1 Day Puffing Billy and Healesville Sanctuary Tour

Itinerary

• Why the Puffing Billy and Healesville tour?

  This full day tour is perfect for the animal lover and a favourite for children and the child at heart!

  With Devonshire Tea in the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, the historic Puffing Billy Steam Train and an afternoon spent at Healesville Sanctuary you will feel a million miles from the city, having witnessed all manner of Aussie Wildlife.

• Devonshire Tea at Grants on Sherbrooke

  In a large comfortable coach, drive for just under an hour and you will soon notice the fresh air of the cool temperate Rainforest as we head towards our first stop Grants on Sherbrooke.

  Here you are treated to delicious homemade scones with cream and jam while surrounded by a plethora of Australian native birds. Relax to the sounds of the bush and the bird song and have your camera ready for up close photo opportunities as you look out for Rosellas, Cockatoos, King Parrots and be sure to listen out for the elusive Lyrebird!

  After the treat of morning tea we then depart for the short drive to the beginning of our Puffing Billy adventure! At Belgrave where you will board the iconic steam train.

• Ride the Puffing Billy Steam Train

  At the locomotive depo you will be given the chance to understand the workings of the historic and immaculately preserved train, with friendly conductors waiting to show you aboard and answer any questions.

  Once we are all comfortable and read to ride, it’s off and away through the lush green rainforest as we puff through the trees, taking in the fresh air and scenery.

  Be ready to wave at passers by as locals and visitors alike love the site of the Puffing Billy Train chugging along the tracks as you weave through Sherbrooke forest, still keeping you eyes out for the wildlife in this pocket of natural bushland, you may be lucky enough to see a wallaby hopping through the bush…you will feel like you are a million miles away from the city!

  The last part of the train journey shows stunning views of Port Phillip Bay before we alight in Menzies Creek, with a chance to view the arts and craft stores and cafés offering delicious homemade produce. We then hop back on to the comfortable coach, fully equipped with wifi to upload pictures from the morning’s activities as we drive for just under an hour north into the Beautiful Yarra Valley. Continuing along the Great Dividing Range you will notice the green rainforest being swapped for vines, orchards and groves.

• Explore Healesville Sanctuary

  Arriving at Healesville Sanctuary, home to all manner of native Australian animals being expertly cared for as part of Zoo’s Victoria, you will be given over three hours of free time to explore the sanctuary at your own pace. Highlights include free talks from the keepers where you can learn all about koalas, wombats, dingoes and more, of course there is also the chance to meet Kangaroos and Wallabies, the most famous of all Australian marsupials!

  Kids love getting to see the Sanctuary’s animal hospital where you can witness and learn about the care and protection of our native animals as it’s happening live. Lunch can be purchased at own expense from the sanctuary’s cafe, or you are more than welcome to bring your own food to enjoy in the well set up picnic area.

  Healesville Sanctuary do a great deal of conservation work towards fighting wildlife extinction, so not only are you having a fantastic day out but you can also be pleased in the knowledge that you are supporting a great cause and helping preserve Australian Wildlife. To learn more about the conservation programmes and the work the sanctuary does you can visit their Fighting Extinction exhibition during your visit.

  The journey back to Melbourne is less than one hour so you can relax on the comfortable coach reflecting on the days adventures getting you back in to the city for 5.30pm, giving you the chance to head out for dinner and try some of the amazing cuisine on offer in Australia’s food capital!