From Melbourne: Puffing Billy Steam Train Experience
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Melbourne, Australia
+11
- 6 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Reaching the Puffing Billy railway in the Dandenong Ranges takes some sorting from central Melbourne, especially without a car. Ride out with transport arranged, then board the heritage steam train through the ranges, with the open-sided carriages that the line is known for. At the Lakeside Visitor Centre, walk around Emerald Lake Park and stop for food (own expense) before returning.
- Travel through the Dandenong Ranges in open-sided carriages
- Hotel pickup and drop-off ensures a hassle-free experience
- Stay connected on the journey with handy onboard Wi-Fi
- Explore beyond the center of Melbourne without any self-drive hassle
What's Included
- WiFi on board
- Professional, Friendly & Informative Guide
- Pickup from Selected Hotels
- One-way Journey on Puffing Billy
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- English Speaking Tour Guide
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
- Meals & beverages
- Gratuities
- Optional: Puffing Billy + Penguin option is 2 half-day tours joined together & taken on the same day
- Optional: Puffing Billy (Belgrave to Menzies Creek Departure), Redwoods & Wine
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
Pickup is only available from the list of hotels provided upon checkout. Your pickup will be between 7am-8am depending on which hotel you selected. Your exact meeting time will be provided after a booking is placed. This tour returns to a central Melbourne location at approximately 1:15pm.
Start time.7:00 am
Itinerary
1
Puffing Billy Railway
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Dandenong Ranges National Park (Pass By)
2
Puffing Billy Railway Lakeside Visitor Centre
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Emerald Lake Park
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board
- Total duration includes the travel time.
- Combo: Puffing Billy + Penguin option: This package includes our Puffing Billy Half-day tour & our Phillip Island Penguin Parade Afternoon tour
- Combo: Puffing Billy + Penguin option: Please note that when booking this package you will participate in both tours on the same day, Puffing Billy in the morning & Penguin Parade in the afternoon. You will have a lunch break in Melbourne between the tours.
- Combo: Puffing Billy + Penguin option: If joining this option your return time to Melbourne will be between 9pm-midnight depending on the season
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 24 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 298 reviews
Review summary
Last 12 months
36 reviews
Select a theme to learn more
Travelers appreciate the tour for its picturesque natural landscapes, including eucalyptus forests, rainforests, rolling hills, and charming villages. Guides and instructors are frequently praised for their friendly demeanor, knowledge, and engaging commentary, which contribute to an authentic and enjoyable experience. Overall, the combination of diverse scenery and supportive guidance makes the tour a well-regarded option for those seeking to explore the region’s environment.
Was this helpful?
Traveler reviews summarised by AI
Sort by: Most insightful
Awesome
One of a kind experience
Neat and Clean Train
But coooold
Very friendly ,Respectful and
Great guide
A good experience through the forest, cold yet exciting. The facilities are equipped with good amenities. Happy to see that there was halal option in the lakeside visitior facility
If you love trains this is a fun one. Nice to get out of the big city to experience some gorgeous scenery. Great commentary about the history of the train and you can even dangle your legs off the side of rail car during your trip if you like. Nice half day tour!
We did this tour which also included the redwoods and winery. It actually lasted 9 hours rather than the predicted 6. David was an excellent guide who was friendly and knowledgeable of the local area, and we never felt rushed throughout the entire tour. He provided little conveniences such as hand wipes which I greatly appreciated when being in crowded public areas. You can not go wrong with this tour, it is just amazing!
I did the Puffing Billy, Forest Trails & Yarra Valley Discovery Tour with Go West Tours and Lucy as our guide. The tour was well organised, eventful and Lucy was a superb, friendly, chirpy guide throughout the tour, I enjoyed our talks.
I felt the 1 hour break at Warburton is too short and can be extended by half an hour otherwise the time allocated to each activity is perfect and I had a wonderful time :)
This was a wonderful tour! It rained the whole time and was still a beautiful tour. David was a great tour guide! Would go back and bring friends.
Experience is as described, get to ride puffing billy and in its unique style. We had the fortune of being guided by David N - who to say love's his job is an understatement! He was highly enthusiastic (but let us rest on the drive!). He also drove up and down the route of the train journey to capture footage of us on the train from an outside perspective - was a lot of other visitors jealous of this!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks so much for the fantastic review! 😊
We’re so glad you had such a great time on Puffing Billy with David N. And it sounds like David was determined to make sure you got the full experience, including the best possible footage of yourselves on the train! 😂🚂
Driving up and down the route to catch those outside shots is definitely going the extra mile. We can imagine a few other passengers wondering how they could get the same footage! 📸😄
We’re also happy to hear that, despite all that enthusiasm, David knew when to let everyone sit back and have a quiet rest on the drive. That balance can make a big difference on a half-day tour. Thanks again for joining us and for the lovely words about David. We’ll definitely make sure he sees your message! And if you’re back in Melbourne, there’s plenty more to explore with us, from the Great Ocean Road and Phillip Island to the Yarra Valley and Grampians. 💛
It runs rain or shine and it rained. We still had a wonderful time on the train. The tour guide will take a video of you when the train comes to the bridge where she was standing. It was fun.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Really enjoyed this day trip! Everything went smoothly and the whole itinerary was well organized. Our driver/guide was very responsible and friendly, and he gave us a lot of interesting information about the local culture, history, and architecture along the way. What I especially liked was that the tour wasn’t just about rushing from one attraction to another. We had several stops to enjoy the scenery and see some local wildlife, including geese, kangaroos, and other animals. We also had enough free time at each stop to explore and take photos, which made the day feel much more relaxed. Riding the Puffing Billy steam train through the forest was definitely one of my favorite parts of the trip. But the Penguin Parade was probably the most memorable. Watching the little penguins come out of the ocean and gradually gather together before making their way back to their burrows was such a special experience. Overall, it was a really enjoyable and memorable day. Great scenery, wildlife, and a very well-organized tour. Definitely recommend it!
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thanks so much for the fantastic review! 😊
We’re really happy to hear you had such a relaxed and enjoyable day with us. It’s lovely to know the itinerary felt well paced and gave you enough time to actually enjoy the places along the way rather than feeling like you were simply ticking attractions off a list. And it sounds like the wildlife made plenty of appearances too! 🦘🪿 There’s always something a little special about those unexpected sightings along the way. We’re glad Puffing Billy was one of your favourite parts of the day as well. There’s something pretty magical about travelling through the forest on that old steam train, but we have to agree that the penguins make a very memorable finale! 🐧 Watching them emerge from the water and make their way home is such a unique experience. Thanks again for spending such a big day with us and for sharing such a thoughtful review. We’re so glad you went home with plenty of great memories! 💛
Aleks was a fantastic guide, very informative, patient and funny. A great experience and well worth the money.
Highly recommended!! Out tour guide James was so friendly,energetic,very helpful:) had a great time 👏👍
Great experience and service from Go West bus tours. The train was fantastic beautiful scenery to take in along the way . Puffin Billy highly recommend
The only time I have ever been encouraged to put my limbs outside of a moving vehicle. Must be over the age of four to do so.
The Puffing Billy takes travelers through Victoria’s beautiful rainforest and is truly an unforgettable experience. Our guide, Benjamin, provided us with many facts about the places we went through and their history in a witty and interesting manner. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone, and I can’t wait for our next time aboard the Puffing Billy.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Thanks so much for your lovely review! We’re delighted to hear that you found the Puffing Billy experience so memorable. It’s wonderful to know that you enjoyed travelling through the beautiful rainforest and that Benjamin’s stories and knowledge brought even more to the journey. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to him — we’re sure he’ll be happy to hear that his witty and engaging approach made the experience even more enjoyable. And we absolutely love hearing that you’re already looking forward to your next ride aboard Puffing Billy! We hope to welcome you back again someday for another memorable journey. Thanks again for joining us and for recommending the experience. Safe travels! 😊
Could not enjoy much because it has been raining before we boarded and the seats were wet. They could at least give the seats a quick wipe before everyone board the train.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
We're sorry to hear that the wet weather - and seats - impacted your journey in such a negative way. We'll be sure to pass this feedback on to the team at Puffing Billy Railway, as what you have suggested here is not at all unreasonable. We're disappointed that this shortcoming reflected on the service that we offer and will be following up accordingly. Thanks for shining a light on this issue and giving us an opportunity to address it!
It was a lot of fun dangling our feet on the side of the train to travel. Quite an experience. Felt like a kid again.
It was quite an adventure. Tom who was our tour guide gave us ample amount of time to explore and appreciate the location that we are in.
Ben was fantastic as a driver and guide for the half day tour. Puffing Billy experience was fun and unique and good way to spend the morning. I will say the price of this tour is literally just getting a round trip ride there and back and the ticket for the train. You don’t really do much else so the price of this tour is a bit high in my personal opinion. With that being said, given it’s next to impossible to get a ticket for Puffing Billy inidividually, this is something I’d recommend doing if you really want to see the train.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks so much for taking the time to share your feedback! We’re really pleased to hear you enjoyed your Puffing Billy tour with Ben and had a fun morning aboard the historic steam train. Ben will be happy to hear your kind words about his guiding and driving throughout the experience. We also appreciate your honest feedback regarding the tour pricing and inclusions. Puffing Billy tickets can certainly be very difficult to secure independently, especially during busy periods, so we’re glad the tour provided a convenient and stress-free way for you to experience it. Thank you again for travelling with us and for sharing both the positives and your feedback. We hope you enjoyed the rest of your time in Melbourne!
I had a wonderful experience on the Puffing Billy Railway tour with Cloe. Everything was exceptionally well organized—the tour started right on time, and the bus that picked us up from the city was clean and comfortable. Cloe truly made the experience stand out. She was not only a skilled driver but also an engaging and knowledgeable guide, keeping everyone entertained along the way. Her energy and warmth added a special touch to the trip. The one-hour train ride was absolutely delightful, taking us through beautiful eucalyptus forests, charming local villages, and the rolling hills on the outskirts of Melbourne. The scenery was peaceful and picturesque—exactly what you hope for on a heritage train journey. Overall, it was a fun and memorable experience, especially for families with kids. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something relaxing, scenic, and a little bit magical
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you had such a memorable time on our Puffing Billy tour. It’s fantastic to know that Cloe made the day so enjoyable. Her energy, organisation, and engaging style really help create a smooth and fun experience from start to finish. We’re so pleased you enjoyed the train ride through the beautiful forests and countryside. It really is a relaxing and scenic experience, and we’re glad it lived up to expectations. Having experienced Puffing Billy with us, we hope you might join us again one day to explore more of what Victoria has to offer. Thanks again for your kind words and very best wishes for your onward adventures.
It was a joyous ride on the historic train with everyone sitting on the ledges, fresh air , beautiful scenery and of course the cheering / waving locals. Our guide Lucy was awesome too.
It was an amazing experience and our guide Jess was wonderful with guidance she provided. The bus arrived on time, had enough time to see around and came back by 1pm.
Puffing Billy was highlight of our Melbourne visit.
The train ride was amazing, the surroundings were beautiful. Everyone was very friendly and our coach driver Jules was great, very informative and made sure we made the most of our time. Had alot of trouble with the Viator app, could not download my tickets or talk to a human about the problem only AI. Lucky for the emails with trips details
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks so much for your great review! We’re delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable time on our Puffing Billy tour. It’s fantastic to know you loved the train ride and beautiful surroundings, and that Jools helped make the day even better with his informative and friendly approach. We’re sorry to hear about the difficulties you experienced with the Viator app — as a third-party booking platform, their systems can sometimes be outside of our direct control, but we appreciate you sharing that feedback. Having experienced Puffing Billy with us, we hope you might join us again one day to explore more of what Victoria has to offer. Thanks again for your kind words & very best wishes for your onward adventures.
Our tour guide Angel was such a great time and fostered a real sense of fun and group activity with our van full of strangers. She was brilliant. The Billy Train was one-of-a-kind and the walk through town and the forest was a great way to experience a different side of Melbourne. The winery capping of the day was a nice touch.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks so much for your great review! We’re delighted to hear you had such a fun time on our Puffing Billy tour. It’s fantastic to know that Angel made the day so enjoyable — it’s great to hear how she brought the group together and created such a fun atmosphere. We’re so pleased you enjoyed the Puffing Billy experience, the walk through the forest, and finishing the day at the winery — it sounds like a really memorable outing. Having experienced Puffing Billy with us, we hope you might join us again one day to explore more of what Victoria has to offer. Thanks again for your kind words & very best wishes for your onward adventures.
I was very impressed with this experience! It was so much fun and truly enjoyable from start to finish. The service was excellent, and everything was well organized. I especially want to mention our driver and guide, Woody — he was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and made the whole trip even more special. I would definitely love to come back again in the future. Highly recommend!
What a fun trip! Our guide, Bluey, was fantastic and provided lots of interesting commentary during the drives. The train trip itself was very cute. Everyone there is passionate about preserving this little bit of local history.
It was a really lovely and amazing day
Perfect to enjoy all the activities
Not to short and not to long
Perfect activity to do if you want escape the city for fiew hours
The weather was perfect, guest were friendly .. Mel was our guide. She was absolutely friendly, funny, lovely with a good energy. The tour was amazing because of her !
Thank you for everything
This was cancelled. We showed up at 7:45, as confirmed the previous night. We were told, that we could not go on the other bus, and our tour had been cancelled three days ago. We do not receive any confirmation, nor were we alerted the tour had been cancelled. No emails, no calls. Nothing. 400+ dollars awaiting a refund. What a waste
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We're truly sorry to hear that the numerous messages sent to you via various platforms regarding your tour's cancellation were not received by you in a timely manner. We regret the inconvenience experienced and are looking into our processes to ensure future guests are not similarly inconvenienced. We have issued a full refund, which should be received within 2-3 days.
We had a good time on this tour and the train ride was a neat experience. I think they were working on repairs on the track so the actual train ride felt a bit short (which is completely out of the hands of the tour agency). Our tour guide Bluey did an amazing job and definitely made the experience better. I would say this is a must do for any train lovers and a fun way to see the Dandenong region.
Great experience, had a great time, Driver gets 10/10 for good comments and best music on the way home from the penguin parade.
Hasard de la locomotive… unfortunately we did not get the steam train ! Would be better in good weather condition
Response from Host, Mar 2026
We sincerely regret that Puffing Billy cancelled their services on the day of your scheduled experience due to extreme heat. While this is completely beyond our control, we do recognise the negative impact this has on your Melbourne experience and for this we apologise.
Member Pricing
From
$118.07
per personWas $124.28(-5%)
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Member Pricing
From Melbourne: Puffing Billy Steam Train Experience
298
6 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$124.28
$118.07
5% savings
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Explore Similar Things to Do
- Shore Excursions
- Full-day Tours
- Bus Tours
- Day Trips
- Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises
- Private and Luxury
- Private Sightseeing Tours
- Melbourne
- Shore Excursions - St Kilda
- Bus Tours - St Kilda
- Full-day Tours - Yarra Valley
- Bus Tours - Yarra Valley
- Shore Excursions - Mornington Peninsula
- Full-day Tours - Mornington Peninsula
- Bus Tours - Mornington Peninsula
Attractions in Melbourne, Australia
- Grampians National Park Tours & Tickets
- Loch Ard Gorge Tours & Tickets
- Ashcombe Maze & Lavender Gardens Tours & Tickets
- Queen Victoria Market Tours & Tickets
- Melbourne Zoo Tours & Tickets
- Melbourne Princess Theatre Tours & Tickets
- St. Kilda, Melbourne Tours & Tickets
- Werribee Open Range Zoo Tours & Tickets
- Degraves Street Tours & Tickets
- Churchill Island Tours & Tickets
- Wilsons Promontory National Park Tours & Tickets
- Parliament House of Victoria Tours & Tickets