Puffing Billy Steam Train Melbourne Open-Sided Carriages

Dangle your legs from heritage carriages while the steam train winds through mountain ash forests

This half-day tour from Melbourne takes you by air-conditioned vehicle to Belgrave, where you board Puffing Billy Railway, Australia's best-preserved heritage steam train, and ride open-sided carriages through the Dandenong Ranges to Lakeside. The defining feature is the unique open-sided design that lets you feel the forest air and dangle your legs as the train crosses the Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge and winds through fern gullies. After arriving at Lakeside, you explore Emerald Lake Park's walking trails, visit the Visitor Centre to learn Puffing Billy's history through interactive exhibits, and return to Melbourne in the early afternoon. Hotel pickup is included, and an English-speaking guide travels with you and shares local insights throughout the journey.

Options for this experience

3 options

From AU$ 150 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Full-day train trip with redwoods and wine 07:00 Guide in English Puffing Billy, Redwoods & Wine: a one-way Puffing Billy ride, a visit to the Redwood Forest, free time in Warburton, and a glass of wine in the Yarra Valley (back around 5pm). Pickup is included.

Half-day steam train experience on Puffing Billy 07:00 Guide in English A half-day outing that brings you back to Melbourne at roughly 1:15pm, leaving the rest of the afternoon free for you to spend as you like. Pickup is included.

Full-day train trip with penguins 07:00 Guide in English Extend your trip by joining our afternoon Phillip Island tour after the morning Puffing Billy ride. This full-day experience sends you back to Melbourne once Puffing Billy is over, then gives you a lunch break before you head out again for the Phillip Island afternoon tour. Pickup is included.

None of these options right for you? See 6 alternatives ›

Step-by-step itinerary

Puffing Billy steam train and park visit

• Drive from Melbourne to Belgrave
• Board Puffing Billy steam train
• Travel through Dandenong Ranges
• Arrive at Lakeside Visitor Centre
• Explore Emerald Lake Park
• Return to Melbourne

Stops and time spent at each 2 stops

1. Puffing Billy Railway Entry included 1h
2. Dandenong Ranges passing by

What’s included

• Hotel pickup from Melbourne in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• one-way journey on Puffing Billy Railway in open-sided heritage carriages.
• professional English-speaking guide sharing local stories and historical insights.
• access to Emerald Lake Park and the Lakeside Visitor Centre with interactive exhibits about Puffing Billy's heritage.
• WiFi on board the vehicle.
• 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Times

• Every day 07:00

Last departure this season: 31 Mar 2027

Another time? ›

Before you book

Group Up to 24

Live guide English

Audio guide English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Cantonese, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Russian, Thai and Vietnamese

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 19 pickup points.

Book up to 1h before

Ages Adult (16 and older) · Child (under 16)

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available Pets welcome Public transport nearby

Operated by Go West Tours

Prices and times updated today

Traveler reviews

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The experience

If you're staying in Melbourne with a free morning or arriving early in the day, this tour solves the problem of getting to Puffing Billy without renting a car or navigating public transport with luggage. The pickup happens from selected hotels, and the air-conditioned vehicle handles the scenic drive to Belgrave, where the real journey begins. You step directly from the car onto the platform of the iconic steam train: no transfers, no waiting around for group assembly.

The ride itself is the centerpiece. Puffing Billy's open-sided carriages are the reason people book this tour: you sit on bench seats with nothing between you and the forest, so the crisp scent of fern gullies and the sight of towering mountain ash trees are immediate and unfiltered. The train crosses the famous Monbulk Creek Trestle Bridge, a moment the guide will point out, and the whole route winds through the Dandenong Ranges at a pace that lets you actually see what's passing. Your guide shares local stories and historical details as the landscape unfolds, turning the journey into something more than just a scenic ride.

At Lakeside, you have free time to move at your own pace. The modern Visitor Centre holds interactive exhibits about Puffing Billy's heritage. The kind of detail that makes the train feel like more than a novelty. Emerald Lake Park spreads out around the station with walking trails, a café if you want to sit with a drink, and the lake itself if you just want to stand and breathe. The whole stop is designed to feel unhurried, and you're not shepherded through it. After exploring, the return journey to Melbourne happens in the early afternoon, so you're back with the rest of your day still ahead of you.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 16).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I really dangle my legs from the Puffing Billy carriages, or is that just marketing?

The open-sided carriages on Puffing Billy are designed exactly for that. There are no doors or side panels, so your legs hang freely over the track as the train moves through the forest. It's the signature feature of the ride, and the guide will let you know when you're approaching the trestle bridge, which is the most dramatic moment for it.

What's the actual time on the train versus time spent at Lakeside?

The full tour is six hours from pickup to return, which includes the drive to and from Belgrave. The train journey itself runs from Belgrave to Lakeside, and you then have free time at Emerald Lake Park and the Visitor Centre before heading back to Melbourne. The itinerary doesn't lock you into a set schedule at Lakeside. You explore at your own pace.

Is there food or coffee available during the tour?

Meals and beverages aren't included in the tour price, but there's a café at Lakeside where you can buy refreshments during your free time there. The Visitor Centre is also nearby if you want to grab something before exploring the park.

What happens if I have a large bag or stroller? Can I bring it on the train?

Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage and walkers cannot be brought on board Puffing Billy. The open-sided carriages and the heritage design of the train mean there's no storage space for them. Plan to leave larger items in the vehicle or at the station.

Do I need to be fit or have any special mobility to ride Puffing Billy?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The train moves slowly through the forest, and you're seated the entire time. If you have mobility concerns, the main consideration is boarding and exiting the heritage carriages, which have steps. The guide and staff can assist you.

What if I want to combine this with something else? Are there options?

Yes, you can book Puffing Billy as a standalone half-day tour, or combine it with the Penguin Parade at Phillip Island (both tours on the same day with a lunch break in Melbourne between them) or with Redwoods & Wine. Each option is booked separately at checkout, so you choose which suits your day.