Riverina Rail Tour

Enjoy breakfast on board as we leave Goulburn and continue along the Main South Line. We pass many interesting villages and towns today as we travel through the Canola Trail, so keep an eye out for the many grain silos adjacent to the rail line. Today we spend time in Coolamon, stopping at the Coolamon Railway Station dated 1881. Coolamon is named after the Wiradjuri word for a vessel carrying goods, children and water, “Gullaman” and this little town offers us a warm welcome.

Flanked by the Train Station at one end of the street and the Fire Station at the other, we have developed an afternoon experience of ambling the beautifully preserved heritage main street of Coolamon. A stop at the Coolamon Cheese Factory is a must for anyone who likes cheese or is interested in the cheese making process. The Up-To-Date Store, built in 1909 plays host to a variety of museum displays and collections. A stroll through this heritage listed building will bring back memories for some and offer interesting stories for others. The Coolamon Fire Museum hosts a truly amazing private collection of fire fighting equipment, uniforms and memorabilia. Along with heritage museums and buildings, the main street contains many local shops, restaurants and cafes, making this afternoon an unforgettable experience for all.

We will return to Coolamon Railway Station throughout the afternoon in preparation for a 3pm departure. We will travel along the Yanco to Griffith Line. Dinner will be served on-board the train at Murrami Grain Siding, where we will be stabled for the night in the serenity of the Australian bush.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Dinner

We’ll board coaches early this morning to enjoy breakfast at Piccolo Family Farm in Griffith. Peter & Luke will explain their sustainable farming practices before you enjoy breakfast in their new ‘cellar door’.

You’ll then choose from three optional off-train experiences:

• Calabria Family Wine – Board a coach to take you to the Calabria Family Wine Cellar Door, where you will have a delightful time tasting Calabria’s fine wine, with an accompanying small cheese plate. The coach will then take you to ‘Banna Avenue’ where you can enjoy the remainder of the afternoon.
• De Bortoli Wine and Il Campo Garden visit – Emeri De Bortoli has transformed a 14 acre plot into a beautifully landscaped memorial garden dedicated to her late husband Deen. Guests take a stroll through the garden as well as experience a wine tasting at the De Bortoli Cellar Door just across the road. The coach will then take you to ‘Banna Avenue’ where you can enjoy the remainder of the afternoon.
• Morella Grove and Whitton Malt House – Established by the Dal Bon family, Natasha and her Dad, Frank are passionate about their produce and guests will experience a farm visit to Morella Grove. Frank will tell the story of the farm, the water efficient practices and the many processes the olives go through. You’ll then continue on to Whitton Malt House, where you will have a guided tour of the Southern Cotton Gin. You will need good mobility as there is a flight of stairs into the Gin. After your tour you can purchase lunch from the Whitton Malt House Cafe (extra cost).

Coaches will then take you to Yenda Grain Siding to re-board the train where we will travel on the freight only Lake Cargellico Line. Dinner will be served on-board the train at Temora Grain Siding, where we will be stabled for the night.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast this morning is on board the Aurora Australis before experiencing Temora. Today you can choose one of two Temora tours:

1. The coach will take you to the Bundawarrah Centre which houses the Temora Rural Museum. Spend the morning experiencing the history of the region including a cottage of hardwood slabs that was Sir Donald Bradman’s first home, a one room public school, bush church, country dance hall, printery, flour mill and ambulance station. The Ambulance Museum includes ambulance vehicles and conveyances dating back to 1897 and originating from throughout Australia, including NSW, ACT and Victoria.
2. The coach will take you to the Temora Aviation Museum which was built on the site of the biggest and longest lasting RAAF Elementary Flying Training School during World War II. Spend the morning in the three main exhibit buildings, the Museum which is in the original 10 EFTS Guardhouse; the second exhibition area, located in the Engineering Hangar overlooking the aircraft which are currently in maintenance; and the Display Hangar which houses the new exhibitions area along with the aircraft.

Coaches will return you to Temora Station where lunch will be served in the Dining Carriages as we travel on freight only lines via Stockinbingal. There are many freight trains to pass on this single track line, and we are likely to experience substantial delays. Dinner will be served on-board the train as we travel through Parkes and onto the Broken Hill line to Orange Rail Yard at an unknown time (!) where we will be stabled and you will sleep in the comfort of your sleeping train for the night.

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Enjoy breakfast as we travel from Orange and towards the Great Dividing Range.

For the last day of your Riverina Rail Tour we will stop at Lithgow and board coaches to the recently re-opened Zig Zag Railway. Arriving at Clarence Station, guests will board the historic steam train and traverse the Zig-Zag, experiencing 3 viaducts and 2 tunnels on the scenic route to Bottom Points. Take the opportunity to watch the lcoomotive change ends while experiencing the nostalgia of heritage train travel

Once back at Clarence, guests will enjoy lunch, eating either in the historic carriages or at picnic tables. Guests may also like to take the opportunity to visit the gift shop for souvenirs of their fantastic day.

After lunch you will once again board coaches to see the vibrant Blue Mountains Villages on a guided coach tour. This afternoon board the train for our return to Central Station where a light dinner will be provided on our way down the mountains.

You will have had a truly memorable Vintage Rail Journey!

Meals Included – Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Itinerary is subject to change due to circumstances beyond the operators control.