Walhalla Goldfields Railway: Can I take a Stringers Creek Gorge scenic train ride?

It’s possible to take a scenic train ride through Stringers Creek Gorge on the Walhalla Goldfields Railway in Victoria. The line was originally built to service gold mines in Walhalla.

Walhalla in Victoria is one of Australia’s gold rush towns. Others include Ballarat, Bendigo and Beechworth in Victoria, plus Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and Central Tilba in New South Wales.

As with many other gold rush towns in Australia, it has had to reinvent itself for tourists. At Ballarat, for example, the gold mining has long gone. But the recreated gold mining town of Sovereign Hill is a giant open-air museum.

Gold mining in Walhalla

Miners discovered gold at Walhalla in 1862. But the 2’6” (762mm) narrow gauge railway designed to transport the gold from the mines didn’t open until 1910. It wasn’t long after the opening that the gold mining industry collapsed in Walhalla.

By 1991, when attempts to revive the historic railway as a tourist service started, the line was covered by trees and landslides. The full reconstruction of the 4km railway line from Thomson to Walhalla finally finished in 2002. This reconstruction involved rebuilding several bridges.

The line is now the Walhalla Goldfields Scenic Railway, and it’s the major tourist attraction in Walhalla.

The Walhalla Goldfields Railway, Gippsland, Victoria — The Walhalla Goldfields Railway uses an old gold mine line to offer a scenic train ride across Stringers Creek Gorge in Gippsland, Victoria. Photo courtesy of Visit Victoria.

Walhalla Goldfields Railway over Stringers Creek Gorge

The train, powered by a diesel locomotive, makes its way through the genuinely stunning Stringers Creek Gorge. Starting at Walhalla train station, the journey skirts alongside a steep cliff face, then continues over six trestle bridges crossing the Stringers Creek Gorge. The train then gradually descends downhill and passes through Happy Creek.

After joining the Thomson River, the Walhalla Goldfields Railway chugs across the historic Thomson River Bridge and arrives at Thomson Station. Passengers then get off and enjoy a riverside walk, while the crew shunts the carriages around for the return journey to Walhalla station.

The Walhalla Goldfields Railway departs three times a day, and a 60 minute return journey costs $20. Bookings can be made via the railway website.

Walhalla Station is in Gippsland, a 184km drive from Melbourne. The drive should take around two hours and 20 minutes. On the way, you might like to go for a walk at Toorongo Falls, cycle the Noojee Trestle Bridge Rail Trail near Noojee or try husky-sledding at Mt Baw Baw.