Tasmanaia to Tokyo – Cradle Mountain / Melbourne – Day 16 can be found here.
It’s an adjustment sleeping in a city again after spending ten days in Tasmania, but we’re so tired from our travel day that we still manage a solid night’s rest.
Lazier start to this morning – up 8:15-ish so that we can head to Tomo’s Little Collins for breakfast:
Photo Credit: Tomo’s Little Collins
We’ve enjoyed being able to make breakfast reservations while in Australia, which is part of how we ended up at this particular restaurant. The menu also looks great.
My wife has the eggs royale:
While the kids and I all have the French toast:
It’s very tasty, but way too much food. The kids could have split a single order of French toast.
I double-check our tickets for Puffing Billy later today, and there’s a brief moment of panic when I finally spot their recommendation that all guests arrive a minimum of one hour in advance. Uh oh.
We do a quick time estimate – we can still make it there an hour early, but we won’t have much time to linger. Back to the Pullman to pack our bags, apply sunscreen, and call an Uber.
We debated taking public transit out to Puffing Billy – it’s just a single train away, after all – but it would take at least an extra 90 minutes (return) if we did it that way as opposed to just taking an Uber. Given that we’re already tight for time, we opt for the Uber. There are times to throw money at problems, and this is one of them.
Our Uber shows up minutes later. It’s a Mercedes C class, but a bit cramped for four passengers. We make a mental note to try Uber Comfort on the way back – that should offer us a slightly larger vehicle as well as a top-rated driver, though all the drivers we’ve had thus far have been completley fine.
We arrive at Puffing Billy roughly 1 hour and 15 minutes in advance of our train. Though they’re still checking in guests for an earlier departure, we’re nevertheless able to check in for our own train – picking up the train tickets as well as tickets for our grazing box for two, picnic blanket, and a further two orders of scones. We’ll claim all the food at the Visitor’s Centre at the Lakeside stop upon our arrival.
The kids are old enough that they can sit on the edge of the train and dangle their feet overboard, provided an adult is near enough to watch them. They’re each given green wristbands to prove this. Children under four years of age are too small to sit on the rails, and they are given red wristbands to indicate they are not allowed up on the edge.
We have some time to kill, so we pick up a cappuccino, a chai latte, and a pair of iced chocolates for the kids. They’re all pretty good, and there’s an outdoor patio with plenty of seating. Unfortunately, there are also groups of guests playing TikToks on top volume. Sigh.
Times passes, and we notice passengers beginning to line up. We have an assigned train car but not assigned seating, so we make our way over to the platform to join the line.
The train pulls into the station:
Some of the guests seem to be edging their way to the front of the line, and one ducks under the rope before the incoming train is disembarked – but for the most part guests respect the queue.
After all guests have dismebarked, staff lower the rope and begin punching tickets so that the next cohort can board.
The “best” view is considered to be the side closest the platform, so that’s where we seat ourselves – though we are close to the front this time around, which means limited views of the entire train going around curves. We also get more of the coal exhaust, though that is part of the ‘charm’ of an old-timey locomotive.
The staff also come by to explain the rules, of which there are but a few – no smoking, no vaping, respect the rules in terms of who is (and is not) allowed to sit on the rail, and let the staff open and close the doors. That’s about it. That last one is promptly ignored as a passenger in our train unlocks the compartment door to throw out a drink cup at the station bins.
The station master rings the bell:
And we’re off. The views are quite striking:
And the kids really enjoy the experience of sitting on the railings with their feet dangling off. Even some of the adults get in on the act – albeit briefly, as we are notionally supposed to be watching our children.
There’s a brief stop at Menzies Creek, and then we’re on our way once more.
We get the chance to spot a huge range of Australian homes:
And we’re amazed by how many people wave to Puffing Billy as we go by. Some even seem to have set up some permanent displays, like Superman Corner:
There isn’t much in the way of wildlife – just a few birds – and I think we would find the scenery more impressive had we not recently been in Tasmania, but it’s still very much a worthwhile trip.
We reach Lakeside roughly an hour after we set off, and then soon make our way over to the cafe to pick up our lunch. The scones each come with a beverage, so we pick a random table at which to wait. The staff forgets to bring over our picnic blanket, but that is soon corrected.
This should be handy for while we’re on the Moon, too.
We find a nice shady spot by the lake and tuck in. The graze box for two is particularly massive:
And the scones are no slouch either:
While hanging out, we are on the receiveing end of some attention from a crimson rosella, a type of endemic Australian parrot:
And an aptly-named purple swamphen:
Seriously, though, this lunch definitely hits above its weight – it includes a small wheel of brie, some nicely aged cheddar, cured meats, hummus, and more. Even the four of us aren’t able to finish, though we certainly try our best.
We then head off for a walk around the lake:
“Lake” is maybe a generous term for it, but it’s pleasant enough for a ninety-minute stopover.
We also spot a playground, which we finally have time enough for the kids to enjoy:
And a second playground, too:
And some outdoor fitness equipment, which the adults do not avail themselves of:
But eventually it’s time to make our way back to the platform so that we can re-board the train.
There are other walking routes here, but sadly no time to explore:
This time we opt to sit on the opposite side of the car to see the other side of the view.
We soon depart Lakeside:
On the way out, we spot one of the Fire Patrol vehicles. These follow Puffing Billy and put out any embers that might have landed. The situation has improved, but there was a total fire ban in effect a few weeks prior.
This side of the train is quite pleasant too:
And – since it’s the engine that changes order – we are now at the back of the train, which means that we get some better views as the train winds around corners:
Sky’s out, thighs out!
More wildlife this time around, and the kids even manage to spot an echidna – though sadly I’m not fast enough to catch it on camera.
I do manage a partial shot of the train crossing the trestle bridge:
And we pull into the station roughly an hour after we left Lakeside.
Our Uber plan is a bit more onerous this time around – there are fewer vehicles in the area, so we have to wait more than 15 minutes for our Comfort Uber. Not a big deal in the grand scheme, though. It gives us all time to use the bathroom, refill water bottles, and head roughly 100 metres down the hill to a spot where vehicles can actually legally stop and pick you up.
With time to do a little more birdwatching
The kids then read for perhaps 5 to 10 minutes before our ride arrives. Smooth sailing back into Melbourne, and my son and I head off to Hungry Jack’s to pick up dinner. Although functionally identical to Burger King back home, he’s been really keen to eat at a Hungry Jack’s – and we’re all in the mood for something simple tonight.
So that’s where we go – we get takeaway and milkshakes, and take it back to the room. Laziness mode engaged, that’s it for the day.
Final thoughts on Puffing Billy? I thought it was worthwhile, though it was perhaps the least engaging of our excursions thus far. The scenery would have been more striking had we not just come from Tasmania, and I’m just not a big enough train fan to love this sort of experience. It was also a long day, clocking in at more than 7 hours pillar to post.
But the kids really enjoyed sitting on the rails, hearing the chug of the steam train – which felt like a rollercoaster to them – and their relaxed picnic / playground time out at the lake. So ultimately I’m glad we’ve done it. I’m just not in any hurry to do it again anytime soon.
Hard to believe we’re already at our last full day in Melbourne before we board the Moon. We have another relaxed start tomorrow, and plan to meet up with some other friends from past Silversea voyages. And then maybe a walk around town? We’ll see where the wind takes us.