Our tour from Melbourne took us to Sherbrooke Forest situated within the Dandenong Ranges Nationwide Park, kicking off the morning with an Aussie model Bush Billy Tea and Gum Leaves, Lamingtons, Vegemite and Crackers at Grants Picnic Floor, having fun with an genuine Australian expertise.

Well-known for its chicken feeding, guests will even get to satisfy the native Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos, King Parrots, and Crimson Rosellas at Grants Picnic Floor. For chicken lovers, you should purchase a token for AUD four from the kiosk for seeds to feed the wild native birds as they’re accustomed to a selected eating regimen.

There might be ample time for a brief bushwalk with the 45-minute Grants Picnic Floor stopover. Discover the towering forests of mountain ash bushes within the Hardy Gully Nature Stroll path and take in the tranquility earlier than using on Australia’s most notable slim gauge railway on the Puffing Billy steam practice.

One in all Victoria’s hottest sights, the 25-minute Puffing Billy steam locomotive trip begins at Belcrave and ends at Menzies Creek. Really feel the breeze working via your hair because the notable practice winds via the luxurious rainforest echoing the locomotive’s whistle.

Puffing Billy Railway Tour in 2010

I really went on the historic Puffing Billy trip a few years again however sadly this time spherical, guests at the moment are unable to sit down on the practice carriage ledges resulting from a crash between the vacationer practice and a minibus someday in March 2018. Puffing Billy has momentary banned the more-than-century-old custom. I recalled having fun with the trip a lot beforehand sitting with my legs hanging out of the carriage feeling so carefree. Nonetheless, it was nonetheless a very good getaway reminiscing the good-old-days.

A delicious spit roast lunch awaits you on the Fergusson Winery the place you get to style Australian wines. Diners have the choice of Hen, Fish, or their signature Beef sluggish roasted on a wooden fired spit and personally carved.

Take advantage of your time on the well-known Yarra Valley, residence to 50 wineries and 110 vineyards. The Fergusson winery is planted to basic French grape varieties, together with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Subsequent cease, delight your self in complimentary chocolate tastings on the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. Watch the artwork of chocolate making, and store to your coronary heart’s content material of their choc-filled showroom.

Australia’s Rock Wallaby, often known as The Shadow

Come nose to nose with Australian wildlife on the Healesville Sanctuary after a satisfying lunch and wine/chocolate tasting classes. Dwelling to over 200 species of native animals, guests will get to walk via paddocks of kangaroos and wallabies and if you’re fortunate, chances are you’ll even witness their boxing expertise.

Meet the Purple Kangaroo, the most important of all kangaroos native to Australia! However are you aware that Purple Kangaroos usually are not at all times crimson? Males vary in color from pale crimson to reddish-brown, and their feminine companions are often a bluish gray. These Purple Kangaroos with lengthy, pointed ears can leap as much as 9 metres in size and three metres in top, and can attain speeds of greater than 60km per hour!

From Kangaroo Nation, allow us to jump over to the treetops of the Koala Forest to satisfy essentially the most lovely Koala Bears. These nocturnal animals spend about 18–20 hours sleeping as a result of their metabolism is sluggish, an adaptation for dealing with a eating regimen that’s low in vitamin and arduous to digest.

Are you aware that Koalas have pouches too? Solely distinction, they open down as a substitute of upwards and Koala infants have a tendency to stay fully contained in the pouches till they’re about 22 weeks previous.

Are you conscious that Tasmanian Devils are on the endangered listing? Sadly, a surprising 85% of the wild inhabitants of Tasmanian Devils are affected by a facial-tumour. I’m glad to be taught that Zoos Victoria is dedicated to saving this distinctive species.

Subsequent, catch the improbable Spirits of the Sky expertise as these Australia’s superb birds of prey and parrots exhibit their unbelievable expertise and display their means to fly.

Nicely, your entire tour with Grey Line ended round 4pm, the place the coach took us again to downtown Melbourne. The tour was properly organized with pleasant and skilled coach captain. It was fairly a satisfying day, and there was ample time given at each cease, permitting us to take pleasure in at our tempo.

Though we had been couldn’t stick our legs out within the Puffing Billy practice like earlier than, it was nonetheless a very good mountain retreat with unparalleled views of the countryside on the world well-known steam locomotive, which is difficult to return by for metropolis dwellers like us. I hope the ban might be lifted quickly, and I can take my prince to trip on it within the close to future.

Grey Line Australia Puffing Billy with Australian Wildlife Tour Value:
Grownup AUD 218, Youngster AUD 109
Costs begin from Grownup AUD 102 and Youngster AUD $51 for the Morning Puffing Billy tour however I might counsel you e-book the one which comes with a scrumptious spit roast lunch at Fergusson Winery and spending time at Healesville Sanctuary to work together with the Australian Wildlife.