Puffing Billy Steam Train tours

Our driver and guide was amazing—friendly, knowledgeable, and full of insights about Melbourne. The Puffing Billy Railway was a true highlight, offering breathtaking views as we rode through lush forests. The sanctuary was beautiful too, with up-close encounters with Australia’s unique wildlife. Highly recommend this tour for a perfect blend of nature and fun! 🌿🚂✨

The Puffing Billy train ride was one of the best experiences ever! Unfortunately, due to some technical issues, the train had to stop at one of the stations, and our lunch time was spent there instead of by the lakeside. The sanctuary was just okay—not the best experience—but the bird show was enjoyable. The Yarra Valley offered stunning scenery, making the journey truly memorable. As for the chocolate factory, it’s mainly a place to buy and eat chocolate. While you can see some of the production process through the glass, there isn’t much else to explore. Special mention goes to our tour guide, Mathews, who was absolutely fantastic! He did an amazing job, sharing interesting facts along the way and keeping the tour engaging.

I was a little worried because it only said that it was multilingual, but the driver spoke English and Chinese, so I was able to enjoy the tour without any bias. Also, when I thought that the explanations might not be completed in time, I was given a link to a web page where I could read explanations for each destination, so I was able to use that to deal with the parts of the tour that I didn't understand in English. However, there were two things that didn't seem right between the application and the actual experience. First, the meeting time. It said that the meeting time would be notified the day before, but I actually received the notification the day before at around 7pm. It was indeed the day before, but I wish they had not contacted me a little earlier. The second thing was the disbanding time. It said that the tour would disband around 8pm, but it was actually around 11:30am, so if your accommodation is far from the meeting place, be careful. The driver told me when we got in, so it was a little better, but if I had made plans for dinner after the tour without knowing, it would have been a pain. The Penguin Parade on Phillip Island was around 9pm, so it's inevitable that the disbanding time would be around that time, but I wish they had written it in advance. Other than these two points, the tour content was great. There was plenty of time to stay at each destination on the tour, and the driver was very polite, so I'm glad I signed up.

great experience on this itinerary.... well worth it if you are staying in Melbourne CBD . the normal adult prices for Moonlit sanctuary and the penguins are already 64 AUD per pax so definitely worth it to get this experience

The trip went great. Our guide/driver, Steven, was such a joyful person. Main announcements were done in Chinese but he also translated for us non-chinese speakers. The only "kind of weird" situation is, the organizers ask 5$ cash as mandatory tip for the guide, which I beleive is cumbersome for people who don't use cash. I didnt use cash at all while I was in Australia, except for this tip. I only had euros/USDs with me. Steven was kind enough to accept tip in euros and return me the remaining amount in AUD. This situation could be avoided by adding 5 extra dollars to the trip price and paying the driver directly. Anyways, not a big deal either way. Overall, the charming personality of Steven made the trip feel really good, so Kudos to him. Oh, and, he is such a great photographer. ❤️

The Puffing Billy train was so fun and interesting! We watched the penguins going back home and it was so cute! Ms Margaret was so enthusiastic to her job and explained and showed everything along the way! it was truly an amazing trip!

If you're looking for an unforgettable wine tour in the Yarra Valley, Rick's Wine Tours is the way to go! I can't recommend the Award-Winning Yarra Valley Food & Wine Tour From Melbourne enough. Rick is not only incredibly knowledgeable about the region's best wines and local food, but he’s also an absolute joy to be around. His personality truly lights up the experience – he’s funny, warm, and instantly makes you feel like you’re on a day trip with an old friend. Rick goes above and beyond to ensure every guest feels special. He has a knack for tailoring the tour to the interests of everyone in the group, and his passion for what he does shines through in every detail. His attention to detail is fantastic, and his deep knowledge of wine and the local history of the Yarra Valley made the tour not only informative but also super engaging. If you're in Melbourne and considering a wine tour, do yourself a favor and book with Rick's Wine Tours. This tour is a perfect mix of fun, learning, and luxurious indulgence. Thank you, Rick, for an unforgettable day – I can’t wait to do it again!

A nicely paced tour. Perhaps a little more time could be allocated to the Chocolate factory and restaurant as it would take time for us to place orders and get our meals served. Apart from that it was a beautiful day for cherry picking, visiting the Chocolatery and waving at people watching Puffing billy go by 😊