Is rail travel included in the price?

Yes. The tour includes nine rail experiences: heritage trams in Melbourne, the Victorian Goldfields Railway, Puffing Billy Railway, Bellarine Railway, the XPT First Class train from Melbourne to Sydney, NSW Rail Museum charter, the Zig Zag Railway in the Blue Mountains, and the Illawarra Light Railway. Additionally, a vintage paddle steamer cruise on the Murray River is included.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

Escorted. PTG Tours provides the services of an experienced Tour Manager throughout the 14 days. The tour is run in conjunction with Railtrail.

What hotels are included?

Six nights at the Movenpick Hotel in Melbourne and seven nights at the Rydges Hotel in Sydney. Bed and breakfast are included; additional meals are provided as listed in the itinerary.

When does the tour run?

September 2026 is the only confirmed departure.

Yes. Day 2 is a free day in Melbourne (with an optional heritage tram or riverside stroll). Days 8 and 10 are free days in Sydney with included local transport passes; Day 10 includes an option to visit Bondi Beach.

Do I need to arrange my own flights?

The from-price of GBP 6,445 is ground only and does not include flights. Alternatively, PTG Tours offers a 16-day package with flights via Singapore starting at GBP 8,195.

PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Great Australian Steam Spectacular

14-day steam railway tour of Victoria and New South Wales from Melbourne

PTG Tours operates this 14-day escorted steam railway adventure through the heritage heartlands of Victoria and New South Wales, running in conjunction with Railtrail. The journey begins in Melbourne with a six-night base and includes five distinct steam railways: the legendary Puffing Billy narrow-gauge line through the Dandenong Ranges, the Victorian Goldfields Railway to Maldon, the Bellarine Railway, the Blue Mountains Zig Zag Railway with its famous switchback design, and the narrow-gauge Illawarra Light Railway. The centerpiece is a First Class journey on the XPT express train from Melbourne to Sydney, where travellers spend seven nights at the Rydges Hotel. Highlights include a guided tour of the NSW Rail Museum at Thirlmere, Australia's largest heritage rollingstock collection, a full day at the Sydney Transport Heritage Expo featuring the Great Train Race with two steam locomotives running parallel through the suburbs, and a vintage paddle steamer cruise on the Murray River. An experienced Tour Manager accompanies throughout, while free days in both cities allow independent exploration. This tour suits repeat rail travellers and steam enthusiasts who value guided comfort and substantive heritage experiences.

What to know before you look closer

Only one departure confirmed for September 2026; availability is limited.
The from-price (GBP 6,445) is ground only; flights are arranged and paid separately, or a 16-day package with flights via Singapore starts at GBP 8,195.
Several days are free time in Melbourne and Sydney; the guided experiences are specific railway journeys and museum visits, not comprehensive city tours.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Melbourne (6 nights)
Arrive Melbourne
Arrive and meet the group at the Movenpick Hotel for a six-night stay; free time before dining at leisure.
Day 2overnight: Melbourne
Melbourne (free day)
Free day in Melbourne; optional heritage Tram Route 35 or a stroll along the Yarra River. Welcome dinner.
Day 3overnight: Melbourne
Bendigo and Murray River paddle steamer
Road to Bendigo for the Tramways Museum, then Echuca to board a vintage paddle steamer for lunch on the Murray River, returning via Rochester's Silo Art Trail.
Day 4railovernight: Melbourne
Victorian Goldfields Railway to Maldon
Regional express train to Castlemaine for a steam-hauled return journey on the Victorian Goldfields Railway to the historic town of Maldon.
Day 5railovernight: Melbourne
Puffing Billy Railway
Coach to Belgrave for a steam-hauled journey on the narrow-gauge Puffing Billy Railway through the Dandenong Ranges, including the Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge.
Day 6railovernight: Melbourne
Newport Workshops and Bellarine Railway
Private visit to the Newport Workshops of Steamrail Victoria and the Newport Railway Museum, then a steam charter on the Bellarine Railway to Drysdale.
Day 7railovernight: Sydney (7 nights)
XPT to Sydney
Day-long First Class journey on the XPT (Express Passenger Train) from Melbourne to Sydney, checking in to the Rydges Hotel for a seven-night stay.
Day 8overnight: Sydney
Sydney (free day)
Free day in Sydney using included local transport passes; Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, The Rocks, Royal Botanic Gardens.
Day 9railovernight: Sydney
NSW Rail Museum, Thirlmere
Local train to Picton, special charter to the NSW Rail Museum at Thirlmere for a guided tour of Australia's largest heritage rollingstock collection, then a return steam journey to Buxton.
Day 10overnight: Sydney
Sydney (free day)
Free day using included transport passes; option to visit Bondi Beach.
Day 11railovernight: Sydney
Zig Zag Railway, Blue Mountains
Scenic train ride into the Blue Mountains for a nostalgic steam-hauled journey on the switchback Zig Zag Railway, with panoramic views on the return.
Day 12railovernight: Sydney
Sydney Transport Heritage Expo
Full day at the Sydney Transport Heritage Expo at Central Station, including the 'Great Train Race' with two historic steam locomotives running side-by-side through the suburbs.
Day 13railovernight: Sydney
Loftus Tramway Museum, Illawarra Light Railway
Rail to the Loftus Tramway Museum for a ride on vintage trams, then a steam charter on the narrow-gauge Illawarra Light Railway at Albion Park, followed by the HARS Aviation Museum.
Day 14
Depart Sydney
Independent onward travel to the airport for the flight home (transfer provided for PTG-booked flights).

The moments this trip is built around

Day 4Regional express train to Castlemaine, then a steam-hauled return journey on the Victorian Goldfields Railway to the historic town of Maldon
Day 5Coach to Belgrave for a narrow-gauge steam journey on Puffing Billy Railway through the Dandenong Ranges, crossing the Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge
Day 7Day-long First Class journey on the XPT express train from Melbourne to Sydney
Day 9Special charter to the NSW Rail Museum at Thirlmere for a guided tour of Australia's largest heritage rollingstock collection, then a return steam journey to Buxton
Day 12Full day at the Sydney Transport Heritage Expo at Central Station, including the 'Great Train Race' with two historic steam locomotives running side-by-side through the suburbs

Included

13 nights' bed & breakfast
Meals as listed in itinerary B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
Services of experienced Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is rail travel included in the price?: Yes. The tour includes nine rail experiences: heritage trams in Melbourne, the Victorian Goldfields Railway, Puffing Billy Railway, Bellarine Railway, the XPT First Class train from Melbourne to Sydney, NSW Rail Museum charter, the Zig Zag Railway in the Blue Mountains, and the Illawarra Light Railway. Additionally, a vintage paddle steamer cruise on the Murray River is included.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: Escorted. PTG Tours provides the services of an experienced Tour Manager throughout the 14 days. The tour is run in conjunction with Railtrail.
What hotels are included?: Six nights at the Movenpick Hotel in Melbourne and seven nights at the Rydges Hotel in Sydney. Bed and breakfast are included; additional meals are provided as listed in the itinerary.
When does the tour run?: September 2026 is the only confirmed departure.
Are there free days?: Yes. Day 2 is a free day in Melbourne (with an optional heritage tram or riverside stroll). Days 8 and 10 are free days in Sydney with included local transport passes; Day 10 includes an option to visit Bondi Beach.
Do I need to arrange my own flights?: The from-price of GBP 6,445 is ground only and does not include flights. Alternatively, PTG Tours offers a 16-day package with flights via Singapore starting at GBP 8,195.

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