Things to do in Puffing Billy Railway

A MUST DO! Instead of Belgrave, we departed from Lakeside and stopped over at Gembrook. I dont know what I am missing at Belgrave but I am super thankful I chose Lakeside. Driving there was easy, parking spaces aplenty, station was nice with a cafe and a mini museum and just a walk or short drive you can get to the Lake area for a walk. Gembrook is a super charming small town too! We walked around and settled at a cafe called Gracie's and had some scones and hot drinks before we took the train back to Lakeside. I thoroughly enjoyed this trip because it was sooo peaceful. I highly recommend you try the same route too!

Our guide, William, made the whole experience seamless from pick up to finish. He gave a detailed itinerary the night before and updated us on everything throughout the trip. The tour was a great way to do many things in a day. I tried looking for a way to get the Puffing Billy train tickets but it was way simpler to have it part of the tour. There were various discounted extras during the tour for the wine tasting, lunch(the beef was tasty and tender), and Maru Koala which I thought were good deals. The vehicle was a smaller 13person bus/van so it was a more personalized tour as well. The penguin parade is also later at night due to daylight savings, so it was very convenient to have the leisurely ride back to Melbourne. Overall had a great time.

Fulfilling tour. Every spot is timed so you get to see all the sites but with limited time. We departed 12.30pm and returned 11.30pm. Our bus was of medium size, around 25 people which was comfortable and helped us move quickly. Puffing Billy was a cute experience. Just skip shopping and board immediately to secure a seat on the “better” right-hand side of the cart. Penguin experience was amazing, you can see them really up close. We get the PREMIUM PLUS SEATS. But Premium seats are not really necessary though you can upgrade to easily see penguins coming from the beach. if you are under General Admission, it’s best skip the beach and just directly stand on the broadwalk on the right-hand side and wait for them there. It’s one of the penguin highways they'll definitely walk pass. Keep in mind photos/videos are NOT allowed to protect the penguins. Overall very fulfilling day. Our guide Troy was very helpful too. highly recommend ,oh and we c WILD wallaby, echidna, and snake as well!!!

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!

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.

Views are beautiful! We saw wild penguins and kangaroos. I had an amazing time on this tour, and our guide, Jared, was absolutely outstanding! He is remarkably professional and has an incredible depth of knowledge about Australian history. Throughout the trip, I asked him so many questions, and he answered every single one effortlessly—even backing up his explanations with fascinating data and facts. Jared was also incredibly polite and thoughtful. When it came to watching the penguins, he shared some fantastic tips and strategies that helped us get the best experience possible. Even though it was a long 14-hour day, it felt completely engaging and fulfilling from start to finish. I learned so much from Jared today. I highly recommend taking a tour with him!

Great value for money! We went to 5 different locations because the weather was nice. First were the bathing boxes at Brighton Beach (wish we had more time to go around though), then the Puffing Billy which is a fun experience when traveling with kids. After lunch, we went to Maru Koala and Animal Park which was a big surprise because we enjoyed it a lot. Lastly, we went to The Nobbies and the Penguin Parade in Phillip Island. Our bus driver and tour guide, Curtis, was very good, helpful and accommodating. Overall, would recommend this tour here in Klook!

The Puffing Billy train ride was a lovely experience! The scenery was so relaxing, and time just flew by. The coffee at Lakeside was great too! The lake itself was just okay, and we didn’t have enough time to walk around it. Still, enjoying a meal outdoors with family was wonderful!

Arrived the area at 9.47am and there was no one around so I was quite stressed about not getting the correct pick up location. It would be good if the email could include a picture of the pick up point. Other than that, best tour I had so far. Ride on the train was okay. Good to experience as a first time tourist in Australia, especially since our country does not have operating steam trains. Wish we had more time at the gift shop at Puffing Billy. It started raining on our way to Philip Island. It was very very cold so my mom and I left the viewing area very quickly after spotting some penguins. Video and photography is not allowed. Neither are umbrellas or standing up. They are quite strict on that so that we do not startle the penguins in their habitat. Our guide Simon was the best. Kept us all entertained and interacted with us, making sure everyone was alright.