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Vintage Rail Journeys 4-Night Golden West Rail Tour
Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys
Tripcode: GSYDSYD8
Overview
Destination:
Australia,
Start:Sydney, Australia
Finish:Sydney, Australia
Finish:Sydney, Australia
Duration:5 days
Travel Period
September 2025 - November 2026
Enjoy a rail adventure throughout regional New South Wales when you board the Golden West Rail Tour with Vintage Rail Journeys. On a roundtrip from Sydney, experience the rare opportunity to travel on special access train lines across the Liverpool Plains from Werris Creek on the way to Orange. See the dramatic sandstone cliffs of the great dividing range at the beginning and end of your journey and explore the vineyards of the Hunter Valley and Orange, A real treat is the spectacular scenery in the Capertee Valley on the way to Rylstone. This is an incredible, all-inclusive rail holiday itinerary where you'll experience some of the very best that this great land of ours has to offer.
Highlights:
- Take a Riverboat cruise on the Hawkesbury River including lunch.
- Enjoy a winery experience in the Hunter Valley.
- Visit the quaint heritage village of Quirindi in rural New South Wales.
- Discover Bathurst’s Abercrombie House or Mayfield Gardens.
Please note:
- Price is based per person twin share in a Heritage Twin Cabin.
Standard inclusions
- All-inclusive dining, wines, beverages, tea & coffee throughout your journey.
Itinerary
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Collapse allDay 1: Sydney - The Hawkesbury
Your Golden West adventure starts at Sydney’s Central Station, 9:30am Monday morning. 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 offtrain 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, at approximately 8:00pm.
Departure dates
Select your preferred date or enquire
Operator
Vintage Rail Journeys
The Southern Aurora overnight passenger train, which operated from 1962 to 1986 between Sydney and Melbourne, has seen its original carriages lovingly restored. You can now once again experience the charm and comfort of train travel in our carefully curated rail tours. Across our three different rail tours, you’ll see some of NSW’s best scenery. The train travels by day and is stationary overnight, ensuring you’ll get a restful sleep ready for tomorrow’s adventure.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
For more information, please see Terms of Use
Book your Heritage Twin cabin on the Golden West Rail tour and save up to $2,000 per person when travelling in the Shoulder Season applicable departure dates 22 September, 5 October and 20 October 2025 - now from $2,995 - Members save more.
Conditions apply. The Vintage Rail Journeys introductory offer is available for new bookings between 22 August – 3 October 2024. Offer is available for travel between 01 January - 31 December 2025. Offer is subject to availability and block out dates apply. Savings are based on the difference between the Launch Offer fare and the Everyday fare. Travel dates are subject to availability. Offer is subject to availability and block out dates apply. Introductory offer fare payment and cancellation terms: 100% payment is due at time of booking, 100% cancellation fees apply at any time, 14 Day Change of Mind Policy - if booked more than 60 days prior to commencement of the Journey, booking is eligible for a full refund, provided cancellation is received within 14 days of Journey Beyond issuing your Booking Confirmation. For full terms and conditions, please ask your travel consultant.
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Price from
$4,195
$3,986
*
Member price from
$3,986*
per person
4 nights
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