Wimmera Weekender Tour by the Seymour Railway Heritage Centre

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Fri 06 Oct 2023 - Mon 09 Oct 2023

All aboard on the first weekend of October (6-9 October 2023) for the first Grampians Wimmera rail journey. Relive the golden era of rail travel on this four-day heritage tour.

Begin on Friday 6 from Southern Cross, Seymour, or North Shore station. Make yourself comfy aboard the iconic Spirit of Progress compartment car or an open saloon car pulled by a diesel locomotive. Soak in the scenic vistas of the You Yangs and the picturesque grazing districts of Victoria’s west.

Meet your fellow travellers while having a drink in the Parlor car or the open-air observation car as the train steams towards Horsham.

On arrival, passengers are transferred to their hotel. The evening is there to enjoy whether it's dining in at the Capital Inn Horsham or venturing out to experience the GrainCorp Murtoa Sound & Light Show or the DMS Lake Cinema and Music experience, both part of Murtoa’s Big Weekend event and one of several tour upgrade options available.

On Saturday 7 OCTOBER choose one of four ways to spend your day:




Purchase a return train shuttle ticket and head to day two of Murtoa's Big Weekend, where you can enjoy the Murtoa Cup, tour the remarkable National Heritage-listed Stick Shed (this is amazing -like a cathedral built out of sticks that stored wheat during the 2nd World War admire Murtoa's silo art, or have a social roll at the Murtoa Bowls Club.

Other events to experience include a show ‘n’ shine, morning market, farm tours, Dunmunkle Sumpoilers historic engines display, and tours of the Water Tower Museum. Complimentary bus shuttles will get you to all the events thanks to the Murtoa Progress Association.


Alternatively, pre-book the Grampians Halls Gap tour, which takes in the legendary Grampians National Park, Gariwerd, by private coach. This tour includes stops at Zumstein's historic site, Reed & Boroka Lookouts, Brambuk: The National Park & Cultural Centre, Lake Bellfield, and provides leisure time in Halls Gap.


The Grampians Wine Tour is a pre-booked tour that includes a visit to Best’s Wines, complete with a guided tour and wine tastings and then takes you to Grampians Estate for more tastings before a delicious lunch and a paddle of wine at Pomonal Estate. The wine tour, hosted by Experience The Grampians, concludes with tastings at the award-winning Mount Stapylton Wines.




Finally, if you prefer to stay put, explore Horsham for the day, where you can stroll along the banks of the picturesque Wimmera River, visit the botanical gardens, or see the latest exhibition at the Horsham Regional Art Gallery.

SUNDAY 8 OCTOBER:

On Sunday, the heritage train departs from Horsham and embarks on the rarely travelled Hopetoun Branch, a route that last saw regular passenger services back in 1976.

The train's first stop is in Murtoa, where passengers who missed the Big Weekend festivities the day before and are not continuing the Hopeton & Silo Art tour, can disembark and enjoy the activities there. Additionally, Murtoa is the departure point for the shuttle bus to Rupanyup, perfect for those interested in visiting the Woods' Farming & Heritage Museum.

For passengers who pre-booked the full Hopeton & Silo Art tour, they will have the opportunity to admire the magnificent silo art at Sheep Hills and Rosebery along the way. They'll also have the option to disembark at either Warracknabeal or Beulah for a special Big BBQ lunch, specially arranged for the train passengers.

MONDAY 9 OCTOBER:

After a delicious breakfast of your choice in Horsham central, rejoin the train late morning from Horsham then enjoy a light lunch as you retrace the journey back to North Shore, Melbourne or Seymour and the end of your Wimmera weekend adventure.

Prices for this exciting adventure start at just $580 per person, which includes return train travel in an N-type saloon or S-type compartment car, as well as three nights of accommodation in Horsham.

If you prefer just the return train travel without accommodation, it starts at $360 per person for a round trip. Additionally, one-way tickets are also available.

Shuttles, tours, and event tickets you choose to add to your experience are separate and come with their own pricing with many of the activities at Murtoa's Big Weekend free of charge, adding excellent value to your journey.

For further information on the Seymour Heritage Train journey here.

For further information and to book here.

For further information about Horsham and the Grampians go here.


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