Puffing Billy Train Ride and The Dandenongs: Guide, Devonshire Tea, Hotel Pick-up from Melbourne

This fun tour introduces you to the delights of the Dandenongs, low forested mountains east of Melbourne. Expect gorgeous scenery with sparkling waterfalls, steep slopes, ferny hollows and soaring trees.

You will travel in a comfortable coach through Melbourne's eastern suburbs heading for the beautiful Dandenong Ranges, 35 km east of the city. On reaching the hills you will stop at Grant’s Reserve, nestled in a valley. Here you will enjoy a traditional Devonshire Tea of homemade scones, served warm with jam and cream, and tea served in china teacups – a real treat!

Grant's Reserve is a paradise for birdlife and you'll be serenaded by the wonderful birdsong from the forest. You can also hand-feed colourful Australian birds such as the crimson rosella, sulphur-crested cockatoo and pink-chested galah. Gaze up at the magnificent mountain ash trees – the tallest flowering plants in the world. 

Next, you will travel the short distance to Belgrave, for the famous Puffing Billy steam train ride, where you are in for a real treat! This century-old steam train is maintained in its original glory and runs to this day on its own mountain track from Belgrave to Menzies Creek. Here you'll go back in time as you get on board for a 30-minute ride through the heart of the rainforest. 

You'll see the locomotive depot that services and maintains the train, head through the gorgeous Sherbrooke Forest and ride over the old Trestle Bridge. Just before Menzies Creek, you can see stunning views of Port Phillip Bay before heading through Paradise Valley and on to the townships of Emerald and Gembrook. 

Your next halt will be at the lovely little village of Sassafras. You'll be travelling through a thick rainforest that is home to all sorts of wildlife, so keep an eye out for lyrebirds and wallabies. Once in Sassafras, you can take your time to explore the delightful antique and craft shops dotted throughout the village. You might even find a little something to take home with you.

About the Supplier: Hotelbeds is the world’s leading Bedbank and also the world’s largest B2B seller of travel ancillaries, offering 24,000 transfer routes and 18,000 activities, as well as attractions, tickets and car hire.