21-23 February: The Grainlander to Quambatook's Silo Cinema and the spectacular Mallee Silo Art Trail

Quambatook Silo Cinema • Amazing Silo Art • Lake Tyrrell • Spanner Man Sculpture Garden and More

Single (no supplement) fares range from $1100 to $1345.

Twin Cabin fares (for two guests) range from $2000 to $3290, including two adults.

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• Tour Highlights

• Tour Itinerary

• Off-Train Experiences

• Fares

• Route Map

• Sleeping Accommodations

• Train Facilities, Lounge Cars and more

• Locomotives

  
  

Highlights

Join the Grainlander for a summer exploration of the spectacular Mallee Silo Art Trail, visiting some of the most unique and spectacular attractions in Australia.

Highlights of your journey onboard the Grainlander include:

• Enjoying a showing of the iconic Quambatook Silo Cinema, where a movie is projected onto the side of the town's Silo with the Grainlander providing the perfect backdrop.

• Touring the spectacular Mallee Silo Art Trail from Ultima visiting the awe-inspiring silo art in Sea Lake, Lascelles and Nullawil and more

• Stare into. the pink-crusted abyss of Lake Tyrrell - Victoria's inland sea

• Admire the stunning art of John Picoli aka the Spanner Man visiting his gallery in Barraport; and

• Enjoy two nights onboard in a private sleeping compartment, all meals, touring and more!

Summary Itinerary

Itinerary

Step back in time onboard The Grainlander and enjoy a weekend of slow rail travel, venturing along the Robinvale Line into the Mallee visiting Barraport and Quambatook, attending a showing of the famous Quambatook Silo Cinema, touring some of Victoria's most spectacular Silo Art Installations and visiting the acclaimed Spanner Man Gallery.

Friday 21 February

Your Slow Rail Journey will commence with a bon-voyage dinner at the historic Savoy Hotel (where we will check-in guests and provide cabin allocations for the weekend) before our friendly volunteers escort you to the train.

Entering Melbourne's busy Southern Cross Station, you will immediately notice our heritage diesel locomotives and our moving museum of carriages juxtaposing the modernity and hustle surrounding. From the moment you board, you'll instantly relax, enjoying the elegance of a bygone era.

At 8:50 pm, The Grainlander will wake the station as the whistle sounded, announcing our departure. Join your fellow travellers and tour organisers in the Club 1 Lounge for a welcome aboard drink and settle in as the Grainlander climbs out of Melbourne leaving the city lights behind as it ventures into the night.

Saturday 22 February

Just after midnight, the Grainlander will pull into platform two at Ballarat's historic railway station, where we will stop briefly, and you can step off the train. Departing Ballarat, the Grainlander disappears into the night, 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 the sun rises and breakfast is served in the dining car, the Grainklander passes Quambatook, our destination this evening. Quambatook is home to approximately 250 residents and was settled after the Victorian gold rush; Quambatook quickly became one of the state's leading wheat and sheep producers. The town has been recognised as the tractor-pulling capital of Australia with an annual competition, the Australian Tractor Pulling Championships, held every Easter.

Continuing north the track straightens and the vistas wider as the Grainlander speeds toward Ultima, our northern-most destination for the weekend. Ultima is a small rural town 30 km south-west of Swan Hill with a large grain export terminal that serves as the loading point for many trains bound for the ports of Melbourne and Geelong.

After arriving in Ultima, guests transfer to coaches for a short tour of some of the region's most spectacular Silo Art Installations.

Our exploration of the Mallee Silo Art Trail will include visits to:

Lascelles

In Lascelles renowned Melbourne Street Artist "Rone" has painted the images of a local couple, Geoff and Merrilyn Horman, on the silos at Lascelles in the Wimmera-Mallee Victoria.

Lake Tyrrell

Stare at the shore of the pink-salt-crusted inland sea of Lake Tyrrell, where you'll have a chance to walk along the uniquely shaped boardwalk to admire the spectacle of the lake.

Sea Lake

Visit the spectacularly painted Sea Lake Silo, and enjoy lunch at the town's co-op operated gourmet hotel. The GrainCorp Silos at Sea Lake were painted by Joel Fergie, aka The Zookeeper and Travis Vinson, aka Drapl, in October 2019. The artwork depicts a young girl swinging from a Mallee eucalyptus tree and gazing out over the endless vista that is Lake Tyrrell. A mighty Wedge Tail Eagle saws above the girl, and an emu runs into the night.

Nullawil

Nullawil, the renowned street artist Smug has depicted a frontier Kelpie, Jimmy, who often makes a cameo appearance.

Departing Nullawil it is a short journey to Quambatook where the Grainlander will be awaiting. After arriving back at the train there will be ample time to explore the town's op shop and other attractions, have a relax, freshen up and perhaps a drink in the Club 1 Lounge before the evening's festivities commence.

After a food-truck-style dinner catered by several local organisations in Quambatook, find a seat and settle in for a second highlight of the day - a screening of the famous Silo Cinema. The Silo Cinema, run by the local community, is one of Victoria's most unique attractions - movies are projected onto the side of the historic silo. At the same time, an audience gathers under the stars to enjoy the screening.

After the Silo Cinema, return to one of the train's lounge cars for a nightcap before enjoying a motionless rest in your private sleeping cabin.

Sunday 23 February

Awake to a second spectacular Mallee sunrise before the Grainlander slips out of Quambatook. to commence its journey south.

As guests enjoy breakfast in the dining car the Grainlander will pull into the tiny hamlet of Barrapart. On arrival in Barraport, guests disembark to experience what is likely to be one of the highlights of the weekend - an opportunity to tour the Spanner Man gallery.

John Piccoli, better known as the Spanner Man, was one of Australia's most unique artists. His sculpture is built entirely from spanners, which he purchased at swap meets or in bulk from his local hardware. It is estimated that over 100,000 spanners in sculpture form, are on display at the gallery.

John's work included, amongst other things, sculptures of mermaids, marlin, and even a whole horse and wagon. Sadly, John passed away in 2021.

Departing Korong Vale, we bid farewell to the flat plains of the Mallee and enter the Loddon Valley. The historic town of Wedderburn, which the railway skirts to the east, is the agricultural valley's commercial hub. Continuing south, the railway line parallels the Calder Highway as the line side vegetation noticeably increases.

After enjoying a morning onboard the Grainlander, enjoying the slow rail travel experience, and a gourmet lunch served in the onboard dining car, the Grainlander will pass through the historic town of Dunnolly before stopping in Maryborough, famous for hosting one of Australia's most ornate country railway stations; Maryborough is a central commercial hub for the Goldfields.

Continuing south into the afternoon through the heart of the Goldfields. Towns including Clunes, Talbot and Creswick will flash by the windows as many guests make their way to the bar to chat with new friends made onboard.

Mid-afternoon, the Grainlander will pause briefly in Ballarat before continuing toward Melbourne.

After departing Ballarat, the train races over the dividing range and through Bacchus Marsh, offering a spectacular view of Melbourne's lights as afternoon tea is served in the dining car.

It's not long before the open vistas outside are once again replaced with Melbourne's suburbs, and all too soon, the train arrives back into the modern world at Southern Cross Station, right on time.

Off-train Experiences

Route Map

Onboard Accommodation

Onboard Facilities

The train will feature a fully stocked bar/club car, a luxurious dining car and an open plan seating car for your enjoyment during the tour.

Locomotives