Melbourne: Healesville Sanctuary & Puffing Billy Steam Train Private

Koalas, Platypus & a Heritage Steam Train Through Mountain Rainforest

You get picked up from your Melbourne hotel or cruise port and spend the day at two of Victoria's main attractions: Healesville Sanctuary, where you see native wildlife in real bushland habitat, and Puffing Billy, a heritage steam train that climbs through mountain rainforest in the Dandenongs. Entry to both, transport, and a private guide are included. You return to your hotel or port in the late afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Healesville Sanctuary and Puffing Billy

• Explore Healesville Sanctuary wildlife
• See kangaroos, koalas, and platypus
• Ride Puffing Billy steam train
• Enjoy mountain and forest scenery

The experience

So you're standing in front of a platypus for the first time (actually standing there, watching it move through the water at Healesville Sanctuary), and you realize you've never seen one outside a nature documentary. The sanctuary sits at the base of the Great Dividing Range, surrounded by native bushland that doesn't feel like a zoo at all. You move through the grounds at your own pace, seeing koalas, kangaroos, wombats, dingos, and about 200 species total, all in habitat that looks and feels like the real thing. The animals are there because the sanctuary breeds endangered species and runs one of Australia's most sustainable native parks, so there's a reason everything looks this well kept.

After Healesville, you drive about 45 minutes into the Dandenong Mountains to board Puffing Billy, a restored heritage steam train that's been running since the early 1900s. The staff dress the part (you notice the uniforms, the old-fashioned way they move around the carriages), and then the whistle blows and you're actually moving through temperate rainforest and fern gullies on a working steam engine. The train winds through pristine mountain ranges, and the whole thing has this strange, genuine slowness to it. You're not rushing between stops or checking your phone. It's just the sound of the engine, the forest, and the actual landscape changing outside the window.

The whole day is private: your own driver and guide, a luxury vehicle, hotel or port pickup and drop-off included. You're not on a bus with thirty other people trying to get a photo at the same moment. Bottled water is in the car. The itinerary is flexible within the region, so if you want to spend extra time at one spot or skip something, that's how it works. Infants and small children can come along: prams work fine, and specialized infant seats are available if you need them.

What’s included

• Healesville Sanctuary entry.
• Puffing Billy steam train ticket.
• hotel or cruise port pickup and drop-off.
• private driver and guide.
• luxury private vehicle for the day.
• bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to2d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48h

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Australian Private Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see native Australian wildlife and experience a heritage steam train without arranging transport, tickets, or timing between two separate attractions: the private vehicle and guide handle all the logistics and get you between the two sites on schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

How long is the drive between Healesville Sanctuary and Puffing Billy?

About 45 minutes.

Can I bring young children or babies on this tour?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What animals will I see at Healesville Sanctuary?

The sanctuary has around 200 species, including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, dingos, native birds, and platypus.

Is the steam train ride included in the tour price?

Yes. Both Puffing Billy and Healesville Sanctuary tickets are included.

What's included in the tour?

Hotel or port pickup and drop-off, entry to both attractions, a private driver and guide, a luxury private vehicle, and bottled water.

Can the itinerary be changed on the day?

Yes. The itinerary is flexible within the region, so you can adjust timing or focus based on your preferences.

Do I need to be fit or active for this tour?

No. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You move through the sanctuary at your own pace and sit on the train.