Riverina by Train 2021

Come and join CFT on a wonderful rail adventure through regional NSW to the heart of Australia’s food bowl, the Riverina. Stop at the “farmgate” to catch up with local producers and savour their delightful food and wine plus enjoy visits to museums, farms and gardens.

Relax onboard and soak up the spectacular scenery as we travel down the coast, through the historic towns of the Southern Highlands, to the fertile Riverina and return through the farming regions of the Central West to the sandstone cliffs and Jurassic rainforest of the Blue Mountains. Relive the heyday of long-distance travel with restored ex-Southern Aurora sleeping carriages on a vintage train called the “Aurora Australis”. Additionally, the “Aurora Explorer” coach will also be accompanying the train to take you on excursions to the many off-train attractions. You’ll be on the right track for a wonderful holiday with CFT!

Join us for a delightful “Unpack Once” holiday rich in history, fun experiences, and fellowship.

Holiday Itinerary 

DAY 1 - Tuesday 5 October 2021 (D)

“The right train of thought can take you to a better station in life” and this CFT holiday is “just the ticket” to “keep you on track“ – a relaxing holiday full of fun, faith and fellowship. Our holiday begins in Sydney with airport transfers to our selected accommodation where we will join other likeminded people for a Welcome Dinner.

DAY 2 - Wednesday 6 October 2021 (BLD)

Your Riverina adventure starts at Sydney’s Central Station. Once on board the Aurora Australis, you can choose to sit in the lounge or dining cars, or your private cabin while we travel along the Illawarra Railway Line, through the Royal National Park, that offers spectacular views of the South Coast to Wollongong. We then travel on a freight only line up the Illawarra escarpment, pausing at Summit Tank Railway Station, where you are provided with a rare opportunity to take photos of the stunning vista out to sea.

Lunch will be served onboard the train today, so that you can experience all that the Aurora Australis has to offer. We join the Main South Line at Moss Vale and continue to Goulburn where we depart the train and hop onto our private Aurora Explorer shuttle bus to explore the sights and historic offerings of Australia’s oldest inland city. The train will be stabled for the night at Goulburn Station.

DAY 3 - Thursday 7 October 2021 (BD)

Enjoy breakfast on board as we leave Goulburn and continue along the Main South Line. We pass many interesting villages and towns today as well as travel through the Canola Trail, keeping an eye out for the many grain silos adjacent to the rail line. Today we spend time in Coolamon, stopping at the Coolamon Railway Station dated 1881. Coolamon is named after the Wiradjuri word for a vessel carrying goods, children and water, “Gullaman” and this little town offers us a warm welcome.

Flanked by the Train Station at one end of the street and the Fire Station at the other, we have an afternoon of ambling the beautifully preserved heritage main street of Coolamon. A stop at the Coolamon Cheese Factory is a must for anyone who likes cheese or is interested in the cheese making process. The Up-To-Date Store, built in 1909 plays host to a variety of museum displays and collections, a stroll through this heritage listed building will bring back memories for some and offer interesting stories for others. The Coolamon Fire Museum hosts a truly amazing private collection of fire fighting equipment, uniforms and memorabilia. Along with heritage museums and buildings, the main street contains many local shops, restaurants and cafes, making this afternoon an unforgettable experience for all.

We will return to Coolamon Railway Station throughout the afternoon in preparation for a 3pm departure.

We will travel along the Yanco to Griffith Line. Dinner will be served on-board the train at Griffith Station, where we will be stabled for the night.

DAY 4 - Friday 8 October 2021 (BD)

The Piccolo Family (owners of Limone Dining Restaurant) is hosting our breakfast this morning on their 20 acre farm just outside of Griffith. Using sustainable farming practices, all of their produce is harvested by hand and free of chemicals and pesticides. An excellent way to experience farming in Griffith as well as sample their delicious produce.

After breakfast we will enjoy the best that Griffith has to offer using our private Aurora Explorer shuttle bus. Explorer stops include the Griffith Regional Art Gallery, the Griffith War Memorial Museum, Emeri De Bortoli’s Garden Il Compo, various wineries, providores and local shops so that you can experience Griffith’s distinctive food and wine culture. Lunch today is at your own choice and cost.

Your Aurora Explorer buses will return you to Griffith Station throughout the afternoon in preparation for a 3pm departure, travelling on the freight only Lake Cargelligo Line. Dinner will be served on-board the train at Temora Station, where we will be stabled for the night.

DAY 5 - Saturday 9 October 2021 (BLD)

Breakfast this morning is on board the Aurora Australis before experiencing Temora.

The Aurora Explorer Bus takes you directly to the Bundawarrah Centre which houses the Temora Rural Museum. Spend the morning experiencing the history of the region including a cottage of hardwood slabs that was Sir Donald Bradman’s first home, a one room public school, bush church, country dance hall, printery, flour mill and ambulance station.

The Ambulance Museum includes ambulance vehicles and conveyances dating back to 1897 and originating from throughout Australia, including NSW, ACT and Victoria.

Temora also has a rich aviation history having been home to the No. 10 Elementary Flying Training School set up by the Royal Australian Air Force in May 1941. With 10,000 personnel and 2,400 pilots being trained it was the largest and longest lived of the flying schools established under the Empire Air Training Scheme during WWII. Today the Temora Aviation Museum displays the “warbirds” of the time and is dedicated to those brave pilots who defended Australia and fought alongside the Allied forces.

Your Aurora Explorer buses will return you to Temora Station in preparation for a 12pm departure. Lunch will be served in the Dining Carriages as we travel on freight only lines via Stockinbingal.

Dinner will be served on-board the train at Parkes Station, where we will be stabled for the night.

DAY 6 - Sunday 10 October 2021 (BD)

Enjoy breakfast as we travel along the Broken Hill Line towards Orange and the Great Dividing Range. On through Lithgow and through the 10 tunnels that replaced the Lithgow Zig-Zag, then cross the Darling Causeway on the way to Mount Victoria. Mount Victoria is the western most village in the Blue Mountains and is home to the highest point in the mountains – One Tree Hill – the original name of Mount Victoria. We stop in this small village to depart the train and board your Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, which gives you access to the ‘Hop-on, Hop-Off’ service to explore the vibrant Blue Mountains Villages of Katoomba and Leura in your own time.

There are so many things you can chose to do – walk out to the edge at Echo Point to see the famous Three Sisters and the majestic Jamison Valley, take a ride into the valley with a Scenic World ride (optional extra – tickets may be bought on the train) or take a short bush walk along cliffs and visit waterfalls. Check out the vibrant villages, visit Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Everglades Historic House and Gardens or take a trip down memory lane at Leuralla Toy and Railway Museum.

Lunch today is at your own choice and cost. This evening we will enjoy a worship service in the Blue Mountains, before a farewell dinner.

DAY 7 - Monday 11 October 2021 (B)

After breakfast we will transfer back to Sydney to return home. Whilst it is time to say goodbye, we have shared such a wonderful journey together, both a unique rail experience and a meeting of likeminded people that we are sure to remember.

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