The Mary Valley Heritage Railway (MVHR) otherwise known as the Mary Valley Rattler at Gympie offers something for the whole family, come on a day designed for kids and enjoy it with them even more!
They offer theme trains for children which include Teddy Bears Picnic trains, Christmas in July, Pirates Treasure Hunt, Children’s Halloween and much more!
The Mary Valley Rattler – Where to Start?
All services start from the Historic Gympie Station in Tozer Street, where there is plenty of parking, restrooms and a café situated within the restored historic QR Refreshment Rooms on the platform.
Fresh hot coffee is popular among the parents and there are cold drinks for the kids. From here, you board the train for a leisurely cruise along the old Mary Valley railway line, an old QR branch line that once transported thousands of pineapples from the countryside to the city for processing.
The Mary Valley Journey
This historic 40km train journey leaves Gympie Station, crossing the breathtaking Mary River then negotiating many curves, gentle hills and bridges to pass through the small country townships of Dagun, Amamoor, Kandanga and Imbil.
Absorb the atmosphere of the early 20th century as we stop at some stations where the locals have fully restored and beautifully landscaped QR’s old historic stations. At Amamoor and Dagun Stations there is wine and cheese tasting along with local produce, arts and crafts on certain days (varies depending upon the train service you select).
Classic Rattler Run – Gympie to Amamoor (Return)
Departs Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday’s
Departing from the Historic Gympie Station, this three hour, 40km journey on the Classic Rattler Run sees guests travel through rich agricultural farmland right into the heart of the picturesque Mary Valley. Riding in a beautifully restored C17 steam train, this is an iconic experience like no other.
When you arrive at the quaint town of Amamoor, if you choose (and we strongly urge you to), you can disembark and watch the train engine as it turns on the turntable. You can then briefly explore the Amamoor Village Green before reboarding the train for the return journey back to Gympie.
While on board, volunteer guides provide a wealth of historical detail about the trains and the region as you enjoy the views and nostalgia of travelling on a steam train.
Is it child friendly?
We understand travelling with children has its challenges for parents and but fear not! Some of their carriages have onboard restrooms and the stations they stop at also have restrooms. Kids under 2 that are not occupying a seat also travel for free. (If you want a guaranteed seat for your child, just book a child fare).
Timetables and Train Events
The Mary Valley Rattler offer a range of regular weekly train runs or you can reserve a spot on one of their special event train trips. Some of the train events are for celebrations like Easter and Christmas and there are more premium Dine and Ride services, a tasting train and even a first class VIP car if you are looking for something a little more fancy.
The locals are most welcoming, the scenery is absolutely gorgeous and the atmosphere created by the locomotive and historic carriages makes this a day trip that the children will talk about for a long time!
See this page for their special train events
See this page for their regular train timetable
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