Melbourne: Puffing Billy Steam Train & Healesville Wildlife Day Trip

Summary

Steam train through rainforest, wild birds overhead, koalas close up

You’ll ride Melbourne’s Puffing Billy steam train with your legs dangling over rainforest tracks, wander among towering Mountain Ash at Grants Picnic Reserve, and meet native animals up close at Healesville Sanctuary. Expect real wildlife encounters and small moments—like laughing with your guide or catching sunlight through ferns—that linger long after you’re home.

What’s the experience like?

“Stick your legs out!” That’s what our guide called out as we clambered onto the Puffing Billy steam train outside Melbourne. I’d seen photos but didn’t expect the actual feel of the wind on my ankles as we rattled through the Dandenong Ranges. The smell of old timber and coal drifted in every time the whistle blew. There was a kid behind us counting cockatoos (he got to seven before getting distracted by his snack). Someone said you could spot lyrebirds if you’re lucky—I wasn’t, but honestly, just watching rosellas flash red through the trees felt enough.

We stopped at Grants Picnic Reserve first, which sounds like a plain rest area but actually feels like a little pocket of forest magic. The Mountain Ash trees are so tall it’s like walking under cathedral arches. Our guide—Rob, who grew up nearby—showed us how to spot galahs by their pink bellies against the green. I tried to say “Healesville” properly and Rob just grinned. There’s something about being gently corrected that makes you feel part of things, you know?

The train ride itself is only about an hour from Belgrave to Lakeside, but it’s one of those hours that stretches out in memory. You get off at Lakeside Visitor Centre (modern café smells like fresh bread), then it’s back on the bus for a drive through Yarra Valley—vineyards rolling past, sun flickering off car windows. The wildlife sanctuary at Healesville is where I finally met a koala up close (they really do smell faintly of eucalyptus). Kangaroos lazed around looking unimpressed by humans; I felt the same after a while—just content to watch everything move slowly.

I still think about that moment on the train when everyone went quiet for a second—just wheels on tracks and bird calls echoing through misty trees. It’s not flashy or dramatic, but it stuck with me longer than I expected.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Puffing Billy train and wildlife tour

• Enjoy 1-hour Puffing Billy steam train ride
• Pause at Grants Picnic Reserve in Sherbrooke Forest
• Wander Lakeside Visitor Centre and eat at cafe
• Drive scenic route to Healesville Sanctuary
• Explore Healesville Sanctuary wildlife park

Top questions

How long is the Puffing Billy steam train ride from Melbourne?

The train journey from Belgrave to Lakeside lasts about one hour.

Is entry to Healesville Sanctuary included in this day trip?

Yes, entry fees for Healesville Sanctuary are included in your tour price.

Are meals provided during the tour?

No meals are included; there is time to buy food at Lakeside Visitor Centre café.

Does this tour include pickup from Melbourne hotels?

The tour includes transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle from central Melbourne locations.

Can I bring service animals on this tour?

Yes, service animals are allowed on this tour.

Is this day trip suitable for children and older travelers?

Yes, all physical fitness levels are welcome and it suits families with kids or seniors.

What wildlife can I see at Healesville Sanctuary?

You can see koalas, kangaroos, raptors, and other native Australian animals up close.

Will I have time to explore the Dandenong Ranges rainforest?

You’ll stop at Grants Picnic Reserve for a walk among Mountain Ash and fern gullies before boarding Puffing Billy.

What’s included

Your day includes a one-hour ride on Puffing Billy steam train through rainforest from Belgrave to Lakeside, all entry fees and taxes covered—including admission to Healesville Sanctuary—and travel by air-conditioned vehicle between stops. You’ll have time for lunch or snacks at Lakeside Visitor Centre before heading into Yarra Valley toward the wildlife park.