Golden West Rail Tour

Description

Vintage Rail Journeys original and most popular rail tour – enjoy the dramatic sandstone cliffs of the great dividing range at the beginning and end of your journey. Explore the vineyards of the Hunter Valley and Orange, and the rare opportunity to travel on special access train lines across the Liverpool Plains from Werris Creek on the way to Orange. A real treat is the spectacular scenery in the Capertee Valley on the way to Rylstone.

Your Fly, Stay & Rail Package Includes:

• $500 flight credit per person
• Private transfer airport to hotel
• 1 night 4-star accommodation in Sydney with breakfast
• 4 night Golden West Rail Tour in a Heritage Twin cabin, Sydney return

Includes:

• All-inclusive dining, wines, beverages, tea & coffee
• Take a Riverboat cruise on the Hawkesbury River with lunch
• Enjoy a winery experience in the Hunter Valley
• Visit the quaint heritage village of Quirindi in rural NSW
• Discover Bathurst’s Abercrombie House or Mayfield Gardens

Pricing is per person twin share and based on travel 04-09 October 2025

Solo traveller pricing available. Please speak to one of our travel consultants for more details

Itinerary:

Day 1 | Sydney - The Hawkesbury

Your Golden West adventure starts at Sydney’s Central Station. Once onboard you can choose to relax in the lounge carriage, or settle into your cabin while we travel to the spectacular Hawkesbury River. Here you step off for your first off-train experience, joining the famous ‘Riverboat Postman’ for a lunch cruise. Enjoy the magnificent scenery of the lower Hawkesbury River as we deliver the mail and other essentials to the river-access-only settlements upriver from Brooklyn.

When you rejoin our train, you’ll enjoy views from the train which we think are some of the best in Australia. You’ll see the whole length of the train as we round curves and the line traces the waters

edge at Mullet Creek. The waterside theme is continued after we go through Woy Woy Tunnel and alongside Brisbane Water. We skirt around Newcastle and onto Maitland in the Hunter Valley. The train will be stabled for the night at Paterson.

Day 2 | Hunter Valley Vineyards

Today you will be visiting the Hunter Valley, and we have three off-train experiences for you to choose from.

Option 1: Lunch at Twine Restaurant Hunter Valley

Established in 2013, Twine Hunter Valley celebrates seasonal local produce and delectable dining options, paired with quality wines, picturesque views & impeccable service. Overlooking some of the oldest vineyards in the region, Twine is home to a wonderful restaurant, also the perfect spot for our Muscat tasting experience.

Optional Upgrade: Hunter Valley Helicopter Experience (limited capacity)

Soar to new heights with a breathtaking helicopter flight at additional cost. Experience unforgettable aerial views of the Hunter region, before joining lunch.

Option 2: Margan Wines

Travelling by coach to Broke, you’ll walk down the garden path through the kitchen garden, then past the olives and vineyards into the winery for a guided, behind the scenes tour. Learn how the single vineyard and sustainably farmed wines are made from vine to glass in this award-winning winery. Enjoy a wine tasting and lunch at this family owned winery and restaurant.

Following your tour, board the coach for the return journey to Branxton Station where you’ll board the train, travelling the remainder of the Hunter Valley, and on through Ardglen Tunnel to Werris Creek. Dinner will be served onboard the train at Werris Creek, where it will be stabled for the night.

Day 3 | Werris Creek

This morning enjoy breakfast onboard the train, before another day of discovering the charms of the Golden West.

Your adventure begins with a visit to the Quirindi Rural Heritage Village. The village has been designed to collect, preserve, restore, interpret and exhibit artefacts that relate to the history, heritage and culture of the region. From here we head to Werris Creek, the first and last railway town in NSW, located on a major railway junction. The Werris Creek railway station is the third largest in NSW. It houses the Werris Creek Rail Journeys Museum, which brings this town’s railway past back to life.

Your afternoon is then spent travelling along the freight only line from Werris Creek, headed for Orange. Dinner will be served onboard as your train makes its way for a late arrival into Orange for the evening.

Day 4 | Bathurst

Waking up in Orange this morning, your adventure continues as we’re soon departing for Bathurst, where you will again have the choice of two off-train experiences.

Option 1: Abercrombie House

It wouldn’t be a visit to Bathurst without first taking on the mountain Mt Panorama. You’ll then head onto Abercrombie House, a heritage treasure of NSW set in stunning grounds at Stewarts Mount just west of Bathurst. A grand country home, and a 1870s cultural gem, the home of the Morgan Family for half a century, see gardens, paths and outbuildings, explore the reception rooms, grand staircase, ballroom, first floor bedrooms and more, before enjoying lunch.

Option 2: Mayfield Gardens

A spectacular 65-hectare private garden that delivers not only a significant horticultural experience but also a day out that is both magical and unexpected. Mayfield Gardens is considered to be one of the largest and most spectacular cool climate gardens in the Southern Hemisphere. Here a self-guided tour awaits, with a delicious boxed lunch which can be enjoyed in your own quiet spot of the gardens.

Following your tour, return to Bathurst Station where you may like to visit the Railway Museum prior to the train departing again and stabling at Rylstone for the night.

Day 5 Mudgee | Sydney

Enjoy your final breakfast onboard the train. We’ll then board coaches traveling from Rylstone, a beautiful district settled in the 1820’s, making it one of the oldest settlements west of the Great Dividing Range. Rylstone’s streetscape features 19th century sandstone public houses, cottages and government buildings. From here we are welcomed to the Lowe Family Wine Co in Mudgee. Based around certified organic & biodynamic farm, vineyard, winery and food garden, enjoy a spectacular last lunch in the cellar door before returning to Rylstone Station and your return journey arriving late into Sydney Central station.

Terms & Conditions

Prices listed are per person in AUD, based on twin occupancy, including all discounts unless otherwise stated. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking and shown on the lowest category available at the time.  Fares are capacity controlled and are subject to change at any time without notice. Prices/Offers are correct as at 27-08-2024 and can be withdrawn without notice.   Cabin categories include prepaid government fees and port taxes unless otherwise stated.  Hotels may charge resort fees not included in this package, payable direct upon check in. Visas are not included.  Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.