Puffing Billy is a popular tourist attraction, although I’ve never been on it before 😛
There are various excursion trains available, depending on how much time you want to spend.
Plan early. Tickets must be pre-booked prior to travelling (this also includes infants and children under the age of 4 years). No tickets will be available from the station on the day of travel.
Click on the links to see the description of what each route entails:
| Routes | Operating Days | Hours (inc travel) | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgrave to Lakeside return (recommended if you do not have a car since the starting point is a short walk from the Belgrave Train Station) | Daily | 4 hours | $31.00 – $155.00 |
| Lakeside to Gembrook return | Friday to Sunday | 3 hours | $31.00 – $155.00 |
| Belgrave to Gembrook return (also starts at Belgrave Train Station) | Friday to Sunday | 6 hours | $40.00 – $200.00 |
| Belgrave to Menzies return | Friday to Sunday | 2 hours | $20.50 – $102.50 |
As usual, we recommend:
- Bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated
- Even if it isn’t sunny, apply sunscreen to your face and body
- Check the weather to prep in case of rain
- Wear comfortable clothes or active wear, sneakers or walking shoes
Places nearby
If you are driving, there are other places to visit near the area:
- Tesselaar Flower Farm – 23rd March to 21 April 2024, 10am to 5pm daily.
- Emerald Lake Park – you can ride paddleboats at the lake, rent a bike, or have a walk around. You cannot buy same-day tickets for Puffing Billy here.
- Thousand Steps – if you want to hike and break a sweat.
- Dandenong Ranges Botanic Garden – if you are into gardens and walking.