Puffing Billy and Healesville Sanctuary Day Tour

This was the most anticipated trip to Melbourne. It was really unforgettable. We were waiting for the shuttle bus at the Regent Theatre at 8:25 in the morning. Fortunately, we received an email notifying us that there would be a purple bus and a tour guide. Alan was very kind, gentle, humorous, considerate and nice. He made our group of nearly 20 tourists have a lot of fun. All the contents of the itinerary were covered, just in a different order. The weather was sunny and the temperature was comfortable in mid-April, and there was a slight breeze when we took the train. In the morning, we went to the zoo first and saw cute koalas 🐨 and Australian kangaroos 🦘➡️. Then we stopped at the forest trail to breathe in phytoncides and see giant trees. We could go to the toilet and stayed for about 15 minutes. ➡️Take the steam train for about 1 hour at 2:00 pm. The scenery along the way is beautiful and refreshing. The whole trip ended at about 4:00. We took the bus back to the city and met friends from all over the world. I highly recommend this trip👍

The best experience had in Australia! Many thanks to our guide, Pete, who was incredibly enthusiastic and helpful throughout the trip. He took lots of videos and photos for us and gave us great introductions along the way. We really enjoyed the experience and truly appreciate all his effort!

our guide Matthew was so pleasant and we had a few kids on our tour today so it was very cute and lively car ride. this tour didn’t feel rushed - the sanctuary was very enjoyable though for this one u don’t get to touch the animals ( unless u pay for encounters). the puffing Billy train is quite nice and scenic about an hour ride. logistics wise, I got picked up at 9 and dropped off at downtown at 5. not too tiring tour!

Our tour guide Margaret is truly amazing! She’s energetic and wonderfully informative. The tour to Healesville Sanctuary and Puffing Billy was perfect, and the views along the way were spectacular.

well organized trip, Darren pulled us to a cabin stop for coffee prior to puffing Billy. you can either shop for souvenirs, get a coffee or enjoy a walk in the woods. He took care of us well and planned out the trip well. the train right was refreshing and the trip to the sanctuary was great, saw many koalas and a bird show, all in a pristine natural environment.

The weather was messy in the morning with slight rain, but fortunately the small train stopped the rain and the sun, the steam train is really a good experience, very worth the ride, the scenery along the way is beautiful with red leaves 🍁 The guide was very enthusiastic to help us take pictures in the afternoon to the zoo, also saw kangaroos and tree bears!

the location pickup spot was conveniently downtown not far from my hotel. our driver Margaret from exploreaustrailia was great and very entertaining and knowledgeable about the area and destinations. I lived the puffing billy ride and then the wildlife area. Would do it again next time I visit.

A fun-filled day tour suitable for families. My children had fun with learning more about the Australian wildlife and most importantly, the one hour ride on the Puffing Billy was an unforgettable experience. Pick-up and drop-off instructions were clear and easy to follow. Our guide, Stewart was patient and made the tour enjoyable.

This one-day itinerary includes 3 parts: 1/ Walk through the woods and see the strange trees. 2/ Take the small train. 3/ Visit the animal sanctuary and watch the bird show. I don't know if it was because we walked around the woods, but we arrived at the small train station late. When we arrived at the station, there were already many tourists waiting in line. It was a bit of a pity that my partner and I couldn't sit in the same platform direction. Because the carriages were quite full, some tour members could only sit on the long benches inside the carriages. Overall, this little train ride was a good experience. As for the afternoon itinerary, for those of us who have seen Australian animals and Southeast Asian bird shows, it wasn't much of a surprise.

I recently had the pleasure of taking a tour on the Puffing Billy Railway, and it was truly a delightful experience from start to finish. The journey through the Dandenong Ranges on this historic steam train was not only scenic but also felt like a charming step back in time. The train itself is beautifully maintained, with its iconic open-sided carriages allowing passengers to dangle their legs over the side — a quirky tradition that's both fun and unique. The lush greenery, fern gullies, and towering eucalyptus trees create a postcard-perfect backdrop throughout the ride. The staff and volunteers were friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about preserving the heritage of this railway. Their enthusiasm added to the authenticity and warmth of the experience. We stopped at Lakeside for a picnic and some exploring, which was a great break in the journey. The facilities were clean, and there were plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. Overall, the Puffing Billy Railway tour is a must-do for anyone visiting Melbourne or the surrounding areas. It’s great for families, couples, and train enthusiasts alike. Highly recommended for a fun and nostalgic day out.