All Aboard! Everything You Need to Know about Puffing Billy

Here, we take you through everything you need to know about Puffing Billy tickets, the Puffing Billy timetable and how to make it a magical day out for the whole family! Puffing Billy is an iconic, open-air steam train that journeys deep into the magnificent Dandenong Ranges. It's a great day out for the family and one of the best things to do near Melbourne.

This open-air steam train will take you on a journey into the past, into the beauty of lush fern gullies and deep into relaxing rainforests which will take your breath away. Or just sit back and indulge in the era of the steam engine with the sight of billowing steam and the sound of evocative train whistles.

Read on for information on how to get there, what to bring, food options, best photo spots and more!

Pst, did you hear? Victorians will be able to try their luck for the Regional Victoria Travel Voucher Scheme, which is in place to help drive visitation to regional Victoria and support the recovery of local businesses and communities through distributing 120,000 $200 vouchers. It’s definitely time to #holidayherethisyear! 

Here’s how you can get your hands on a $200 voucher to spend on accommodation, attractions or tours in regional Victoria! (Registrations for the third and last round will be on 30 March 2021 at 10am, so get ready!)

To put the cherry on top, book any regional Victoria activities on Klook to get $20 off with the code 'OFF20VIC' ($200 min spend, offer ends 31 May).

Plus, book any regional Victoria accommodation on Klook to get $20 off with the code '20VICHOTEL' ($200 min spend, offer ends 31 May).

There are three types of Puffing Billy timetables - Belgrave to Lakeside (3 departures daily), Belgrave to Menzies Creek (1 departure daily) and Belgrave to Gembrook (1 departure daily).

Puffing Billy ticket fares vary depending on where you wish to alight, but the most popular by far is the Belgrave to Lakeside return. The timetable varies depending upon the time of year and school holiday times, so check the website carefully for any timetable changes and plan ahead accordingly.

Tickets must be pre-booked online - there is no option to buy tickets on arrival. This includes the free tickets for children under four.

All children must be accompanied by a paying adult.

Via train: Puffing Billy's Belgrave Station is an approx 70-minute journey from Melbourne on the Belgrave line. Once you arrive at Belgrave Station, simply follow the blue line painted on the platform for a short 2-minute walk to Puffing Billy.

Via car: Belgrave Station is about a 50 minute drive from Melbourne's CBD via the M1. The address is 1 Old Monbulk Road, Belgrave VIC 3160. There is free parking at the Puffing Billy carpark. The entry is via Belgrave - Gembrook Road, before the Metro Rail Bridge on the left as you turn off Burwood Highway.

It's important to remember all the carriages are open-air so dress as if you're spending the day outdoors. It also tends to be a few degrees cooler in the Dandenong Ranges than in the city, so it’s best to take that into account when deciding what to wear aboard Puffing Billy.

Also, consider the activities you may be taking part in at the various stops such as hiking the walking trails or going paddle boating at Emerald Lake Park.

And don't forget your camera, of course!

The town of Belgrave is filled with cosy cafes, atmospheric bars and restaurants so if you have time, it's well worth the wander. Picking up some snacks here for the day is also a great way to support this town. At Belgrave Station, there is also a little kiosk with snacks and basic lunch options.

Along the Puffing Billy journey there are also some more food options - you definitely won't go hungry! Lakeside Station has a kiosk where you can pick up some lunch options or if you're organised, you are also more than welcome to bring your own food, or even pack some snags to cook on the BBQs when you arrive at Lakeside.

Ok, so you've made it to Puffing Billy, you know where to go, what to wear and what to bring... now what?

A history lesson has never been more enjoyable as you learn all about this century-old steam train as it runs along its original mountain track from Belgrave to Lakeside.

Puffing Billy was built to serve at the turn of the century and is a genuine relic of more leisurely days. The railway is the major survivor of four experimental lines which were used to develop rural areas in the early 1900s. 

If you're keen to learn even more, stop in at the Menzies Creek Museum which opened in February 2020 after a decade of building, collecting and researching railway items from a bygone era.

In this historic museum, you’ll be able to browse over 80 exhibits, including rare operational steam and diesel locomotives, carriages and a rail tractor, as well as an operational boiler house that services steam engines, fluid pumps and 500 brake horsepower generators. It’s a train enthusiast’s heaven!  

Scenic is putting it mildly for the impressive natural beauty you will see along this train trip.

The completely open-air carriages mean panoramic views are just a click away and the curving railway track allows you to get a lovely shot of Puffing Billy from the inside out as it sweeps along.

There are several scenic stops along the way you should get your camera ready for.

The iconic photo spot, and Puffing Billy’s most famous landmark, is the Monbulk Creek trestle bridge. This 91.4m sweeping, curved, timber railway bridge, carries the railway over Monbulk Creek and the main Gembrook Road.

Heading into Menzies Creek Station, on a clear day you can see forever! There are extensive views to Port Phillip Bay, Arthurs Seat and the Cardinia Reservoir. The train then enters Paradise Valley, with pleasant farmland views and a vine plantation of kiwi fruit. 

If you love historical buildings, then don’t miss taking photos of Emerald Station. Opened in 1900, it is the only original station building that remains intact along the line.

If you decide to venture past Lakeside Station, between Wright and Cockatoo Creek, the Railway skirts along the unspoiled Wright State Forest, and across three timber bridges one of which carries the line over a deep gully for a ‘wow’ moment. If you are lucky, some curious native wildlife such as wombats and brush tail possums might stick their heads out to watch the train go by.

You can make the journey even tastier by stopping off at one of the delicious cafes nearby, or by grabbing some gourmet baguettes from the station kiosks to enjoy a picnic lunch on arrival.

A trip to Belgrave isn't complete without stopping in at one of the town's delicious cafes! There is something for everyone, but to stay on theme, we recommend a smoothie from Choo Choo Belgrave! They also serve top notch bubble tea, kombucha, Brazilian coffee, toasties and acai.

If you're looking for something a little more grab and go before jumping on Puffing Billy, stop in at the Belgrave Bakery. It's an authentic Italian bakery and just one bite of their baked goodies will transport you to the isle of Capri. Sign us up! The bakery also offers some classic Italian dinners to takeaway, so if you don't feel like cooking at the end of the day, why not grab a lasagna to take home and feed the troops!

If you're looking for something a little more hearty and healthy, don't miss Earthly Pleasures who are serving up nutritious and delicious options for the whole family. Dine in or takeaway.

There are kiosks at every station along the journey - Belgrave, Emerald and Lakeside so don't fret if you haven't packed any ham & cheese sammies. On offer, you'll find gourmet sandwiches, sweets, drinks and more.

Puffing Billy pulls into Lakeside Station which is in the heart of Emerald Lake Park. The park is the perfect spot for lunch with plenty of picnic facilities available as well as nice shady spots to set up camp. There's even a few barbecues available if you'd like to cook up a storm for the group.

Don't miss the Menzies Creek Museum which has more than 80 exhibits showcasing railways items from the past. End your visit here with a visit to the Little Toot Café with a special themed children’s play area.

From the Emerald Station stop, you can stretch your legs with a walk around Nobelius Heritage Park — a four-and-a-half-hectare heritage site that was once part of the world-famous Nobelius Nursery started in 1886 by Swedish immigrant Carl Axel Nobelius.

The park also houses the Emerald Museum where you can see memorabilia, photographs and documents dating from early Aboriginal occupation to the present day.

From Lakeside Station, you can explore all that Emerald Lake Park has to offer – paddleboat rides, peek at the model railway display, explore the various walking tracks or even take your shoes off for a refreshing dip in the seasonal wading pool.

Puffing Billy stops here for at least 90 minutes so you can take a proper look around or simply enjoy a picnic by the lake.

So grab your camera, your friends and your family, and book an extraordinary adventure steaming your way through the spectacular Dandenong Ranges on board the Puffing Billy.

Once you've ticked Puffing Billy off the list and you're on the hunt for your next family-friendly activity, don't miss these fun-filled things to do around Melbourne.

Get close to the animals at Melbourne Zoo. You can visit penguins and seals at the Wild Sea exhibition, Asian elephants along an award-winning elephant trail and a chance to see the endangered Sumatran Orangutan and Tiger.

Meet Australian native wild animals at the Healesville Sanctuary including the platypus, wombats, kangaroos and Tasmanian devils. You’ll also have a chance to watch as vets tend to injured wildlife.

Phillip Island is well known for the famous sunset penguin walk when these adorable animals come up out of the water to their burrows in the sand. You’ll also see koalas up close in their natural habitat on the treetops walk and visit the fur seals at Seal Rocks.

A trip to Melbourne Museum will take you on a fascinating trip down the city’s rich history, go eye to eye with a bug, trawl through an archive of animal artworks or go on a dinosaur walk.