Daytripping

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Don’t wait for the arrival of interstate visitors to rediscover the nearby activities on offer within your local area. "The Gympie Valley Rattler” is a heritage listed steam train tour which departs from the historic Gympie Railway station every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday. The train and carriages have been refurbished to original condition and easily whisks you back into a more sedate and calmer mode of life. There are long open carriages, restaurant car seating or private compartments which seat 6 adults comfortably.

The Mary Valley line glides the passenger past farms filled with cattle, sheep alpacas, pineapples and macadamia crops. There is an abundance of curves, gradients and bridges to observe and experience.

Dependant upon the day and length of trip, the train will stop along the way for passengers to alight and purchase crafts made by locals, fresh seasonal fruit or vegetables, hire a horse drawn carriage for a joy ride and to sample the ubiquitous sausage on a piece of bread at the BBQ tent. For longer trips, a stopover of an hour will allow passengers to purchase a counter meal at one of the historic pubs near the track.


The historic sidings house a refreshments lounge which make a decent coffee and offer a generous array of snacks and light meals for either before or after your trip. Take a few moments to step into the darkened gallery to view a lifetime train collection painstakingly reconstructed within the confines of one of the waiting room. With three separate lines and detailed tableaus filling the room, it is sure to enchant the young and give older viewers an appreciation of the time spent building it.


A child and time friendly option is the half day trip which leaves 9.30 am or 1.30pm on a Saturday. At $20 per adult, one child is free per paying adult; making it an affordable family outing. Tickets must be booked in advance.


For those keen to experience or support this venture on an ongoing basis, a yearly pass is $75 for adults and $35 for children. Themed rides, including the Bushranger experience, are run monthly and offer a unique birthday party setting or outing with a difference.


The Valley Rattler is a charitable organization run by volunteers and enthusiasts. For more information go to http://www.thevalleyrattler.com

It gets 3 Choo Choos for a great day out for the whole family