Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Small-group tour by Mercedes mini bus, maximum 14 passengers, hotel pick-up & drop-off within Melbourne CBD.
8–11 AM departure (subject to Puffing Billy tickets). Exact time emailed by 9 PM 1 day prior. Extreme weather suspension of Puffing Billy: apply to platform for $60 refund; rest itinerary unchanged.
Puffing Billy Vintage Steam Train: Ride the vintage narrow-gauge steam train through temperate rainforest.
Maru Koala Park or Moonlit Sanctuary WildlifeConservation Park (Optional, Own Expense. Which zoo we visit depends on the departure time of our Puffing Billy tickets.
): Get close to Australia’s wildlife—kangaroos, koalas in eucalyptus trees, and unique native species.
Penguin Parade: Watch the world’s smallest wild penguins return to nests, a magical day end.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
Puffing Billy Railway
Puffing Billy is a genuine relic of the early 20th century. It was originally one of four narrow-gauge lines that opened in 1900 to serve the remote farms and communities of the Dandenong Ranges. After a landslide closed the line in 1953, a group of passionate volunteers fought to restore it. Thanks to their dedication, Puffing Billy was reborn as a preserved heritage railway, offering visitors a unique and authentic steam train experience.
Maru Koala and Animal Park
Maru Koala and Animal Park is a family-friendly wildlife sanctuary where visitors can get up close with Australia’s iconic native animals, including koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, and more. Unlike larger zoos, Maru offers an intimate, hands-on experience, making it perfect for kids and animal lovers.(Subject to the schedule of the train, not guaranteed to go)
Options
Small Group Hotel Pick Up
Mercedes Mini Bus Pickup included
What‘s Included
entrance for Philip island and puffing billy train ticket
Air-conditioned vehicle
maru entrance fee(optional)
Meals
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
36 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Australian Animals and Nature!
CarmenLiliana S,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Was very complete experience and our Driver Daniel was amazing. It was really wonderful to experience nature!
We love the tour! We love Joe!
Happiness61401178595,Mar 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Booking this day tour (30 March 2026) was one of the best decisions we have made! Joe, our tour guide, was exceptional! He has a light energy that made the 13hours tour fun and exciting! Everything was smooth! He wasn't only a tour guide and driver, he became a friend! He's the best! The tour itself was soooooo worth it, but having Joe was even more amazing! 11/10
Best Guide Eric.
Olga M,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00A very enjoyable tour. Eric our guide/driver was very informative and friendly. Couldn't ask for a nicer person. He was knowledgeable and helpful. Eric gave us time and recommendations on what to do and where to sit for best view. Thank you Eric! Highly recommend this Tour.
Excellent trip
mayccm2018,Feb 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Got the wrong pickup messages at the beginning. The guide, Shin, was very well-organized, knowledgeable, helpful and attentive. He also provided free bottled water and drinks. The pickup van was clean and comfortable. Quick visit the chocolate factory. The nearby lake was very beautiful. I did not have wine tasting because just joined similar tasting two day before. Then, I admired nearby scenery instead. Regrettably, we did not have time to visit Maru Koala and Animal Park due to schedule of Puffing Billy Railway. Excellent unique experiences - dangled legs outside the carriage. Great Penguin Parade at Philip Island. Shin also let us take pictures when saw kangaroos. Overall excellent experiences.
Great fun, interesting and good value for money
Sarah W,Feb 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It's a very long day, but very interesting and a lot of fun. William, our driver and guide provided a lot of information and ensured we were fully informed of ways to get the most out of each stop. Thank you William, I would recommend this trip as good value and great fun.
DON’T DO IT - BADLY ORGANISED & COSTLY
Tourist18291038069,Feb 12, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00This was an incredibly badly organised trip. The puffing billy train ride was cancelled but we weren’t notified until after the cut off time to cancel. The add ons, chocolate tasting is basically turn up and get offered a few crumbs of chocolate then hang around to go the wine tasting, which you pay for. Again, utterly rubbish, no alternative for those that can’t / don’t drink alcohol. Then on to a totally crap zoo, arriving 30 minutes before it closed. Then on to Phillip Island, arriving just in time to see the little guys cross the beech. Would suggest scrap the chocolate visit & the wine tasting, arrive at the zoo with time to actually look around and arrive MUCH earlier at Phillip Island so that you can actually have time at the visitor centre. In all honesty, I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS TOUR. IT WAS NOT GOOD!!
Unhappy 🙁
robynlT9708RY,Feb 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We didn’t go on this tour as I didn’t get the message for the pickup until the next morning as it was sent late in the afternoon & was charging my phone & thought on our ticket was 11am we rang both numbers with out any answer, so I would like to suggest the pickup message to be sent out earlier, & better customer service to ring up, so we are very disappointed with the outcome & the loss of the money, so we didn’t get to enjoy the trip😢
Great guide/driver
sally n,Jan 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00William our driver/guide was great and made the trip for us.It was a very long day over 12 hours but worth it for the experience especially the little penguins
Cool.
Manu T,Jan 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00Shin is a good guide! Communicated good advice. On the other hand, cover yourself in the penguins... Thank you.
It’s worth noting this is...
Erin F,Jan 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It’s worth noting this is a long day and you might not make it back to Melbourne until well after midnight. In saying that it’s a great day out. And the drive is quite pretty, especially through the Yarra. William was a lovely guide who was eager to make sure everyone had a good time. Puffing Billy is the highlight, but it’s worth doing the Rochford tasting. Lunch at the chocolate venue is fine but try and take dinner with you to the penguins as the food there is bad. If you’re keen to do all these activities, this is a compact day trip that delivers.
Related Experiences
Operated by Wild OZ Adventures