Puffing Billy

“The Puffing Billy Railway is located about 50 kilometers from Melbourne city centre. Our bus ride took roughly an hour, bringing us from the urban landscape into a tranquil countryside surrounded by lush greenery and fresh air. As one of Victoria’s most beloved tourist attractions, Puffing Billy offers a nostalgic glimpse into Australia’s historic steam railway era. It even passes through charming stops like Menzies Creek, adding to its old-world charm. I truly enjoyed the scenic journey aboard the steam-powered train. The rhythmic sound of the engine, the gentle breeze, and the panoramic views of forests and rolling hills made the ride incredibly relaxing. One of the most remarkable moments was when the train crossed the iconic wooden trestle bridge — a breathtaking sight that perfectly captures the romance of classic rail travel. Puffing Billy Railway is definitely a must-visit if you’re in Melbourne. The surrounding area also has wonderful dining options, including many family-owned restaurants serving hearty and authentic Australian cuisine. I’ll be sharing more about one particular restaurant in a separate review — it featured a beautiful grand piano, and I even had the opportunity to perform on it. It was truly a memorable experience, and one I would happily revisit again.”

“Such an amazing experience. There’s a cute cafe and gift shop while you wait. You can dangle your legs out of the carriage or just sit or stand. It goes for a good while and then you stop at a lake where you get over an hour to explore (also a cafe and gift shop), then hop back on the train and journey home. The staff are super friendly and I had such a good day. I also went alone and felt totally fine as everyone was super nice. You can be solo, with friends, couples and families.”

“First time on the Puffing Billy Railway, and it was an amazing experience overall. The kids looked really happy, enjoying the scenery and feeling the wind. On the way back, I also enjoyed sitting on the edge of the carriage with my legs out, taking in the view all the way home. It turned out to be such a memorable experience. I’ve already promised myself to come back with family and friends!”

“Without a doubt, this is one of the most beautiful and interesting experiences you can have in Victoria. Let me tell you about my experience from the beginning. We went as a group of four, and you need to book your tickets a few weeks in advance. I definitely recommend getting the train tickets, because if you go there and don’t ride the train and just use the area, you’ll probably regret it. When I got on the train, there were a couple of things that disappointed me a bit. First, many people had arrived about half an hour earlier and taken the seats with the best views. Since there are no assigned seats, even though we had tickets, we couldn’t really see much of the scenery. For the return trip, we arrived earlier so we could get better seats. Another point is that the train isn’t very comfortable, and sitting for a while can make your legs and back ache a bit. However, the scenery you see along the way is absolutely worth it. Also, some coal smoke comes into the cabins, and small coal particles may land on your face and clothes. Personally, I didn’t mind this because the whole idea of Puffing Billy is to experience what train travel was like in the old days. The restaurants along the way weren’t very good either the prices were high and the quality was low. I recommend bringing some snacks with you so you don’t have to eat there. People who leave near by were so lovely and waved when they seen us and if you have some fiends coming to Melbourne I definitely recommend go there with them.”