Puffing Billy & Rainforest Tour from Melbourne

Badge of Excellence

Melbourne, Australia

High interest

Booked 5+ times today.

6 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

4.7

· Dawn_M ·

Apr 2026

This was a great day out, first walking in a rainforest and then an hour on the Puffing Billy steam train. The views from the train were spectacular and when we arrived at Lakeside we found the cafe and had a lovely lunch.

· Jackie_C ·

Mar 2026

This was amazing. Riding a train with your feet hanging out is unthinkable but that is what we did. Two steam engines powered us and it was so cool watching the steam float in the air. Staff were amazing and the tour itself was well organized!!

Explore our promoted experiences

Melbourne, Victoria

4.8

(88)

Melbourne's True Crime Tour

from $25

Likely to Sell Out

Melbourne Sightseeing Tour in Small Group

Melbourne, Victoria

3.7

(14)

Melbourne Sightseeing Tour in Small Group

from $65

Melbourne Sports Experience + Free Australian Sports Museum entry

Melbourne, Victoria

5.0

(6)

Melbourne Sports Experience + Free Australian Sports Museum entry

from $88

Viator earns higher commissions on experiences featured here

Overview

What's Included

1 hour train journey on Puffing Billy
Return transfers to/from Melbourne in modern vehicle
Friendly & informative guide

Lunch

Lunch is available to purchase from a local cafe
Coffee and/or Tea

Beverages are available to purchase from a local cafe

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Your pickup time may differ from the time shown on your voucher. Explore Australia Tours will contact you via email shortly after booking to confirm your exact pickup time. Pickup locations are selected at the time of booking: 7:25am – Mercure Melbourne Southbank, 9 Riverside Quay, Southbank 7:35am – Regent Theatre, 191 Collins Street, Melbourne 7:45am – Her Majesty's Theatre, 219 Exhibition Street, Melbourne 8:00am - Mail Exchange Hotel, 688 Bourke Street, Melbourne All tours are conducted in English. Guests can access pre-recorded audio and written tour information in 16 languages by downloading the free Explore Australia Language Translation App from Google Play or the App Store prior to departure. Your guide will provide a code on the day to unlock the content. Please bring your own headphones. Tours operate rain or shine. Estimated return time for the Puffing Billy & Rainforest is between 13:30 and 14:00.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

Itinerary

Grants Picnic Ground

1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Puffing Billy Railway

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Puffing Billy Railway

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Puffing Billy Railway Lakeside Visitor Centre

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Melbourne

1 hour • 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
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Most travelers can participate
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 27 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Reviews

4.7

based on 116 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Wow factor awesome day out

sue_u, May 2026

This tour I would recommend if travelling with children, great experience I had with my grandson . I enjoyed it as well being a nanna.

Must go!

Keegan_M, May 2026

The was an awesome tour! Matt was our guide. He was on time for his pick up from an easy pick up location. Comfortable ride that took about an hour. Then got us to the train easily. The rain forest walk was great. Matt took videos of us on the train and shared them with us. He was very knowledgeable younger guy. It’s nice to go on a tour and not have someone old and boring. Also Matt explained the timeline and it was accurate. Gave great heads up when restrooms would be available. Highly recommend! Matt is the best!

Response from Host, May 2026

Thank you so much for the amazing review! 🌿🚂 We are thrilled you had such an awesome time on the Puffing Billy & Rainforest Tour with Matt. He will love hearing your kind words! Great to know you enjoyed the rainforest walk, smooth itinerary, and the extra videos he captured for you 🎥✨ Thanks again for the recommendation, and we hope to see you on another adventure soon 😊

A great day out

Dawn_M, Apr 2026

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thanks so much for your kind words Dawn 😊 We are really glad you enjoyed your day, especially the rainforest walk and the Puffing Billy train — those Lakeside views are always a highlight. We hope to see you back on tour again soon 🚂

A clear communication of meeting time change.

BiChi_H, Apr 2026

The meeting time by tour operator was changed but not highlighted in the notification by the them. We’d appreciate if there is a reminder to us, maybe a day or two before the tour, while we were busy traveling. The operator was not all that helpful by threatening to drop us or we needed to rush to another meeting location. We stayed 7 minutes away and told her we would leave immediately and she just sounded like she did not believe us. Eventually we got there without causing any issues ( you can check with the. Driver).

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your feedback BiChi_H! We are sorry to hear you felt the communication around your pickup time was unclear. For clarity, the updated time was sent via the Viator/Tripadvisor portal and this was acknowledged by you. We also send a pre-travel email and SMS reminder ahead of the tour which is recorded in your in booking having being sent. On the morning of departure, our team contacted you when you had not arrived. While we understand travel can be stressful, our staff were met with aggressive language, which is not something we accept. Our team always aims to remain calm and supportive, and on this occasion the guide waited an additional 20 minutes to ensure you were able to join the tour. Our goal is to create positive and memorable experiences for all guests visiting Melbourne, and we are proud of the care our team shows every day. We do, however, ask that this is met with mutual respect. We appreciate you still joining the tour and hope you were able to enjoy the experience overall.

Am hoping you get this...

Linda_O, Apr 2026

Am hoping you get this review of my Booking Ref 1356733365, Wed, 4 March 2026, Puffing Billy and Rainforest. We thoroughly enjoyed this experience and while I do not recall our guide's name, he was excellent. He led us through the rainforest, answered numerous questions and provided a great deal of information. Then he took us to the train station and made sure we all had tickets, explained time and place for pick up. He came with the group and took photos as we sat on the train windows; he also drove to a place where the train passed and took photos for the group, which was above and beyond! We saw him several times after the train ride and felt reassured. Thank you for the wonderful experience and guide. Linda Okimura Mililani, Hawaii 96789 USA

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your lovely review, Linda 😊 We are so glad you had such a great experience and felt well looked after throughout the day. It is wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed the rainforest and Puffing Billy. Your guide Matt H will really appreciate your kind words — it sounds like he went above and beyond to make the day extra special. Thank you again for travelling with us all the way from Hawaii 🐨

Nice scenic ride

Leo_B, Apr 2026

I had a great time on the ride. If the weather is good then it should be an enjoyable ride for most people.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your review 😊 We are so glad you enjoyed the scenic Puffing Billy ride — it really is something special. 🚂 Hopefully you also spotted a few of our local favourites along the way 🐨

Good experience but not worth the price.

Rushabh_S, Apr 2026

Overall a decent experience however I had the following issues: 1) The driving felt rash. The guide was driving too roughly, taking sharp turns and swerving too much. I felt he could have been a little more gentle with the driving. 2) The stop at the Emerald Lake was hardly one hour including lunch. That's barely any time. The lunch took 45 mins and we could only get 15 mins for photos, could not even enjoy the scenery at the lake. It all felt too rushed. For the price of $175 pp, I feel it could have been a longer trip, and did not feel it was worth the money. Overall, it's good if it's a last minute plan since the tickets for Puffing Billy on ita official site are booked out well in advance. But if you're planning this trip 3-4 weeks in advance, I'd recommend avoiding paying this cost and instead book on the official site itself.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are glad to hear you enjoyed the Puffing Billy and Rainforest Tour overall, but we are very sorry that certain aspects of the experience did not meet your expectations. The safety of our passengers is always our top priority, and we do not encourage our drivers to drive recklessly. We will look further into your comments regarding the driving and also note your feedback about the timing at Emerald Lake to help improve the tour for future guests. We hope that despite these challenges, you were still able to enjoy the rainforest, the scenery, and the train ride. We really appreciate your thoughts and hope to welcome you on another Explore Australia Tours adventure in the future.

Loved the trip

Robert_F, Mar 2026

We had a great time. We loved exploring the rainforest for us walking and then aboard the magnificent steam engine. Our guide was great.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your lovely review. We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour. It is such a great mix of exploring the Dandenong Ranges and experiencing the iconic steam train 🚂 Our guides will really appreciate your kind words. Thanks again for travelling with us, we hope to see you again soon!

Take a jacket! It's...

Heather_B, Mar 2026

Take a jacket! It's colder in the rainforest. We had a wonderful day and our driver was outstanding.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your review 😊 Great tip on the jacket, the Dandenong Ranges can definitely be a little cooler 🌿 We are so glad you had a wonderful day on your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour. Your guide will really appreciate the kind words. Thanks again for travelling with us, we hope to see you again soon 🚂

Great 1/2 Day Trip!

Muriel_L, Mar 2026

Great tour guide with very clear pick up directions! Puffing Billy is a must while in Melbourne. Truly enjoyed it!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for taking the time to write a review! We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour. It is such a must do experience when visiting Melbourne and we are pleased everything ran smoothly from the start. Our guides will really appreciate your kind words. Thanks again for travelling with us, we hope to see you again soon 🚂

Do this if you can!! So Cool!!

Jackie_C, Mar 2026

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your awesome review. We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour. It really is such a unique experience riding the train through the Dandenong Ranges 🚂 Our team will really appreciate your kind words, they take great pride in making each day run smoothly and creating a memorable experience. Thanks again for travelling with us, we hope to see you again soon!

Puffing Away

William_M, Mar 2026

Great trip….sanctuary was great, Puffing Billy was an experience and the chocolatier was wonderful. Margaret was a great guide….

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your lovely review. We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy experience. Margaret will really appreciate the mention, she is a fantastic guide and loves creating a great day out for our guests. Thanks again for travelling with us, we really appreciate it and hope to see you again soon 🚂

Extremely interesting and variety plus

Jennifer_C, Mar 2026

My experience was Good from pickup to drop off. The add of knowledge of our guide together with "being human skills" walking in tge shoes of the tourist on stops making sure all were accounted for

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your review. We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour. Our guides will really appreciate your kind words, they take great pride in looking after every guest and creating a smooth experience throughout the day. Thanks again for travelling with us, we really appreciate it and hope to see you again soon 🚂

Puffing Billy Fun

Julie_H, Mar 2026

Had a fantastic time. Was picked up in an easy to find place in the city by an awesome young man, Nathan. Our first stop was Grant’s Picnic Grounds where we went on a short bush walk, enjoying the peaceful surroundings and bird wildlife. We were then taken to the Puffing Billy Train Station and Nathan escorted us to a train carriage and ensured we all had good positions. The train ride was so fun with our legs dangling out the train carriage. Nathan drove to a crossing and took a video of us as the train went by. We arrived at Lakeside Station and went for a walk around the lake which was beautiful, breathing in the clean air. We returned back to Melbourne city at around 1pm. My daughter and I had a wonderful time, thank you Nathan.😊😊

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your lovely review. We are so glad you and your daughter enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour. Nathan will really appreciate the shout out, he is great at making the day feel smooth, relaxed and memorable. It is those little moments throughout the Dandenong Ranges that really make this experience so special 🚂 Thanks again for travelling with us, we truly appreciate it and hope to see you again soon!

Puffing Billy Dandenongs tour with Explore Australia

Beth_B, Mar 2026

Great tour guide - Michael was friendly, informative, and took us safely to and from our destination. He also took photos of us and gave relevant local advice. Thanks, Michael! Tour ran on time (in fact, we left 8 minutes early as everyone was ready to go!) with no issues. Tour bus was new, clean and comfortable. Great way to see the Dandenongs and go on the Puffing Billy if you don't want to drive.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your great review. We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour. Michael will really appreciate the mention, he is fantastic at making the day run smoothly while looking after our guests. It is great to hear everything ran to schedule and you enjoyed the comfort of the journey as well as exploring the Dandenong Ranges 🚂 Thanks again for travelling with us, we really appreciate it and hope to see you again soon!

The experience was good,...

WENGHONG_S, Mar 2026

The experience was good, mostly. However, it would be a bit better if the guide can lead us to walk part of the trail and introducing more jungle information to us.

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your feedback. We are glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour from Melbourne. We really appreciate your suggestion, adding more guided insight through the rainforest is something we will take on board. Our tours are designed to offer a mix of guided commentary and free time to explore, but we are always looking at ways to enhance the experience. Thanks again for travelling with us, we hope to welcome you back again soon 🌿🚂

Enjoy rhe extreme beaty of the rainforest and fascinating history

MartiBrown, Mar 2026

I had so muchFun! Thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful rainforest landscape and the fascinating history!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your lovely review. We are so glad you enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour from Melbourne. The Dandenong Ranges really do offer a beautiful mix of lush rainforest and rich history. Thanks again for travelling with us, we really appreciate it and hope to see you again soon 🚂

It was an okay trip. The guide was very nice and enthusiastic. The ride was to get there was long and the rainforest a

roz, Mar 2026

The ride to get there was long and the called train ride too short. Upon reflection felt it was gimmicky.. The tour guide was great and very enthusiastic!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your honest feedback. We are really pleased to hear your guide made a positive impression, we are lucky to have such a passionate team. We understand that travel time and the length of the Puffing Billy experience may not suit everyone. This tour is designed as a half day escape from Melbourne, balancing travel with time on the train and in the Dandenong Ranges. We do appreciate your comments and will take them on board. Thanks again for travelling with us!

Great trip! Must do in Melbourne!

Kerri_M, Mar 2026

This tour was absolutely amazing. The guides are so nice and it was a great experience for our family. I highly recommend this trip to anyone in Melbourne!

Response from Host, Apr 2026

Thank you for your kind review. We are so glad you and your family enjoyed your Puffing Billy and Rainforest tour from Melbourne. Our guides will really appreciate the feedback, they love creating memorable experiences for every guest. Thanks again for the recommendation, we truly appreciate it and hope to see you again on another Explore Australia tour soon 🚂

We loved the open-sided...

Jayrajsinh_C, Feb 2026

We loved the open-sided carriages — dangling our legs out the side (safely, of course!) while winding through towering ferns, rainforests, and over wooden trestle bridges was incredibly fun and gave us stunning views of the scenery. The one-hour journey (typically Belgrave to Lakeside or similar) was perfectly paced, with friendly volunteer staff and conductors who shared interesting facts about the railway's history. Booking via Viator made everything seamless: reliable pickup/drop-off from Melbourne, a knowledgeable guide Matty who kept things organised and entertaining, and no hassle with tickets. The tour was well-coordinated, with plenty of photo stops and time to enjoy the experience without feeling rushed.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are thrilled you loved the open sided carriages, there really is nothing quite like winding through the towering ferns and across the trestle bridges with your legs safely out and the fresh air rushing past. It truly is such a unique and nostalgic experience. It is fantastic to hear the journey felt perfectly paced and that our volunteer staff shared interesting insights along the way. We will be sure to pass your kind words on to Matty, he will be delighted to know he helped make the day organised, entertaining and seamless for you. We are so glad you enjoyed the photo stops and relaxed timing. Thank you again for travelling with us!

Puffing Billy- a fun trip

Owen_S, Feb 2026

Make sure you get there early to enjoy the gift shop and be able to look around the station before boarding.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for your tip and for sharing your experience! We are glad you enjoyed the Puffing Billy & Rainforest Tour. Arriving early is a great idea to explore the gift shop and soak in the atmosphere of the station before the adventure begins. We hope your day was full of fun and memorable moments on the train and in the rainforest!

It was great. Tour guide...

James_W, Feb 2026

It was great. Tour guide was very friendly! The train ride was also a good length and lots of nature & sights.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for your review! We are thrilled to hear you had a great time on the Puffing Billy and Rainforest Tour and that your guide made the day so enjoyable. It is wonderful that you enjoyed the train ride and all the nature and sights along the way. We hope to welcome you on another Explore Australia Tours adventure soon!

Enjoyable but could have been better

Linda_J, Feb 2026

Despite the instructions saying the tour wouldn’t wait for latecomers it did and we left Melbourne 30 mins late. Then traffic was heavy which meant we couldn’t stop at the park before the train. The train itself turned out to be a diesel not a steam train (as it was pulling 12 carriages all full). It would have been nice to know in advance it was a diesel especially as the guide gave a spiel about the old steam trains. The stop at Emerald Lake was an hour only , no add on time despite being late starting. The guide and driver were good and the trip itself on the train nice but it could have been better if we had started on time.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are glad to hear you enjoyed the Puffing Billy and Rainforest Tour and that your guide and driver helped make the day enjoyable. We are sorry that the late start and heavy traffic affected your schedule and appreciate your thoughts about the diesel train and the stop at Emerald Lake. Puffing Billy uses the steam train wherever possible, but sometimes operational reasons such as train capacity, maintenance, or fire risks from high temperatures and wind mean we need to run with a diesel train instead. We really appreciate your understanding and hope that despite these challenges, you still enjoyed the beautiful scenery, the train ride, and the wildlife along the way. We hope to welcome you on another Explore Australia Tours adventure soon.

Gina was awesome! So...

Jordana_J, Feb 2026

Gina was awesome! So knowledgeable and really made me feel comfortable being solo. All in all great experience, will be taking all my family when they come to visit!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are thrilled to hear that Gina made you feel so comfortable and that her knowledge added to your experience. It is wonderful that you enjoyed the tour so much and we cannot wait to welcome you and your family on another Explore Australia Tours adventure soon!

A fun time!

Rachael_O, Feb 2026

This was a great tour! Our tour guide was amazing, you can really tell she loves the environment she's teaching about! She made sure everyone was comfortable and informed of all our options! The train was fun, definitely a cool experience waving at all the spectators!

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you so much for your lovely review! We are thrilled to hear you had a fun time on the Puffing Billy and Rainforest Tour. It is wonderful that your guide’s passion for the environment made the day even more enjoyable, and that you had fun on the train waving to all the spectators. We hope to welcome you on another Explore Australia Tours adventure soon!

Puffing Billy

Debby_H, Feb 2026

Quiet, easy trip. We enjoyed seeing the birds in the rainforest and the train through the countryside. Our guide was entertaining and knowledgeable. Overall a good tour for a quiet day.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for your lovely review! We are so glad you enjoyed the Puffing Billy and Rainforest Tour, from the scenic train ride through the countryside to spotting the beautiful birds in the rainforest. It is wonderful to hear that your guide made the day entertaining and informative. We hope to welcome you on another Explore Australia Tours adventure soon!

Margaret who drove us was...

Sandra_G, Feb 2026

Margaret who drove us was fantastic, so friendly and very knowledgeable about the area. The train journey was great

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for your review! We are so glad you enjoyed the Puffing Billy and Rainforest Tour and had a great time on the train journey. Margaret will be delighted to hear your kind words about her friendliness and knowledge. We hope to welcome you on another memorable adventure soon!

It was a fantastic trip...

EVDOXIA_D, Feb 2026

It was a fantastic trip !!! 🌴🌳🚃 We’ll never forgot it. Thanks and well done for all the volunteers who take care of everything — they are excellent.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are so glad you had a fantastic time on the Puffing Billy and Rainforest Tour. It is great to hear you appreciated the care and effort of all the team involved. We are delighted it was a memorable experience and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon!

Yes - book the Puffing Billy.

Taylor_B, Jan 2026

TL/DR: YES, you should book this with a tour group and not try to drive yourself. Explore rainforest, ride iconic Puffing Billy, explore grounds at Lakeside for nature walks, prompt and efficient transportation. Most day trips in Mel are over 12+ hours, and this ~5 hour excursion was exactly what we wanted as part of our Melbourne experience. We briefly considered buying tickets for Puffing Billy independently for efficiency, and we’re so glad we didn’t. You take a super efficient, small bus drive to the rainforest near Puffing Billy (50 min in bus/50 min by car). We took a nature walk then hopped back on to head 5 min to the train. Logistics & Why You Should Book: You go on a ONE WAY, 1-hour train ride from Belgrave to Lakeside. You need a tour group because the next train back from Lakeside to Belgrave is 90 minutes later from Lakeside, whereas with the tour group Michael (our tour guide) was already waiting at Lakeside to retrieve us, show us around, and give us an hour to visit the shops and take additional nature walks. ALSO, Michael took videos and pictures of our group throughout the ride and compiled a full blown MOVIE for us!!! So cool!!! We then hop back on the bus around 12PM and head back to Melbourne, again taking as long as it would to drive yourself. This was so fun and so cool to see. Our group consisted of three couples and one small family. So fun!! Must do - beautiful views & iconic experience

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your detailed review! We are so glad you enjoyed the Puffing Billy train ride, nature walks, and the efficient tour logistics. Michael will be happy to hear your kind words and that you loved the photos and video he put together. We really appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you on another tour soon!

Amazing Trip❤️

Nijitha_T, Jan 2026

Short but worthy Trip! The Guide was excellent! The train ride was so so good❤️ Would definetly recommend.

Response from Host, Jan 2026

Thank you for your review, Nijitha! We are so glad you enjoyed the Puffing Billy train ride and the rainforest tour. It is wonderful to hear the guide made the experience even better, and we really appreciate your recommendation.