Celebrate Australia’s diverse history and rich culture with visits to regional towns, gardens and attractions. You will also travel on rail lines which don’t have scheduled passenger services, making this a real adventure.
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 Compartments have two room options available, Twinette Compartments cater for couples and Roomette Compartments 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 Twinette or single bed for Roomette. Twinette also includes an ensuite with shower, toilet and vanity and the Roomette 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
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North Coast Rail Line
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Hastings River Dolphin Spotting Cruise
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Byron Bay Solar Train
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Food and shopping Byron Bay style
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Slim Dusty Museum, Kempsey
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Arakoon National Park
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Historic Maitland & Morpeth
Gallery
Aurora Australis – All aboard!
Twinette Compartment: Your private compartment for two people – a great place to sit and watch the scenery roll by during the day
Twinette Compartment: Your day lounge provides seating for up to 3 people, so invite a friend for a chat!
Twinette Compartment: By evening, an upper and lower bunk hinge down over the day lounge, Guest Attendants will ensure that your bed is made and ready for you
Roomette Compartmet for solo travellers
Roomette Compartment: Your own private compartment – a great place to sit and watch the scenery roll by during the day
Roomette Compartment: By evening, a single bed hinges down over your day lounge, and Guest Attendants will ensure that your bed is made and ready for you
Lounge Carriage: Behind the bar, a Bar Attendant will be on hand to pour you a drink
Lounge Carriage: Enjoy a pre or post dinner drink in the Lounge Cars
Lounge Carriage: perfect place to catch up with fellow travellers and meet with friends, new and old
Dining Carriage: Enjoy regional cuisine in the dining carriages as the scenery rolls by
Southern Aurora: Exterior of Lounge Car
5 Day Itinerary
Your North Coast adventure starts at Central Station, Sydney at approximately 9:30am. Welcome aboard the Aurora Australis where you can choose to sit in the lounge or dining cars, or your private cabin. Today we’ll spend all day on the train. We’ll travel over the spectacular Hawkesbury River, alongside Mullet Creek and through the ‘Venice of Australia’ to Brisbane Water. We skirt around Newcastle and on to Maitland in the Hunter Valley, where we turn right to join the meandering North Coast Line.
At Gloucester, the North Coast Line starts to follow the Gloucester River, continuing the enjoyment of travelling beside the water. The Gloucester river joins the Manning River and we follow it through Taree and on to Kempsey on the Macleay River, where we will stable at a nearby siding for the night.
Meals Included – Lunch, Dinner: served on board the train in the Dining Carriage
Enjoy breakfast on-board the Aurora Australis before boarding coaches to explore Port Macquarie.
We’ll take a scenic lunch cruise of the tranquil waters of Port Macquarie, with the possibility of seeing dolphins, turtles, osprey and sea eagles. Enjoy the tranquil rural landscapes and abundant wildlife of the Hastings River.
We’ll return to the train after lunch, as we continue up the North Coast Line. We will be travelling for around five hours through fascinating scenery. We will be inland for a while before turning to the coast again and travelling along the water, past Sawtell and through Coffs Harbour. We then head inland again, traversing curves following the Orana River, as the line climbs through banana plantations. You will enjoy dinner on our way to Casino, where we will stable at a nearby siding for the night.
Meals Included – Breakfast, Dinner
Enjoy breakfast on board the Aurora Australis at Old Casino Railway Station. You will then board our ‘Aurora Explorer’ coaches to take you to Byron Bay, a place known for its natural attractions and eclectic community.
While in the region, you have the option of visiting Zentveld’s Coffee Plantation and Roastery which will see you walking through the plantation and seeing the coffee being grown, watching as the team roast the beans and tasting their Australian coffee creations. You’ll also visit Duck Creek Macadamia Nuts, who have built a reputation as a producer of Australia’s finest Macadamia Products. Alternatively, visit Cape Byron Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.
Lunch today is at your own choice and cost.
Your coaches will return you to the train and we will then head south travelling inland for a while before turning towards the coast and travelling along the water through Coffs Harbour, past Sawtell and on to Kempseywhere we will stable at a nearby siding for the night.
Meals Included – Breakfast, Dinner (be served on-board the train this evening)
Enjoy breakfast on board the train before boarding coaches to enjoy a scenic drive to the Arakoon National Park and the South West Rocks area. National Parks in this area have the best vantage points to see whales during their annual migration (from May to November). Guests will walk through the Trial Bay Gaol, an open air museum which captures the history of the area.
Alternatively, visit the Kempsey Museum, where you can experience First Nations history, boot making, timber industry, military history, natural history, dairy industry, shipping, historical vehicles to name just a few subjects touched on in the collections, displays and historic artefacts. You can also spend time in the Dunghutti-Ngaku Aboriginal Art Gallery, the gallery showcases and markets works of prominent, established and emerging Aboriginal artists of the Dunghutti region and Mid North Coast area.
We will then visit the Slim Dusty Centre, an innovative museum dedicated to Australia’s Cultural Icons, Slim Dusty and Joy McKean. The museum honours the positive impact on rural and regional Australia by these two amazing people. You will also enjoy lunch at the Slim Dusty Centre.
Your coaches will return you to our train where we will continue South along the North Coast Railway line to The Rail Motor Society, Paterson where we will be stabling for the night. The rolling hills of this prime dairy country are really shown to best effect as sunset approaches.
Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy breakfast on-board the Aurora Australis at The Rail Motor Society, Paterson.
Today we have two options for you: Discover Maitland where you will spend time at the 1870 built Grossman House, restored by the National Trust in the 1960’s and the Maitland Regional Art Gallery.
Or, discover Morpeth, an historic inland river port alongside the Hunter River. A visit to Morpeth is a real journey through time. Visit the narrow laneways, walk along sandstone footpaths and into heritage buildings where you’ll discover unique shopping, artisan treasures and delightful treats.
Lunch is at your choice and cost today.
At Maitland we will board the train for the last time, as we travel back past Brisbane Water and the Hawkesbury River, concluding your rail journey at Central Station, Sydney at approximately 8:00pm.
You will have had a truly memorable Vintage Rail Journey!
Itinerary subject to change due to circumstances beyond tour operators control.
Tour Inclusions
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All meals onboard – some lunches off train, at own expense
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All water, soft drinks and juices included. Alcohol can be purchased for an additional cost (sorry, no BYO allowed)
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By day, compartments feature lounge chairs for your comfort
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By evening, beds (double bunk or single bed) hinge down over the lounge chairs as your sleeping accommodation
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Twinette compartments include an ensuite with shower, toilet, and vanity
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Roomette (solo) compartments include a vanity & mirror. Two managed ensuite/showers are at one end of the carriage and a shared toilet is located at the other end of the carriage
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High quality linen, towels (including facewashers); All carriages are Air-conditioned
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240V power outlet (CPAP suitable) in every compartment
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USB adapter power outlets in some compartments
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Drinking water in every compartment
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Shelving and hanging closet – There is limited room in compartments so please bring aircraft ‘carry on’ luggage and a garment bag
Tour Dates & Prices
| Departure Date | Return Date | Price Per Person From | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/10/2024 | 24/10/2024 | $4,495 per person twin share – Twinette / $4,495 per person single* – Roomette (solo) |
Sole Occupancy of a Twinette – $7,195 per person
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 • Oct 2024
Operator
Operated by one of our trusted partners
Duration
5 Day Itinerary
Prices from
$4,495
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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