The Riverlander to Deniliquin and the Echuca Moama Silo Art Trail

Weekend of 24-26 March 2023

Travel onboard the Riverlander venturing north to Deniliquin, touring the acclaimed Echuca Silo Art Trail and experiencing the best of the Goldfields on this not to be missed Summer Slow Rail Journey.

Travel behind heritage diesel locomotives aboard the Riverlander enjoying the long days on a summer exploration of the Echuca region. Travel overnight to Deniliquin, enjoy a morning of slow rail travel along the freight only line to Echuca, tour acclaimed Echuca Moama Silo Art Trail and visit beautifully preserved gold rush era towns on this not to be missed weekend Slow Rail Journey.

Fares from $850-$1,295 per person

All Slow Rail Journey weekend tours are fully hosted and inclusive of all meals and tours. All passengers travel in restored sleeping carriages complete with with everything needed for the weekend and have access to the train's lounge, bar and other carriages.

itinerary

Step back in time onboard The Riverlander to enjoy a weekend of slow rail travel to some of Northern Victoria and Southern New South Wales' most beautiful townships and famous attractions.

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

At 10:10 pm The Riverlander will wake up the station as the whistle is sounded announcing our departure. Join your fellow travellers and tour organisers in one of two luxury Club Carriages with a welcome aboard drink and evening supper as we head north out of the city. Enjoy drinks at the bar as the train climbs the Great Dividing Range toward Bendigo, where a stop will be made during the night to service the locomotive.

During the night our train will speed through Echuca and cross the Murray River into New South Wales, continuing north to the picturesque town of Deniliquin, located on the Edward River.

While our train is serviced and turned, enjoy some quintessential country hospitality as breakfast is served at a local venue. After breakfast take a leisurely stroll through the town centre before our train's whistle signals our departure south.

Enjoy a barista made coffee and morning tea in one of our luxurious lounge cars as our train slowly makes its way south through some of Australia's most productive farmland on the freight only line back to Echuca. Our train passes through the heart of the Murray Riverina which, with its large areas of flat land, clay-based soils and plentiful irrigation is home to much of Australia's rice crop. Deniliquin in fact is home to Sun Rice and the largest Rice Mill in the Southern Hemisphere.

A bridge crossing the Murray River between Moama and Echuca marks our return to Victoria, and the end of our train journey for the day.

On arrival in Echuca we board coaches for a leisurely exploration of the Echuca Moama Silo Art Trail. While new to the Silo Art scene, the Echuca Moama region is now home to four of Victoria's most spectacular installations, and is fast becoming one of Australia's best Silo Art destinations.

Half an hours drive from Echuca, briefly crossing back into New South Wales before skirting the Barmah National Park, is the small town of Picola - home to Jimmy Dvate's 2020 tribute to the wildlife that calls the nearby Barmah National Park home and the Picola Hotel. The Picola Hotel, our lunch venue is full of character and won't be easily forgotten!

Following a stop in Piccola, a short drive takes us to Tongala, a small town that is home to 40+ street murals painted on buildings and fences around the town centre. In Tongala an optional guided walk will show of the best murals in the small community.

A further half hour drive takes us to Rochester and the first Silo to be painted in the Echuca region. Artist Jimmy Dvate completed two Silo's in Rochester in 2018 and the art continues the local wildlife theme of the other Silo's visited. The Rochester Silo's feature two threatened local species - the azure king fisher and the wrist-winged squirrel glider. A third silo was painted in 2022, featuring a duck-billed platypus.

Our final Silo stop, in Colbinabbin, is a short 25 minute drive and is likely to be the highlight of the tour. Enjoy a glass of sparkling wine in front of the six-silo installation painted in 2020 Tim Bowtell. The silo's depict significant moments from the town’s history and one importantly features an R class steam locomotive!

Departing Colbinabbin it is a short 15 minute drive to Elmore, where we will rejoin our train (which will run empty from Echuca during the afternoon) for a rare private run on the Elmore Miniature Railway. The Elmore Miniature Railway operates open trains on an 184mm gauge 1km loop including 4 trestle bridges. Dinner tonight is served at a quintessential country pub followed by a restful night's sleep onboard the Riverlander.

On Sunday morning our train departs Elmore as breakfast is served onboard. The train will make a short run to Bendigo before continuing to climb into the heart of the Victorian Goldfields arriving in Castlemaine mid-morning.

After a brief break in Castlemaine, board the diesel hauled train on the adjacent platform to join the Victorian Goldfields Railway for a journey along the 17km once disused, volunteer restored branch line to Muckelford and Maldon. Sit back in the VGR's fully restored first class carriages and enjoy the ride along one of Victoria's most scenic volunteer run tourist railways.

Plenty of time is allowed to explore Maldon, a charming gold rush era township that in 2006 was awarded the 'most intact heritage streetscape' by the National Trust. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants, shops and historic buildings to explore.

After returning to the Riverlander on the Victorian Goldfields Railway, enjoy a good-bye drink with new friends as the diesels makes a spirited run into Melbourne's Southern Cross Station, where our train will terminate.

Fares

timetable

route map

sleeping carriages

Enjoy overnight travel aboard our fleet of heritage sleeping cars.

on-train facilities

The train will feature a fully stocked bar/club car, a luxurious lounge car and Cafe Hudson offering light snacks, espresso coffee and other refreshments along with a number of additional carriages.