Puffing Billy, Forest Trails and Yarra Valley Discovery Tour
Description
Depart Melbourne in the morning and travel into the lush Dandenong Ranges for a relaxed full-day experience blending heritage, nature, and local flavours. Travel in comfort with a maximum of 24 guests and an expert local guide who shares stories and insights along the way. Ride the iconic Puffing Billy Railway from Belgrave to Menzies Creek, passing through towering forests and fern-filled gullies. When open, visit the Menzies Creek Museum to learn more about this much-loved heritage railway. Continue to Warburton in the picturesque Yarra Valley, where you’ll have free time to purchase lunch from a local café or bakery and relax by the river. Then explore the Redwood Forest Warburton, wandering beneath towering Californian redwoods and along the peaceful trail toward Cement Creek. Finish the day with a complimentary glass of wine at a Yarra Valley winery while enjoying scenic vineyard views, before returning to Melbourne in the late afternoon.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Step back in time aboard the historic Puffing Billy steam train, travelling from Belgrave to Menzies Creek through lush rainforest and fern-filled gullies. When open, you’ll also have the chance to explore the Menzies Creek Museum, home to historic locomotives, rail memorabilia, and interactive displays that bring Puffing Billy’s rich heritage to life.
Take a break in the charming town of Warburton, where you can buy your own lunch from a range of local cafés and bakeries and enjoy some time by the riverside.
Wander among towering Californian Redwoods, a breathtaking and tranquil forest perfect for photos, with a peaceful nature walk leading down to the serenity of Cement Creek.
Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine at a Yarra Valley winery while taking in the beautiful vineyard views.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Pickup is only available from the list of hotels provided upon checkout. Your pickup will be between 7am-8am depending on which hotel you selected. Your exact meeting time will be provided after a booking is placed.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Large bags, strollers, prams, baby capsules, luggage & walkers cannot be brought on board
- Total duration includes the travel time.
- Tour is only available from Friday to Sunday.
Reviews(40)
Jaimes was a great guide. He was friendly, funny, and very accommodating, especially when it came to communicating with us as Deaf travelers. Our favorite parts were seeing the kangaroos at the winery, walking through the woods, and riding the Puffing Billy train. We really enjoyed the day and appreciated how comfortable and easygoing Jaimes made the experience.
Our guide Jaimes was very considerate. He shared the video of us on Puffing Billy which we will always remember. He was also good at keeping people up to the schedule!
Best guide ever had was incredible
Excellent guide and itinerary.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We had a fantastic tour experience with our tour guide, Michael today. He was super friendly, knowledgeable, professional and amazing. He explained everything clearly, shared interesting stories and was always happy to answer our questions. The tour was well organised, relaxed, and enjoyable from start to finish. We truly appreciated his patience, enthusiasm and attention to detail. Highly recommended Michael to anyone looking for a great tour guide. We would definitely book with GoWest again!
Thanks so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear you had such a fantastic day exploring with Michael. It’s lovely to know that his clear explanations, interesting stories and willingness to answer your questions helped make the day both relaxed and enjoyable. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to Michael — we’re sure he’ll be very happy to know that his patience, enthusiasm and attention to detail made such a positive impression. We’re also thrilled to hear that you’d choose Go West again. We hope to welcome you back on another Melbourne adventure someday, perhaps to the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, the Yarra Valley or the Grampians National Park. Thanks again for travelling with us and for taking the time to share your experience. Safe travels!
Michael was outstanding. Very proactive, caring, and professional. He went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable all day — from hotel pick-up to drop-off. Explained everything clearly and found the best spots for us. One of the best tour guides we’ve had in Australia. 5 stars!
We had a really enjoyable day and the tour was very well organised. A special mention to our driver and guide, Aleks, who was warm, chatty and extremely helpful throughout. She shared interesting stories and sights along the way, and her great sense of humour made the experience even more enjoyable. The itinerary was well planned, with a nice mix of Puffing Billy, Warburton, the Redwood Forest and Yarra Valley. A couple of small suggestions that could make the experience even smoother: it would be helpful to set clearer expectations at the start of the tour regarding scheduled rest and toilet stops. For example, letting guests know when the first planned toilet stop will be would help avoid unscheduled stops or diversions shortly after departure. The pick-up arrangements could also be a little clearer, particularly when several tours from the same company are departing from the same location. A simple system such as displaying the driver or tour guide’s name could make it easier for guests to identify the correct group and reduce the time spent locating passengers, especially for those who have already been picked up and are waiting on board. Overall, a great experience and Aleks definitely deserves five stars!
Thanks so much for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear you had such an enjoyable day exploring Puffing Billy, Warburton, the Redwood Forest and the Yarra Valley with Aleks. It’s lovely to hear that Aleks’ warmth, humour and stories helped make the day so enjoyable. We’ll be sure to pass your kind words on to her — she’ll be thrilled to know that her care and helpfulness made such a positive impression. We also really appreciate you taking the time to share your suggestions about rest stops and the pickup arrangements. Clear communication at the start of the day can make a big difference, particularly when several tours are departing from the same location, so your feedback is genuinely helpful and we’ll make sure it’s shared with the team. We’re so pleased that, overall, you had such a great experience, and we couldn’t agree more that Aleks deserves those five stars! We hope to welcome you back on another Melbourne adventure someday. Thanks again for travelling with us and for sharing such detailed feedback!
Great guide, good personality and very much enjoyed it! Thanks Aleks!
We had a great time with Raquel!
Alisha is amazinggg!!! I would highly recommend this tour, it was 10/10.
