Visit the Blue Mountains the easy, scenic rail way - experience a steam train day trip to LEURA, KATOOMBA or MT VICTORIA during World Youth Day 08.

             

Settle back in 1940s style as historic loco 3642 climbs the Blue Mountains providing a great spectacle of steam power and a nostalgic return to the grand days of rail travel to the Blue Mountains.

Steam up to Leura, Katoomba or Mt Victoria – explore the galleries and gardens, enjoy a bracing bushwalk, adjourn to a cosy café or restaurant for a fireside luncheon – or indulge in our special Yulefest lunch option at Katoomba’s historic Carrington Hotel.

Celebrate ‘Christmas in Winter’ in style on the Southern Aurora® Restaurant Train™ – festive fun, food and nostalgia on the rails.

Come in from the cold for a fabulous traditional festive feast on the Southern Aurora.

Board at Sydney Central and take a civilised and scenic journey for lunch along the SOUTH COAST and into the rainforested SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS escarpment. Travel NSW's most scenic coastal and mountain route - step off at remote Summit Tank lookout for fabulous vistas over the Illawarra coast and Wollongong.

Enjoy fine food and a fabulous atmosphere – a unique moving restaurant experience . Dine in an elegant full-service Restaurant Car – relax with a drink in the licensed Lounge / Bar Cars. Savour a quality three-course table d’hôte Christmas in Winter roast ‘Yuletide’ meal – a lavish feast with all the traditional trimmings accompanied by spectacular views.

Note the change of date - and now a choice of two tours!

Get steamed up this Winter and treat yourself to a sensational high tea in traditional style aboard a classic steam train.

... family steam experiences ... elegant high tea steam train journeys

Spend a lazy three hours steaming through Sydney, enjoying fresh made finger sandwiches and savouries, dainty cakes and scones, tea, coffee and sparkling wine - all served at your comfortable First Class seat.

Settle back in cosy timber-panelled Edwardian charm and see Sydney as we steam across the George's River and into the leafy southern suburbs bound for CRONULLA - enjoy a bracing beach or bayside walk during a 45-minute stopover, then steam back to Central.

Travel Premier Class for the full high tea in an incomparable atmosphere.

Discover an ancient land … natural wonders … outback colours and adventures … escape to the outback on the Southern Aurora® …

See the 'best of the west' on a scenic rail adventure through the desert to BROKEN HILL, the 'Silver City' - travel westwards via DUBBO, the Western Plains Zoo, Parkes and Forbes; return through the CENTRAL HIGHLANDS and BLUE MOUNTAINS.

Explore Broken Hill's mining heritage and rich artistic culture - inspect the mines, museums and galleries; see the vivid sunsets and colours of the outback; abundant birdlife and native animals; visit the MENINDEE LAKES and famous SILVERTON ghost town; see magnificent rock formations and aboriginal art - tour the outback in comfort.

See the best of the Central Highlands on an indulgent Southern Aurora® Rail Escape™ to the famous MUDGEE WINE CELEBRATION and the historic goldfields villages of the Central West.  Visit the land of Wine and Honey - wander among the vines, taste the wines and local produce - relax with a quality lunch at Blue Wren wines.

Inspect the heritage village of GULGONG - travel remote into the Central Ranges to explore the goldfields history of HILL END and SOFALA - marvel at the early farming and steam equipment at the Turon Technology Museum.

Unpack once and relax aboard - see it all from the Southern Aurora - the Hunter, western wheatfields, remote villages, the pretty Central Ranges and the spectacular rail crossing of the Blue Mountains.

... Hunter wine and cheese tastings, fine cuisine in the Restaurant cars and at specially selected venues showcasing fine regional produce. Optional travel in the classic ‘EAM’ Edwardian Sleeping Car.

Now featuring triple-headed steam!

Full steam across the Blue Mountains with locos 3526, 3642 and 3830 - steam up from Sydney to see the best of the Blue Mountains in Spring.

Steam spectacular - experience the excitement of three steam locos storming the mountain grades.

Take the easy rail way for a great day out in LEURA, KATOOMBA or MOUNT VICTORIA, or....  continue on to Lithgow’s ZIG ZAG RAILWAY.

Hop off at Leura to enjoy a Springtime walk along the treelined streets and a leisurely lunch at the village shops, restaurants and cafes, right by the station.

Enjoy a mountain café lunch and an easy bushwalk at historic Mount Victoria, or, explore the traditional charms of Katoomba – lunch at the historic Paragon Café or the grand Carrington Hotel - the rejuvenated Echo Point and the Scenic Railway complex are an achievable walk or shuttle bus ride from the station.

Advance Notice - more details in July ...

Bookings now open!

Get a rails run to the MELBOURNE CUP aboard our ever popular, annual Southern Aurora® tour to the 'race that stops a nation' ...

Relive the excitement and glamour of stylish rail travel aboard the famous Southern Aurora on a relaxing, feature-packed Rail Escape™ to the Melbourne Cup - with a day sampling the wine, heritage and high country of NORTH EAST VICTORIA ...

Join Santa on Safari - come with us on a unique four-day Rail Escape™ as the Southern Aurora® Santa Train tours mid-west country and outback NSW, bringing Christmas cheer to the children of rural and remote communities.

Take the Spirit of Christmas on a Southern Aurora rural Rail Escape:

Escape from the city on the Southern Aurora – enjoy great country hospitality and fabulous scenery – meet the locals and participate in an uplifting community event – see NSW's heartland from a new perspective. Experience a truly memorable expedition, taking NSW's rail heritage to distant communities and spreading the joy of Christmas to the children of the bush.

Unwind and enjoy life at a slower pace on a rolling hotel. Take a grand circuit around rural and outback NSW:

Sydney, Robertson, Cootamundra, Bribbaree, Forbes, Narromine, Dubbo, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Binnaway, Werris Creek, Sydney.

Santa will stop to greet country kids from his specially decorated, verandahed carriage at remote sidings and distant communities along the lines. Don’t miss being a part of this uniquely inspiring community event – share the joy and help make it happen!

Step off and explore at small towns, see the sights at major centres along the way. Go in airconditioned comfort - participate in the excitement at each stop, or simply relax aboard - spend time in the airconditioned Lounge Cars, or get some fresh air with Santa aboard his specially-decorated carriage.

Saturday, December 6 – Dinner – Coast Twilight -
... along the South Coast to the beach at Bombo and historic Berry

Sunday, December 7 – Luncheon – Central Ranges Daylight -
... across the Blue Mountains to the hidden valleys of the Central Ranges, the Tarana pub and Bathurst

Get a group together and celebrate Christmas in style on the Southern Aurora® Restaurant Train™ – a novel venue for festive fun, food and nostalgia on the rails.
Restaurant Car fine dining Lounge / Bar Car comfort and style Scenic splendour - classic Edwardian Lounge and Observation Cars

Enjoy fine food and a fabulous atmosphere – a unique moving restaurant experience, dining in elegant full-service Restaurant Cars. Relax with a drink in the three licensed Lounge / Bar Cars, wander back to the two magnificent Edwardian Sitting Cars, watch the world go by from the comfortable lounge seats and observation platform of elegant car GMS1.

Savour a quality table d’hôte modern Australian meal with a festive flavour – a lavish feast freshly prepared on board and accompanied by fine views.