Your journey starts at Lakeside station, situated within the picturesque Emerald Lake Park.
The park is home to the beautiful Lake Treganowan, Lake Nobelius, gardens, natural bushland, as well as both native and exotic plants, with many fern gullies and open eucalypt forests.
From Lakeside, the journey will take you towards Gembrook through Wright Forest, and over three historic trestle bridges before the landscape opens up to rolling hills and farmland.
Gembrook is a quaint town with ample opportunities for play, walks and exploring.
Afterwards, your journey back to Lakeside finishes off a day full of shared memories.
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OPERATES FRIDAY - SUNDAY
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TIME
45 mins each way
ALLOW 3 HOURS -
DIRECTIONS
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PARKING
Council operated ticket machines - $2 for 2hrs / $8 for a full day
Visit the Lakeside Visitor Centre
Nestled amongst the towering rainforests, cool fern gullies and native flowers of the Emerald Lake Park precinct, the Lakeside Visitor Centre combines its natural surroundings with the authentic sights, smells, and sounds of Puffing Billy Railway to offer guests a cultural hub with world class facilities.
THE RAILWAY CAFE
The Centre's family-friendly Railway Café offers a relaxed indoor and outdoor setting surrounded by green rainforest trees and lush ferns, the menu features some of the best seasonal produce and supplies in the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges region. As a fully licensed venue, our drinks bar is also stocked with a local line-up of beer, wine and cider varieties.
If you would like to have brunch at the Cafe prior to boarding the train to Gembrook, we encourage to arrive no later than 11 am.
PRE-ORDER A GRAZING BOX
Grazing boxes are available for pre-order with your tickets and can be collected at the ticket booth at the Lakeside Visitor Centre when you check in.
Please note
- Grazing Boxes are non-refundable nor transferrable.
- Grazing Boxes are subject to availability.
- Bookings for Grazing Boxes close 24 hours prior to the day of travel.
- Where selected advertised items cannot be secured or are out of stock, an item close to the original product will be provided.
Please note
No person will be allowed to sit on the carriage sill from Lakeside Station to Gembrook Station at this time.
COG BIKES Australia Bike Hire
Discovering the Dandenong Ranges just got more fun on two wheels! In partnership with local family-owned and operated bike company, COG BIKES Australia, you can now hire a bike from Puffing Billy Railway's Lakeside Station bike hub!
Whether travelling by train or driving into the precinct on a lovely sunny day, choose from a range of standard trail bikes, e-bikes, balance bikes or children's pedal bikes, and explore the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Trail that runs alongside Puffing Billy between Emerald and Gembrook.
EXPLORE GEMBROOK TOWNSHIP
Gembrook is a quaint town with ample opportunities for play, walks and exploring. View our map of Gembrook to find out where to eat, retail opportunities and local parks to relax in during your visit.
Other journeys
Belgrave to Gembrook return
1 hr 50 min each way
Allow 6 hours
Explore Emerald Lake Park then Gembrook and its quaint town.
Belgrave to Lakeside return
1 hour each way
Allow 3.5 hours
Explore Emerald Lake Park and its beautiful surrounds.
Belgrave to Menzies Creek return
25 mins each way
Allow 2 hours
Explore Menzies Creek Museum and Little Toot Cafe.