Relax into your private sleeping compartment as steam locomotive R707 heads the train on one of the longest remaining steam-hauled journeys in the world to the spectacular open vistas of the Mallee. While in the Mallee, tour all that this spectacular region has to offer, from breathtaking silo art to the mesmerising pink-crusted Lake Tyrrell and more.
Fares range from $1,045 to $1,645 per person, including all meals, tours, admissions and more.
Journey Highlights
Tour the spectacular Mallee Silo Art Trail visiting the awe-inspiring artworks in Lascelles, Brim, Rosebery, Patchewollock, Sea Lake and Nullawil
Gaze at the mesmerising pink-crusted Lake Tyrrell both by day and starlight
Experience the spectacular Sea Lake Silo Art illuminated at night, and step from the Grainlander to watch the steam locomotive run past the iconic Nullawil Silo Art
Enjoy a daylight slow rail experience, hauled by steam back to Melbourne
Be tempted by the region's best produce, with gourmet meals served in the Grainlander's dining car and at the co-op-owned Royal Hotel.
Detailed Itinerary
Step back in time onboard the Grainlander for a weekend of slow rail travel from the hustle and bustle of the city to the serenity of grain country.
Friday 16 May - All Aboard
Stepping from the lift in the historic Savoy Hotel, you will be met by one of our smiling train managers. They will check you in for the journey before you are invited to settle in for a gourmet bon-voyage dinner—a perfect opportunity to get to know your fellow adventurers for the weekend.
After a tour briefing and safety demonstration, you will be escorted to the Grainlander, standing proud on the platform at Southern Cross Station. As you pass through the doors of Southern Cross Station, you will immediately realise you are embarking on a journey like no other. The string of ex. Overland, Southern Auror and other heritage carriages that form the Grainlander perfectly juxtapose the ultra-modern architecture of the station.
As you settle in, the Grainlander will wake the station as the whistle is sounded, announcing our departure. As you explore the train or enjoy a drink in the Club 1 Lounge, ensure you look to the right of the train for spectacular views of the city lights as the train, following the old Overland route, climbs the ranges through Bacchus Marsh and Ballan.
In the middle of the night, the Grainlander will arrive in Ballarat, where steam locomotive R707, the "City of Melbourne," will be coupled to the train to pull us north into the Mallee. R707, which ran to Ballarat earlier in the day for provisioning, was built in Glasgow in 1951 and restored by the Seven-O-Seven Operations volunteers.
Saturday, 17 May - Touring the Mallee
Sipping bubbly with the sunset over the flat horizon of Lake Tyrrell is a truly breathtaking experience and is just one of many highlights of our stay in the Mallee
The early morning sees us depart Ballart into the night under steam, passing Maryborough and crossing the Ironbark forests of the Victorian Goldfields.
Awake to the sun rising over a different world. The flat wheat fields of the Mallee have replaced the urban landscapes of Melbourne. Welcome to the Mallee!
As you enjoy breakfast in the dining car, the Grainlander will pull into Wycheproof, one of the major centres of the Mallee region and one of only two places in Australia where the train runs along a street - in this case, through the centre of town!
Relax into the rhythm of slow rail travel for the morning as the Grainlander steams past Nullawil and through grain country to Sea Lake, the starting point for our famous Grainlander Silo Explorer Off-Train Experience.
After boarding coaches, enjoy a leisurely half-hour drive to Rone's spectacular artwork in Lascelles - the first of the mesmerising silo artworks we will visit today. Rone has depicted local fourth-generation farmers Geoff and Marilyn Horman in a tribute to the tenacity of the early European settlers in the Mallee.
After Lascelles, enjoy the drive through Mallee Country to Rosebery, where Melbourne artist Kaff-eine, after spending some time in the region, has depicted themes that she says embody the region’s past, present and future. The silo on the left captures the grit, tenacity and character of the region’s young female farmers, who regularly face drought, fires and other hardships living and working in the Mallee. The strong young female sheep farmer symbolises the future in her work shirt, jeans, and turned-down cowboy boots, while the silo on the right portrays a quiet moment between dear friends. The contemporary horseman appears in an Akubra hat, Bogs boots and an oilskin vest – common attire for Mallee farmers. Both man and horse are relaxed and facing downward, indicating mutual trust, love and genuine connection.
Continuing north through the regional centre of Hopetoun, the landscape begins to change as alkaline levels in the soil yield farming unviable, and Mallee scrub covers the horizon as we make our way toward Patchewollock.
Patchewollock is a small wheatbelt town in the heart of Mallee and is home to Fintan Magee's masterpiece. A chance encounter between Fintan and Nick “Noodle” Hulland, a sheep and grain farmer, sparked a creative connection. Hulland's rugged, hardworking nature and physique perfectly aligned with the artist's vision for the 35-meter-high canvas of the GrainCorp silos, and thus, Noodle was eternalised on a massive scale looming above the town.
In addition to the spectacular silo, there will be ample time to explore the town's historic railway station and Phil Rigg's Mallee Foul sculptural piece.
Back onboard the coaches, relax as we return to Sea Lake, where the Grainlander will stop for the night.
Once home to the Mallee Rally, the town of 800 people is today reinventing itself as the gateway to Lake Tyrrell and as one of the main gateways to the famous Mallee Silo Art Trail, however, both agriculture and salt mining underpin the town's economy.
Sea Lake is home to one of the most spectacular artworks in Australia - Drapyl adn the Zookeeper's spectacular celebration of the indigenous stories passed down in the region - stories of astrology and the still silence found in outback Victoria,
Most impressive is illuminated at night, and a short stop will be made to allow for daylight viewing before we continue to what is likely the highlight of the weekend for many.
Lake Tyrell is an inland sea in the heart of dry Mallee country. It is a shallow, salt-crusted depression that allows views to the natural horizon and one of the most spectacular sunsets you will ever experience.
Enjoy a sparkling wine reception as the red hues of the sun disappear over the horizon.
After a chance to freshen up, we will commence our Starlight Explorer tour, giving you the chance to enjoy dinner in the gourmet town co-op-owned Royal Hotel, view Sea Lake's spectacular silo illuminated by night and stare into the night at Lake Tyrrell - one of Australia's most renowned stargazing sites.
Sunday 18 May - Relax into the rhythm of Slow Rail Travel back to Melbourne.
Awake to another Mallee sunrise and perhaps an early stroll as the crew busily redies for our departure south.
Before or after you enjoy breakfast in the dining car, Grainlander will stop in the small hamlet of Nullawil. Looming over the siding in Nullawil is artist Sam Bates, aka Smug's work depicting kelpie sheep dog Jimmy, who often makes a cameo appearance.
In Nullawil, you will have the opportunity to step off the train and watch as it reverses to place the steam locomotive spectacularly beneath the looming artwork—a truly unique experience.
Settle in back onboard as the Grainlander runs once again along the main street of Wycheproof.
Settle into a relaxing day of slow rail travel as the Mallee melts into the Ironbark forest and undulating countryside of the Goldfields.
Lunch will be served onboard in the dining car as the train passes through the Ironbarks of the Goldfields. The Grainlander will then make a short stop at the historic station in Maryborough to service the locomotive.
Departing Maryborough, settle in for the final afternoon aboard as the Grainlander steams through Ballarat and over the ranges toward Melbourne, travelling along the little-seen freight-only line between Ballarat and Geelong.
All too soon, the back fences of suburbia will replace the vast open spaces of the Mallee as the Grainlander speeds toward Southern Cross Station and the conclusion of your experience with us.
Route Maps
Train Journey
Grainlander Silo Explorer Off-Train Experience
Sleeping Carriages
Enjoy overnight travel aboard our fleet of heritage sleeping cars.
On-Train Facilities
Locomotives
Our train will feature steam locomotive R707 "City of Melbourne" between Ballarat and Sea Lake and back to Melbourne, assisted at times by our heritage diesel fleet. Due to servicing needs, R707 will be attached to the train in Ballarat. The train will be hauled by a heritage diesel locomotive between Melbourne and Ballarat.
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