Sample the Golden Age of rail travel with a heritage steam train journey from the historic gold towns of Castlemaine and Maldon.
A ride on the Victorian Goldfields Railway is one of the must-do activities in Central Victoria, and this trip on a full size heritage steam train is a great half-day or full-day experience.
Fully staffed by volunteers, the steam train runs every Sunday, Wednesday and school holiday Saturdays. Travellers can choose from family-friendly compartments to the first class Pullman lounge car with a bar and steward service.
The railway is a remnant of the extensive branch line system that served rural Victoria from around 1880 through to the 1970s. The lines crisscrossed the state so that most farmers were close to a railway station; but nearly all were closed and dismantled by the mid-1970s.
The Maldon branch line is one of the last remaining of these lines, and is the only one still able to offer an authentic heritage rail experience and connect with main line trains to Melbourne.
To make a day of it you could catch the 11.45am train from Castlemaine to Maldon. Take a picnic or grab something to eat at one of the cafes or pubs, then explore the township before returning on the 2.30pm departure (maybe relaxing with a drink from the bar in first class), arriving at Castlemaine around 3.30pm.
Timetable and fares: www.vgr.com.au