60TH ANNIVERSARY SOUTHERN AURORA
THE ORIGINAL JOURNEY - SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE AND RETURN
ANZAC DAY AT PUFFING BILLY IN THE DANDENONG RANGES
VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY WINERIES AND FOOD
April 2022 marks sixty years of the famous Southern Aurora - celebrate this milestone aboard the train with our six day, five night rail cruise, enjoying the comfort and elegance of rail travel with lounge, dining and sleeping cars. Mark Anzac Day in the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, aboard the famous preserved steam train Puffing Billy, and experience some of the fine gourmet food, wines, craft and scenery of Victoria's King Valley and the area around Milawa. Featuring visits to a winery, local gourmet producers, as well as the offering of great tastes aboard the train, freshly prepared in the Southern Aurora’s kitchens by talented chefs. Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate this occasion with SJR friends and travellers - book now !
Date : Saturday 23 – Thursday 28 April 2022
Highlights include:
* Six day/five night rail cruise to Melbourne and return
* Celebrate the 60th year of the Southern Aurora
* Southern Aurora private sleeping compartments
* Meals in the Southern Aurora Dining cars
* Enjoy drinks in the Southern Aurora Lounge Cars
* Anzac Day at Puffing Billy in the Dandenong Ranges
* Recreate the Sydney to Melbourne rail experience
* Two nights in Melbourne at a 4.5 star hotel
* Violet Town Southern Aurora Memorial visit
* Victorian High Country food, wines & produce
* Simple ceremonies in Sydney, Albury & Melbourne
* Breakfast along the Moss Vale to Wollongong line
Day 1
(Sat 23th Apr)
FROM SYDNEY VIA THE MAIN SOUTH LINE TOWARDS MELBOURNE
Meet late afternoon to prepare for boarding the 60th Anniversary Southern Aurora. A simple ceremony on Platform One marks sixty years since the inauguration of the Southern Aurora on April 1962. Enjoy welcome aboard drinks in the lounge cars, followed by ‘dinner in the diner’ – commencing at the traditional time of 7pm, before our departure at 8pm for Melbourne. A celebratory meal inspired by the original menus of the Southern Aurora - served with included wine and soft drinks - as we roll through the Southern Highlands and into the night. Enjoy a post-dinner drink in the lounge cars before retiring to your bedroom. (D)
Day 2
(Sun 24th Apr)
ALBURY AND TO MELBOURNE
Enjoy breakfast in the dining cars as we travel south from Junee towards Wagga Wagga for a mid-morning arrival in Albury. Ten years ago with the late Hon Tim Fischer AC we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Southern Aurora at Albury. This morning we mark sixty years since the opening of the north-east standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury. Reboard the Southern Aurora as we enjoy luncheon in the dining cars travelling south through Wangaratta and Benalla to Melbourne for a late afternoon arrival. Enjoy two nights at our premium hotel opposite Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station. (B/L)
Day 3
(Mon 25th Apr)
THE DANDENONG RANGES AND PUFFING BILLY (ANZAC DAY)
We mark Anzac Day at Puffing Billy enjoying a journey through the Dandenong Ranges and some great photo opportunities. The newly opened Lakeside Visitors Centre provides our luncheon venue – with displays, fine views and the sound of steam engines. In the late afternoon we return to Melbourne, with dinner at leisure, and overnight at our hotel. (B/L)
Day 4
(Tue 26th Apr)
MELBOURNE TO VIOLET TOWN AND NORTH INTO THE NIGHT
Enjoy the hotel breakfast then join a simple ceremony with Victorian representatives to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Southern Aurora. Board the Southern Aurora as countless interstate travellers did before you, and enjoy luncheon in the dining cars with wines included, as we head north to Violet Town. Join with representatives of the Southern Aurora Memorial committee as we recall the accident of 1969. Rejoin the Southern Aurora and head north through Benalla and Wangaratta – enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the lounge cars with your travel friends before dinner with drinks in the restaurant cars. The Southern Aurora will stable in the late evening through early morning for a restful sleep. (B/L/D)
Day 5
(Wed 27th Apr)
VICTORIAN HIGH COUNTRY AND THE KING VALLEY
Enjoy breakfast in the dining cars travelling through north-east Victoria as thousands did when the train was in regular daily operation – morning fare with views of Victorian countryside. We alight at Benalla and join coaches for a day of sightseeing through the Victorian High Country around Whitfield and then into the King Valley for wine tasting, local produce and luncheon. In the afternoon we visit Milawa with its collection of local produce and craft, with time to explore the village. Board the train at Albury and enjoy our final dinner with accompanying wines and soft drinks on the Southern Aurora. Enjoy a post-dinner nightcap in the lounge cars with your friends before retiring for your final night aboard. (B/L/D)
Day 6
(Thu 28th Apr)
BREAKFAST ON THE ILLAWARRA ESCARPMENT AND TO SYDNEY
Wake as we head north through Goulburn and to Moss Vale, and enjoy breakfast as we travel along the scenic Moss Vale to Unanderra rail line, with its sub-tropical vegetation and fine coastal views. Although not the original itinerary of the Southern Aurora, the train was occasionally diverted along this route when the Main Southern Line was closed north of Moss Vale. Enjoy the splendid views across the Illawarra as we slowly descend to the coast, and then through Wollongong and the southern suburbs to Sydney. The end of our spectacular rail cruise marking the 60th Anniversary of the famous Southern Aurora. (B/L)
*Meals included are shown as (B) Breakfast, (MT) Morning Tea, (L) Luncheon, (AT) Afternoon Tea, (LR) Light Refreshments, (SD) Sunset Drinks, (D) Dinner
FARES
Fare includes all sightseeing, accommodation, rail/coach travel, meals as indicated, wine/soft drinks with lunch/dinner aboard the train – fares are per person for two sharing a twinette compartment /hotel room or sole use of a roomette compartment
$4,990 per person - two people sharing a twinette compartment or sole use of a roomette compartment
(Roomette - single cabin - bookings include sole use hotel rooms)
$3,990 - supplement for sole use of a twinette compartment
(A limited number of sole use twin cabins are available - includes sole use hotel rooms)
For booking, any further details or information,
use the "BOOKING AND ENQUIRY" buttoms above or call us on
0418 585 838
or email at
