Melbourne to Castlemaine train: Timetable and fare costs
The Melbourne to Castlemaine train has several timetabled departures per day and has fares costing from $17.64.
The Melbourne to Castlemaine train is a viable option for a day trip to the Goldfields region of Victoria. Castlemaine is an attractive historic town, with a strong arty streak and highly moochable indie shops.
Before leaving, you may want to tick Melbourne Cricket Ground tours, Yarra River dinner cruises and cross-city hot air balloon flights off your Melbourne wish list. For a great range of Melbourne tours and experiences, explore here. To track down the best value Melbourne accommodation, come this way.
Top Castlemaine accommodation options include the family-friendly Big4 Castlemaine Gardens holiday park, the centrally-located Albion Motel and the character-packed Northern Arts Hotel.
The Forest Creek Historic Gold Diggings are the place to go if you want to know more about the gold mining heritage, but otherwise Castlemaine is somewhere to browse and graze.
Melbourne to Castlemaine train fares
Tickets on the Melbourne to Castlemaine train vary according to what time you travel. Off-peak fare costs are $17.64, using the Myki system. In practice, however, most people travel at peak time, when fares cost $25.20.
👇 7 great day trips while you’re in Melbourne 👇
- Great Ocean Road tour – with koalas 🐨.
- Brighton Beach, Moonlit Sanctuary and Phillip Island tour – with penguins 🐧.
- Yarra Valley wine tour – with gin, cider and cheese 🍷.
- Grampians National Park tour – with bushwalks and LOADS of kangaroos 🦘.
- Mornington Peninsula tour – with hot springs bathing 🛀.
- Wilsons Promontory tour – with all manner of native wildlife 🦘🐨.
- Dandenong Ranges steam train ride – plus wildlife at Healesville Sanctuary and chocolate-tasting in the Yarra Valley.
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Melbourne to Castlemaine train timetable
The Melbourne to Castlemaine train is part of the Melbourne to Bendigo train line. According to the timetable on the V/Line website, the first train to Castlemaine of the day departs Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station at 06.25. These Melbourne to Castlemaine train services run roughly hourly for most of the day, but it’s every 20 minutes to half hour during peak commuter periods.
Journey times are frustratingly variable. The quickest services take just one hour and 17 minutes, but others take up to an hour and 44 minutes.
In the opposite direction from Castlemaine to Melbourne, the first train of the day is at 05.38, and the last at 23.21.
Stops on the train to Castlemaine
After departing Southern Cross Station in Melbourne, the train to Castlemaine stops at Footscray, Sunbury, Clarkefield, Riddells Creek and Gisborne. It then continues to Macedon, Woodend, Kyneton and Malmsbury.
Top Castlemaine accommodation options include the Big4 Castlemaine Gardens holiday park and consistently highly-rated Albion Motel.
14 fantastic experiences that make the most of your free time in Melbourne
- Get the very best views – on a hot air balloon flight over the city.
- See the changing colours of the river – on a sunset kayaking tour – with dinner. (Highly recommended ✅)
- Feast and see the sights at the same time – on a four course dinner cruise along the Yarra River.
- A genuinely excellent street art tour, led by prominent street artists. (Highly recommended ✅)
- The also superb Aboriginal heritage, plants and bush food tour in the Botanic Gardens. (💲 Great value 💲)
- Best of Melbourne bike tour – you can see more on two wheels than walking.
- Hidden laneways bar crawl OR foodie discovery tour OR chocolate and dessert tour.
- Combo ticket for Australian Sports Museum and MCG tour.
- Hassle-dodging advance tickets for the Melbourne Skydeck, Melbourne Zoo, the Ice Bar (with cocktails) and Sea Life Aquarium.
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