Coast to Hinterland Tours Nambour Food Experience

Private Group Tour 

Travel back in time for a full day of inspiring scenery and old-timey adventure aboard a lovingly-restored heritage train through the historic and beautiful Mary Valley. It’s a perfect day out for families, groups of friends, clubs and anyone who wants to experience the richness of the Sunshine Coast’s historic hinterland by classic train.

Love a steam locomotive (and who doesn’t)? Climb aboard the Mary Valley Rattler on Wednesdays, Saturdays or Sundays. For the full railmotor experience, book Thursdays. There’s a whole fleet to explore. And because we do all the planning, booking and driving, all you have to do is turn up and enjoy the experience! 

What to expect

We’ll take you into the gold mining heartlands of the Sunshine Coast, to experience the fascinating history of the Mary Valley region. 

Choose your pick-up spot and we’ll collect you and your friends and family in our comfortable COVID-safe air-conditioned minibus. We’ll drive you in luxury through the spectacular scenery of the Sunshine Coast hinterland to the historic gold mining town of Gympie, the town that saved Queensland from going flat broke. Traditional gold-panning still goes on, because there’s still gold in them thar hills!

From the Old Gympie Station, you’ll jump aboard either the Mary Valley Rattler steam locomotive or a heritage diesel railmotor for your slow meander across the Mary River and through the stunning scenery and historical towns of the Mary Valley. Your destination is tiny rural Amamoor, a tiny rural town bordered by Amamoor State Forest which is home to more than 120 species of birds. . You’ll reverse your route back up through the valley to reach Gympie just in time for a fantastic and filling lunch in one of our two favourite heritage eateries - Zesty’s at Gympie’s historic Gunabul Homestead or Impressions at Kingston House, a converted doctor’s surgery built way back in 1901.

Once you’re rested and refreshed, it’s time to jump back into the minibus for a relaxed drive back to your chosen drop-off point for 4.30 pm.

Minimum number per booking is 5 adults, and we can take up to 24 people. 

 Highlights

●      Two-hour tour on a working historic steam or rail locomotive. 

●      Get up close and personal with a fully-renovated “Brown Bomber” C17 class 4-8-0, built in the early 1950s by Walkers Ltd at Maryborough (Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays).

●      Railmotor RM76 Experience locomotive.  (Thursday)

●      Gorgeous Mary Valley scenery

●      Experience rail travel how it used to be.

●      Excellent lunch at heritage eateries.

Price Includes

●      Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off.

●      Your choice of pick-up and drop-off points.

●      Qualified, experienced minibus driver.

●      COVID-safe transport and practices.

●      Comfortable air-conditioned minibus with Bluetooth connectivity for your choice of music.

●      Tickets for the Mary Valley Rattler steam or railmotor trip Gympie - Amamoor return.

●      Delicious 2-course gourmet lunch: vegan and vegetarian options always available.

Price Excludes

●      Beverages during lunch

●      Optional extras

●      Any private expenses

Tour description

Today’s the day for history buffs, rail enthusiasts, scenery lovers and people who want something that little bit different - an action-packed yet relaxing day out. You’ll see the Sunshine Coast hinterland in a totally different way as you journey back in time on Australia’s third biggest heritage railway.

You won’t need to rush your breakfast because we’ll come to you at your chosen pick-up point for today’s fascinating tour. Our friendly and experienced driver will welcome you aboard our comfy and COVID-safe minibus for the air-conditioned drive to the historic gold town of Gympie. Sit back, relax and enjoy the views as you’ll be chauffeured into the Sunshine Coast’s north hinterland, through national park country and up to historic gold town Gympie. We’ll park at heritage-listed Old Gympie Station, built back in 1913 (although a yard had been in existence since 1881) to the traditional Queensland Pagoda design.

Shortly after arrival, it’s time to climb aboard a lovingly-restored heritage rail locomotive for the two-hour return ride to Amamoor and back. 

If your day trip is on Wednesday, Saturday or Sunday, you’ll jump into the Gympie Rattler, an authentic C17 Brown Bomber steam locomotive, built back in the 1950s by Walkers Ltd. No 967 is one of 227 engines built between 1920 and 1953. No 967 had 19 years’ service up until decommissioning in 1969. But now it’s been restored to full working order and stands proud red and black livery. 

Travel on Thursday and you’ll be welcomed aboard the historic railmotor RM76 which, back in the day, ran the Brooloo line to Gympie. Railmotors were used when passenger numbers couldn’t justify a full steam service, but they were vital for shopping, deliveries and getting kids to school. 

For the next two hours, sit back in your carriage and enjoy the fascinating countryside of the Mary Valley. From Gympie, you’ll hop over the Mary River and chug, rattle and roll peacefully through curving farmscapes, over timber bridges and alongside gentle slopes. Through Lagoon Pocket, over the Gympie road, through the picturesque rural town of Dagun and on towards your destination, tiny rural Amamoor, nestling alongside Amamoor State Forest.

Your enthusiastic and knowledgeable Rattler volunteers are there to help you get the most out of the experience, so don’t be afraid to fire questions at them!  At Amamoor, you’ll observe the historic rail turntable in action. 

After a comfort break and a stroll around the station, climb back on board for the return journey to Gympie. Gaze out at the landscape from a different perspective and arrive back at the station just in time for lunch.

Jump down from your carriage, stretch your legs and head on over to one of two of our favourite lunch spots in Gympie. Your table is already booked so we hope you’ve worked up an appetite! 

Where you’ll lunch will depend on which day you’re travelling. At Zesty’s, enjoy a freshly-prepared, delicious a-la-carte lunch overlooking beautiful gardens at the historic Gunabul Homestead, built back in 1885. Alternatively, head to old-world Kingston House, built in 1901, for awesome weekly lunch specials.