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.

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!

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.

I really love this tour! Matty was really friendly and made us feel welcomed. He gave good commentaries and feedback on what is good and not. He is very patient and was very clear with his instructions. Pick up was on time and it took under an hour to reach Puffing Billy train station. There was enough time to shop, buy food and take pictures and walk around before and after the train trip. Journey to Healesville Sanctuary took about 40 mins. Over there, we were given around 2-3 hours to walk around, have lunch and watch aeriel show at 3pm before we left for the Yarra Chocolate place, which took around 10 mins. At the chocolate place, we were given around 45mins to shop and check out the scenery. The trip back to CBD took about under an hour. A very relaxing tour with more than enough time for us to look around and take pictures. Thank you, Matty for being the best guide for that day!

It was easy to find the pick up point. Just across Windsor Hotel at Parliament station. We had a fully packed bus. The bus was clean but a little tight on the legs. I’m shorter than 1.6m and do find it cramped. If u are of bigger build, maybe uncomfortable. Just bring a small bag coz there is no extra room for you to put your belongings. Other than that, the tour was amazing. Managed to catch a glimpse of Koala, Tasmanian Devil, Emu and other Australian animals. The ice cream at Yarra Chocolate Factory was fantastic! We had enough time to sit down for lunch at the cafe. Puffing Billy ride was so amazingly fun! Residents waved at us when we went pass their homes. We had such a memorable day!

the tour guide was very friendly and accommodating! played great music on the bus during our travels. this tour is mostly bringing us to the destinations, not really a guided tour, which is my cup of tea as i like to have some time to roam around at each destination :) the tour guide gave interesting information about each place before we arrive as well. the puffing billy is a must try! great view of the dandenong ranges and sitting on the stills of the train was a unique experience. healesville sanctuary houses native australian species with very friendly and knowledgeable keepers, highly recommended! was very lucky to visit during the breeding season and saw the koalas moving on the ground. the last stop at the chocolate factory was a nice finish to end the day.

You can see koalas and other Australian species at Heathsville Wildlife Sanctuary, which is interesting. The Puffing Billy Steam Train is very fresh and you can put your feet outside the train and feel relaxed. The chocolate factory is mouth-watering and unforgettable. Another thing that must be mentioned is our tour guide and driver uncle. Although I have forgotten his name, his work attitude and kind smile are not easy to forget.

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.

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☺️

It was an amazing experience. Puffing Billy was an awesome ride to do. One of a kind. Simon, our tourguide cracks jokes all the time. Funny and nice man.❤️