Puffing Billy and Healesville Sanctuary Scenic Tour

The visit to Puffing Billy Railway was truly a wonderful and memorable experience. My family loves the scenic train journey through the beautiful Dandenong Ranges offered breathtaking views of lush forests and charming countryside landscapes. Is a must to visit Puffing Billy Railway when you in Melbourne. An unique attraction that combines history, nature, and fun.

The tour-guide aka driver was extremely professional! Throughout the journey, he provided real-time explanations about the ecology and history of the areas we passed by. Whenever we encountered wildlife, he would promptly remind us so we wouldn’t miss the chance to see them. You could truly feel his attentiveness and thoughtfulness in every detail. This wasn’t my first time joining a tour to Puffing Billie Railway, but it was definitely my favorite. I will absolutely recommend this experience to my friends when they visit next time.

Because the main focus was to ride the steam train, and because I didn't want a long drive to see penguins, I chose this tour. Although I felt the price was a bit high, convenience was important, and it was no problem even though I was the only one participating! I was very lucky that the other members on the bus were all great, and the driver was friendly and chatty. The steam train was very worthwhile, the weather was great, and the scenery was beautiful. I recommend that as soon as you get on the train with family and friends, you should quickly find seats, otherwise you might not get a seat on the right side where the scenery is more beautiful, or someone might cut in line! The zoo portion of the trip was okay; I didn't see many kangaroos, but I was still happy to see koalas! A minor incident: the bus was quite hot, and the chocolate I bought at the chocolate factory melted on the floor!

I enjoyed it more than I imagined! At first, I was hesitant to join the day tour because of the high price, but I thought it was a good deal because this tour includes the admission fee to Victoria Zoo (usually 56 AUD). At Victoria Zoo, I was able to see rare animals such as koalas, kangaroos, and wombats up close. I couldn't touch the animals, but the 3:00 PM Bird show was worth seeing. If you sit on the right side of the steam train, you can take beautiful pictures at the bridge you see immediately after departure. It was nice that the guide took a video from below. It takes about an hour from Belgrave Station to Lake Side Station. You can see the scenery rich in nature from the bus during the journey, so I recommend this tour for people who want to enjoy the nature of Australia.

The ride was fun, though not as exciting for adults as it is for children. Still, the scenic views along the way made the trip worthwhile. Our guide, Marse, was excellent—very nice, patient, and knowledgeable, which made the whole experience better. Overall, it’s a unique activity with beautiful surroundings, but definitely more of a highlight for kids and families.

I had so much fun riding Puffing Billy! The train looked like something from the old days, and it felt really special to ride with my family. Our guide, Marse, was super nice and patient, which made the trip even better. I loved sitting by the window and seeing the trees and tracks go by—it felt like an adventure from a storybook!

our tour Guide David was great! he gave lots of information not only about the place we are going to but also about Melbourne itself. He also helped me and parents take a good photo so that was a plus! the train is must try even for one, you’ll also get to enjoy waving with the locals as they are all so friendly! the sanctuary was also enjoyable since it was a first for us to see koalas☺️

Had a wonderful day out with WineHop Tours. Our guide/driver LORRAINE was amazing and lively. Puffing Billy was a real unique experience. And a must for all visitors to Melbourne! We had a quick lunch at Lakeside Station. Healesville Sanctuary was awesome. Lorraine informed us that only Aussie animals reside in this sanctuary. And recommended the platymus keeper talk at 2pm and the Flight (bird) show at 3pm. The latter was super amazing and not to be missed!!! Spot the Tasmania devil and echidna!! The chocolaterie was a little crowded (Saturday) but served delicious ice cream! All kinds of yummy chocolate there. And great scenery too!

I booked this trip two days ago, and it was an unforgettable experience with Puffing Billy. The Healesville Sanctuary was nice, and you can interact with the animals for an additional charge. However, in my opinion, the Moonlit Sanctuary is better. Our tour guide, David, was great! He made sure to explain all the details thoroughly. I recommend this trip because it ends at the Yarra Chocolate Factory, which is a sweet treat to round off the day. One suggestion I have is that the company could offer more pickup locations besides Hotel Windsor. It would be helpful to have a few options for those of us living in Melbourne CBD, near William Street, or Flagstaff Station.

I had an incredibly enjoyable experience on this trip. The journey was filled with excitement, and I truly appreciated the opportunity to explore new places. Our tour guide, Emaliy, was absolutely wonderful—she was not only knowledgeable but also warm and engaging, making the whole experience even more memorable. Her attention to detail and friendly nature helped us feel comfortable and truly immersed in the experience. I would definitely recommend this trip to anyone looking for an unforgettable adventure!