** NOTE: This event will be able to proceed on Sunday 1st August but with some limitations on capacity, and with individual group sizes of 10 or less. It is now FULLY BOOKED. **
Travel back in time with the Victorian Goldfields Railway. Enjoy a steam train ride from Castlemaine to Maldon in elegant Victorian-era carriages, have lunch in historic Maldon, itself a snapshot of life in the 1850s, then return to Castlemaine via steam train. V/Line trains connect between Castlemaine and Southern Cross Station.
GRADE | LENGTH | TYPE: Easy social excursion, with strolls around historic Maldon.
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:
Enjoy a social outing with Nomads friends in Victoria's goldfields region. For most, the excursion will start from Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, to catch a V/Line train to Castlemaine, though you can also drive to Castlemaine to meet us there at the railway station. In Castlemaine, we'll board the elegant carriages of the steam train, departing at 11:30am to travel to the historic town of Maldon, where the 1850s streetscape has featured in several period films and documentaries (e.g. Romulus, My Father [2007] featuring Eric Bana).
In Maldon we'll have 2.5 hours to have lunch and explore the Maldon old town, where the 1850s streetscape looks much as it did within the 1850s gold rush era. At 2:45pm the steam train will begin the return journey to Castlemaine.
Castlemaine still retains many of its fine Gold Rush buildings, with the town offering a range of cafes, hotels and restaurants and an extensive range of shops. There is excellent coffee available from the station kiosk and there's a historical railway memorabilia display that you'll be able to visit while waiting for departure of the steam train. You'll also be able to take some photos of the steam train at the platform. Maldon, Australia's first notable town, offers a range of antique, specialty shops and cafes. Many places of interest and relics of the gold era are within easy reach of Maldon Railway Station.
Disabled access is available on the VGR train, but there are no toilet facilities on board. Toilet facilities with disabled access are available at both Castlemaine and Maldon railway stations.
First Class seats are limited, and most of the Nomads group will be travelling in Excursion Class. If it's important to you that you get a First Class seat, please email LeaderAlanD.thenomadsinc@mail.tidyhq.com ASAP to pre-allocate your seats. If no first class seats are available, you can choose to have your booking refunded or converted to excursion class, with refund of the difference. The cost for this event will be the same for Nomads members and visitors.
BOOKING: By Friday 30th July. To book, click on Get Tickets.
Unsure if you've already booked? Click View my bookings.
NOMADS COVIDSAFE CHECKLIST: Checklist 210801: Victorian Goldfields Railway Excursion - Castlemaine to Maldon.
FURTHER INFORMATION: Victorian Goldfields Railway (vgr.com.au).
MEETING TIME | LOCATION:
MAP REFERENCE: Melway map X909 grid C6 | Google map goo.gl/maps/VwvtuHEicTQv9ipcA.
DISTANCE | TIME FROM GPO: 123 km, approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to drive via the M79 Calder Fwy, 1 hour 25 minutes by train.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Assemble at Southern Cross Station at 8:50am to catch the 9:06am Epsom (Bendigo) service, arriving in Castlemaine at 10:31am. For the return we will catch the 3:49pm service in Castlemaine, which arrives at Southern Cross Station at 5:24pm. Castlemaine is in Myki zone 9.
V/LINE FARES: Daily (i.e. return) fares from metro Melbourne to Castlemaine are $34.72 Full or $17.36 Concession (or free Seniors travel vouchers could be used). Myki cards are used on this route - paper tickets cannot be purchased.
VICTORIAN GOLDFIELDS RAILWAY (VGR) RETURN FARES: there will be a 15% discount on the prices shown below if our group has 10 or more attendees, or 25% discount if there are 20 or more in the group. You will initially be charged the full amount of the selected fare, but will receive a cash refund on the day (less booking fee charges) based on the size of the group.
FOOD: You will have free time in Maldon to purchase lunch and drinks, and/or browse the olde world shops. You are welcome to BYO lunch though if you wish. Food and snacks can be purchased on the train in First Class only.
APPAREL | FOOTWEAR: Comfortable walking shoes and dress according to the weather forecast.
LEADER: Alan D. | Email the Leader if you have any questions.
Members can access leader contact details under Members | Leader Contacts when logged in to the website.
Image: Victorian Goldfields Railway
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| Ticket Type | Price | |
|---|---|---|
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EXCURSION - FULL FARE: $50 return
This is a paid ticket on the Victorian Goldfields Railway from Castlemaine to Maldon, and back. There will be a 15% discount on this price if our group has 10 or more attendees, or 25% discount if there are 20 or more in the group. You will initially be charged the non-discounted amount, but will receive a cash refund on the day (less booking fee charges) based on the size of the group. A refund can't be guaranteed if cancelling after 25th July 2021.
|
$50.00 | Sold out |
|
EXCURSION - CONCESSION FARE: $45 return
This is a paid ticket on the Victorian Goldfields Railway from Castlemaine to Maldon, and back. There will be a 15% discount on this price if our group has 10 or more attendees, or 25% discount if there are 20 or more in the group. You will initially be charged the non-discounted amount, but will receive a cash refund on the day (less booking fee charges) based on the size of the group. A refund can't be guaranteed if cancelling after 25th July 2021.
|
$45.00 | Sold out |
|
FIRST CLASS - FULL FARE: $70 return
This is a paid ticket on the Victorian Goldfields Railway from Castlemaine to Maldon, and back. There will be a 15% discount on this price if our group has 10 or more attendees, or 25% discount if there are 20 or more in the group. You will initially be charged the non-discounted amount, but will receive a cash refund on the day (less booking fee charges) based on the size of the group. First Class seats are limited, and most of the Nomads group will be travelling in Excursion Class. If no first class seats are available, you can choose to have your booking refunded or converted to excursion class, with refund of the difference. A full refund can't be guaranteed if cancelling after 25th July 2021.
|
$70.00 | Sold out |
|
FIRST CLASS - CONCESSION FARE: $65 return
This is a paid ticket on the Victorian Goldfields Railway from Castlemaine to Maldon, and back. There will be a 15% discount on this price if our group has 10 or more attendees, or 25% discount if there are 20 or more in the group. You will initially be charged the non-discounted amount, but will receive a cash refund on the day (less booking fee charges) based on the size of the group. First Class seats are limited, and most of the Nomads group will be travelling in Excursion Class. If no first class seats are available, you can choose to have your booking refunded or converted to excursion class, with refund of the difference. A refund can't be guaranteed if cancelling after 25th July 2021.
|
$65.00 | Sold out |
PO Box 56, Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria, 8009, Australia
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