Wonderful morning in Gympie, well worth the visit! We had a great morning with my parents who were visiting from the UK, as a local I can't believe we've never been before. Wonderful experience traveling in historic carriage, pulled by mesmerising steam train. Great commentary & lovely staff ( Ray was our carriage guide). Didn't break the bank & had great $20 lunches at The Australian afterwards.

A definite Gympie to do list visit. Small group of 4 adults. We had an enjoyable trip on a lovely old Red Rattler. The train rocked and rolled its way through beautiful scenery. Watching the loco being turned around on the turntable for the return trip was really interesting. The little market and General Store at Aramoor were good, I made a purchase. Unfortunately the craft/art shop isn’t open on Wednesdays but it looked worth a visit. The rail volunteers were lovely and informative and very willing to have a chat. Well worth a visit.

A great morning The staff were excellent from the time we arrived and left the old station.
Ralph in the 1st class was excellent as was the English announcer and the coach guard.
The booking was extremely.
Atmosphere was great with a really good sense of fun plus a sensible degree of safety precautions.
The train and the coaches were quite beautiful and the speed recreated an older sense of dignity while so much less hectic than modern transport. Above all it was restful and allowed one to actually see the countryside.
I cannot think of anything that I could criticise. The food and seating in our 1st class carriage was perfect and the station and museum were most interesting.
We have already recommended the Rattler to friends in the last 24 hours and will continue to do so.

Heaps of fun on the Rattler We had a blast riding the Mary Valley Rattler. It was the perfect activity for a spring day in southern Queensland. The train itself, especially the locomotive is a treasure. We loved the views and the interesting history we learned about the railroad and its importance to the region. All of the volunteers were very friendly. We chose the VIP experience, and it was well worth the extra cost. The lunch was much better than I expected. Thanks for making it a memorable day!

Bullet train High tea WE went on the Silver Bullet with the high tea experience. The high tea was very basic, store bough cakes cut up and a few small savouries. However they did provide a gluten free plate for one of our members which was appreciated. The staff were wonderful and we all enjoyed the complementary train chocolate and the cold towel to cool us down.

Really enjoyable day! We had a VIP experience on the Mary Valley which was a very enjoyable day. Upon boarding you were given a mixed platter each, bottle of water and a stubbie holder to keep as a memento. The journey was relaxing and you were given commentary along the way.
Once you reached Amaroo you were able to disembark and walk around the market and shops then witnessed how the train engine was uncoupled and turned around to be begin the journey back to Gympie.
When we arrived back at Gympie we were seated in the cafe and served a two course meal which was part of the experience. The food was beautifully presented and tasted amazing.
The “crew” on the train are all volunteers and were very helpful, informative and happy! Would highly recommend this experience.

Sensational experience on this steam engine. Customer service from all staff was outstanding. The views from the carriage were fabulous. Stops at Amamoor and Dagun station were great thanks to those communities providing stalls at the stations. Well done to all the volunteers who contributed to make our trip memorable.

Definitely called the Rattler for a reason! Such a great trip! The guys that keep this old girl running are all volunteers and they are all very passionate about her. Their knowledge and stories are amazing to listen to.
It was like going back in time. The little village where she stops to turn around on the turning circle was so welcoming and friendly.
Tip. Take some cash as there are a few market stalls selling homemade items made by the locals.
A throughly enjoyable trip. Would definitely recommend

What a great experience! The trip was relaxing, informative and enjoyable. The high tea on offer was enjoyable. The staff were all friendly and helpful. The cafe was a great start for brekky before the journey, the museum and the shop offered some insight into the history of rail.

🇦🇺Aussie Traveller we went on the Mary Valley Rattler today out of Gympie. The old Steam Train and carriages have been immaculately restored. The staff and Conductors are all Volunteers which is a great credit to all involved. Well worth the trip, it took about 1 hour each way. When we got to Amamoor they had a little market, music and a Cafe. We had a great day.

We did the ‘Wizard’ experience on Saturday night. If I would change anything it would be to experience the steam train during the daytime. There was not a lot of experiences regarding it being a Wizard experience, that in hindsight made the night trip worth doing. The journey was great as was sunset. After that there was nothing to see. Seeing the turntable for the train to turn around was great.

One's first (grand)fathers' day has to be something special. What more special than your own booth in a steam driven train? 4 adults and a baby, we had all the space we needed and Meredith, our service manager to boot.
Great catering during the trip, nice communities at the stations and a good dinner to top off what will be a long lasting memory to cherish.
Thanks to all those volunteers that make these kind of moments possible.

Excellent experience & great value - input of volunteers amazing. A great experience. Run entirely by volunteers both young & old.
Very comfortable seating & lovely cheese platter for each of us at our table.
A pleasant stop at Amamoor where we watched the loco being turned on the turntable. Everything ran smoothly.
On our return we had a beautiful 2 course meal (beef cheeks, so tender, panna cotta & Nutella choc mousse cake). Also a rum & red wine.
Excellent value. Excellent experience. Would highly recommend.
Thank you to our volunteer Brad who looked after our carriage.

Amazing train ride Amazing train journey on the Silver Bullet motorcar. High tea with bottomless coffee/tea. Delectable savoury and sweets 😋
Well worth doing. Staff fantastic

What an amazing team and experience highly recommend. The train is comfortable, clean and staff so helpful. A definite experience when you go to Gympie. Traveling through the land and learning the history of the area is brilliant.

Wonderful experience We booked the VIP Experience and it was brilliant. Seats at a table, small cheese and crackers plate and bottled water while on the way up the line. The beautiful train stops at Amamoor a cute little village where they had a choral group singing for us, market stalls, a general store, toilets and a restaurant. Back on the train on the return trip we stopped for half an hour at Dagun .tiny place. We wandered around the station looking at the stalls and there was wine and cheese tasting too. When we arrived back at Gympie we enjoyed a delicious two course lunch included in our VIP experience. There is a gift shop in the gorgeous old railway station so we bought some souvenirs of our wonderful steam train trip. We highly recommend this !

Loved the steam train ride. Anamore a great little stop to turn the train around. We did the pet carriage our boy was very comfortable and there was a bowl for water for him if needed. The guard chatted for awhile to make sure we were happy with the ride. The staff are great both on the train and at the station lovely little Cafe and shop/museum.
Had a great time

Definitely Recommend What a fabulous day - all the family enjoyed the experience. A must do on the Sunshine Coast. How amazing are the volunteers who dedicate their time to make this such a special occasion.

Great experience all round. Great food and coffee at Cafe, so if you have an early start, just have bfast there. Service is fast and top. Train experience was lovely with each carriage having it's own staff to advise of the history. Great day. Thanks to all the volunteers that makes this possible.

Value for money and awesome experience Can not fault our experience!! Photos galore, food delicious, entertainment at each stop and lunch when we returned. Definitely worth doing!!

We went on the silver bullet high tea experience. Enjoyed tea and locally produced eats. Love travelling through the wonderful Mary Valley. I try to go on one of the trips at least once a year. So calming!

Such fun and nostalgic. Experiencing this old train trip is a must in the Gympie area. It is so nostalgic and special riding on the old steam train. From booking through to boarding, then the train ride itself, the process is seamless. The staff are so friendly and obliging. Mostly run by volunteers who are fantastic. Our train carriage attendants (Lee and John) were so passionate about what they do, competent and welcoming. We were aboard for 3 hours with a halfway stop at Amamoor where there was live music, refreshments and food available to purchase.

Loved the Silver Bullet High Tea We had a very enjoyable morning doing the Silver Bullet High Tea. The high tea was lovely with 2 tiered platters which had savouries and sweets and a good plentiful selection. With it you could have a soft drink, sparking rose, or brut as well as coffee or tea including herbal teas. You were offered multiple refills of tea and coffee. The country scenery was lovely, and the slightly rocky train ride was fun. There was a stop at a station halfway through where you could do wine and cheese tastings if you like, and then a trip back with a chocolate treat and more tea and coffee. Highly recommended!

Great trip through Mary Valley in a locomotive The trip was great. From the start when we were received at the Old Gympie Station, we had a fabulous fresh breakfast to the stop in Amamoor and Daigo, where we tasted Cheadle and wines. The onboard volunteers were great and fun in explaining to us the history of the area and the train.

Silver Bullet High Tea - Amazing experience What a beautiful day we had enjoying High Tea on the Silver Bullet. We had a tea/coffee in the Rusty Rails Cafe before boarding and decided to eat lunch there when we returned.

The train travelled from Gympie to Dagun. We crossed the Mary River, passed beautiful farms and could not have asked for a more delightful day weather wise. I got to go up and chat to the driver and guard which was an unexpected treat. When we reached Dagun we enjoyed a cheese and wine tasting which was very tasty.

The service on board was amazing and the staff were incredible.

We were beyond pleased with our experience! We booked in for the pets on board session. The entire crew was overly welcoming & made the experience so much more authentic for us. The whole experience felt like we stepped back to a simpler time. We can't wait to book in again!

We had a great day enjoying the beautiful train and great views. Our carriage tour guide was a young man who was really passionate about this train and the local area. We stopped at two stations and had the opportunity to meet some locals, hear some live music and taste some local produce. All in all a great experience that I highly recommend.

Great experience. Friendly, informative and helpful volunteers keeping the historic spirit alive! Recommended for a great day out.

We upgraded to the VIP package which includes for each person a platter of mixed cheese, crackers and assorted treats. Bottled water and a stubbie cooler were also provided and lunch options after the trip. I ordered beef cheeks which were cooked beautifully. Train crew members were all very friendly and knowledgeable as were station and booking staff. The return trip to Amamoor was relaxing and there was plenty of time to wander at the programmed stops and check out the local markets etc. Combined with glorious weather, it was a totally enjoyable experience.

Everything about this was amazing. The coffee beforehand. The old mate playing the piano in the Cafe (a volunteer). We were allowed in the engine room. We learnt so much history about train and the area. It was a beautiful day. Such a scenic ride. We were on the Sunday trip which stops at Dagun on the return for cheese and wine tasting. My other half doesn't drink much, but she loved the local wine and just had to purchase a bottle. The cheese is from Kenilworth Dairies (which we visited the day before) and is absolutely delicious. It was a fantastic day. Highly recommend 👌

Highly Recommended Highly Recommended trip, we booked the VIP package which included lunch at the cafe after the train trip. It was a very enjoyable day and lunch was great. Scenery was fabulous, and I enjoyed the stop at Amamoor. All the staff were friendly and helpful.

Great day on the Mary Valley Rattler. We went with a party of 5 adults and our 3 yr old grandson all of whom enjoyed the day out. Everything about the experience was first class, from checking in to the journey and the meal afterwards.
All the staff we met were knowlegable and pleasant.
The trip was fun with scenic views along the journey with items of interest pointed out by the train announcer.

To sum up the experience is well worth the cost and we would definately go again.

A wonderful, pet friendly experience We had a fantastic day aboard the Mary Valley Rattler. We had two dogs with us who enjoyed their trip as well. It was very pet friendly and even had a water dish ready in our carriage.
The staff were all very friendly and helpful. The train trip itself is though beautiful scenery and we can't recommend it highly enough.

Birthday gift for us both from our son & partner This trip was gifted to us by our son and his partner for a combination of our birthdays ,we both had a wonderful day, the train journey was spectacular we love steam trains. The staff and crew were amazing and we had lunch waiting for us at the end of the journey, we can't give enough praise for the whole experience,Thankyou,we will be back.

Dogs on a Steam Train We have been on the Rattler several times but this was the first time we could take our two dogs. Had an absolutely wonderful time and our dogs thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Staff were very friendly and helpful. We had a compartment all to ourselves with the dogs hanging there heads out the window all the way. Anyone who is looking for a different experience with there pets , this is the one !

A great day out. We are went to the station the night before as I am a photography nut. There was only a couple of people there for a dinner so we were able to wander to our hearts content and got some great shots.

We decided to do the VIP experience, and the train ride experience was well worth it not sure about the lunch at the end (see comments at the end).
We had a lovely cheese platter on board, and a free stubbie holder with a bottle of water was on our table when we boarded. Our volunteer Bruce was very funny and told us about the history on various parts of the journey. He also told us when there was going to be an opportunity for a good photo. But be warned, you CANNOT lean out the windows as they are old and very heavy and can drop down suddenly (which has happened according to Bruce). So if you're with children, keep your eyes on them. We thought we were having lunch on the train but you get lunch when back at the station at the end of the ride. The train stops at Amaroo where there is a quick chance to grab a drink or a little bite to eat, but you have to be quick as it's a 40 mins stop only. If you want to watch how the train turns on the turntable (I'd recommend it), you might have to forgoe your drink or snack.
With the VIP package, your free lunch and drink is preselected when you buy your tickets. But be warned, your drink is already opened by the time you get back for lunch, which we were angry about as we didn't know how long the drinks been opened for.
We had ordered the chicken wrapped in bacon on a bed of potato, and were very disappointed. The potato was tasteless, I dont know what part of the chicken they used but it wasn't the breast, and there were some kind of dried/fried strips of what looked like a piece of yellow grass.
All in all, the day was enjoyable.

Having been on a Rattler run once as a child, I knew that it would be a perfect anniversary surprise for my train-loving partner - and we were absolutely not disappointed!

Not only is the actual train super charming and the scenery beautiful, but the volunteers really made the journey so enjoyable - particularly Lee, who was immensely friendly and helpful. Also, the bumpy ride is so much fun, and we got a kick out of hearing the steam whistle every time! I genuinely reccommend this as a fun, relaxing family day out!

My fiancé booked the Pets on Board experience for my 30th birthday and we had such a good time. The volunteer staff were knowledgeable and friendly. We purchased local cheese and wine from the cafe to take aboard our journey. We stayed at the cafe after our trip and enjoyed tapas for dinner. Will absolutely ride again.

Had a great time on the rattler with my Wife, Mum, and 2 kids.

We got stuck in school holiday traffic and made it to the station 10 minutes before departure when we were supposed to be 45 minutes before. This proved no problem as we had rang ahead to explain the situation and the friendly staff put my mind at ease.

This was my first time on a real steam train since I was a kid and it was really enjoyable. Lots of good commentary on the trip to Amamoor and back by Lee.

The weather was 30c when we left on the 1:30pm departure and the windows were down the whole way for the full experience. It was warm on the train but not uncomfortably so as the windows worked a treat. We even had steam come in the carriages at times which was a bit of fun.

I would highly recommend the experience and will do it again one day myself.

Love the whole experience. We get the VIP one.The food was amazing. the service from deb & mel was amazing! they were very accommodating, friendly & jolly.
My friend & I really enjoy our rest day doing this activity!

Was absolutely fantastic. We booked the VIP trip. The crackers, cheese, strawberry, nuts, cucumber, salami, relish was awesome. Our carriage host Deb was extremely friendly and simply fantastic. The meal we got at the end was also great. The trip was fantastic also - a great experience. If I could give more I would.

Awesome vintage experience. A fabulous trip from a past era. Its called The Rattler for a reason. It can be cold if the eindows are left down. We struggled to find it and we had allowed plenty of time. Very enoyable step back in time.

Recommend this trip to everyone. We had a fantastic day out on the Historic Mary Valley steam train to see the amazing scenery of the Mary Valley.
It was an amazing experience.

Toot-riffic train experience My husband took part in the Footplates Friends experience for his birthday and the rest of the family went along in the carriages.
His experience including riding with the drivers and he said it was one of the best days of his life.
We chose the $69 ticket and had scones in the refreshment room at the station before we left and then bought more snacks at Amamoor.
It was a fantastic day with beautiful scenery and expert commentary. Beautifully organised and I would recommend.

Pet friendly experience What a fabulous, pet friendly experience. So grateful to have the option of traveling with our furkid. The whole experience was great. The volunteers were so friendly and informative. Scenery was lovely. Highly recommend

A relaxed day in the beautiful Mary Valley I cannot recommend this trip high enough. Really well maintained carriages, engine and stations. Even if you are not a railway fan, the amazing volunteers will make your trip memorable. An excellent all-weather option for all ages.

Fantastic trip Trip was amazing had a great time I took so many photos the history and experience of the trip was fantastic and the meal was delicious

Fantastic experience! Food and the coffee at the station were delicious (the pie was worth $). Kids loved walking up and down platform beforehand and seeing it all, we found the museum quite interesting to read. Then we were aboard and the ride was lovely with the car volunteer adding lots of information about surrounding area as we went. Be quick to get food at the town stop, we grabbed sandwiches & lollies from the general store instead of cafe. The seats were comfortable, views lovely, historical information wasn't boring, and made for a great day out in Gympie. Would reccomend to anyone going through Gympie.

Well we loved it, what a great day the service was fantastic, the staff were very friendly and engaging. The train ride was excellent, very peaceful and relaxing. We did not order from the cafe, would have been good to know there was food available on the train to purchase, I didn't see this anywhere on the website, maybe I missed it?
We had a booking for 4 but my parents car broke down and couldn't make it, I received a credit on the day which I was very happy about, thank you.
I would highly recommend; it was such a lovely experience.

We had a great day, my 4yo son loved it and we ticked off another old time train ride. Nice day out, definitely worth the trip. Also, Volunteer Susie in carriage 521 was fantastic, went out of her way to make our day and give my son a wonderful experience! Thanks Susie!

Great experience! We appreciated the trip on the beautifully and detailed restored steam train a lot! Those wooden cars with them old red comfy seat benches made all the difference. Hopping in the driver cabin of the locomotive, getting everything explained by the proud experienced driver was amazing!
Kudos to the team of volunteers and those thousands of hours they put in to have everything in good service today! Highly recommend!!

The train ride was amazing!! Thanks to the kindly staff, we've got upgraded seats and that was really nice especially for our kids.
The views, sounds, nature and lovely staffs were fantastic. We enjoyed whole 3 hours. I had a blueberries muffin in the train, it was best muffin I ever had, also pies we had at Amamoor staition store were really nice too.
Wish we arrived earlier in the morning to have look around station and have a breakfast at cafe, but we didn't have time for it. Will definitely visit again soon.

Non allocated seating proved a real issue when travelling as a family of three. I would have loved to have written a positive review. My family had been wanting to go on this train for a long time. But unfortunately, a nasty old woman ruined our day and subsequently our experience. The train and journey itself is absolutely lovely, so I’m sad that I can’t write a positive review. However, as seating is not allocated, you aren’t guaranteed to be able to sit with your family. We are a family of three and on the return journey I was verbally insulted by two older women who decided to give me a hard time for wanting to sit in an empty seat in a booth with my husband and child. Not because they didn’t have seats- they were already sat across the carriage. But because we hadn’t been sat there in the first leg of the journey. They carried on arguing at me and upset my child and me also. So this ruined the day for us. It’s a pity seats aren’t allocated as this would save such situations. For the record we gave no objection to the people who had sat down in the seats we originally had been in for the first leg of the journey, and I told them this also. However, they wanted to continue carrying on and harassing me, and after trying to reason with them that there was no issue and that I wanted to sit with my family, I had to ask them repeatedly to just stop as my child was become distressed. The train was still half empty with many other seats available for couples and single travellers when we took our seats, however this was the only spot that would allow the three of us to be together for the one hour trip. But the two women decided it was worth them insulting me because there was another lady who wanted two seats to herself, which isn’t possible on a fully booked train. If you’re travelling with your children do keep this in mind as you might not get to sit together on the return leg of the journey as the seats you began using won’t necessarily be available to you in the return journey because other people have changed seats. We unfortunately won’t be recommending this trip for this reason only. Pity though as the steam train is a lovely adventure if not for nasty people. Perhaps the company will consider allocated seating in the future to protect people from being harassed?

Something different Did the High Tea experience which was supposed to be on the Silver Bullet train. It had broken down so had a diesel engine with the rattler carriages NOT disappointed at all. What an amazing experience from checking in to the very end, all the staff were amazing and very friendly. Food was extraordinary and service on train second to none. Well worth doing but probably not in 40deg heat :-) love love loved it.

A really great day out. Thoroughly worth the effort. I took my 89 yr old mum on the VIP Club car for a Christmas present. She (and I) thoroughly enjoyed it. From start to finish the day was amazing. The staff were incredibly helpful and kind. All food was delicious and plenty to eat. The train is in beautiful condition. I would thoroughly recommend the experience. If you want a coffee before the train goes make sure you order it from the cafe at the station before 9.30. I was just after and told it was too late. Oh well the coffee at Amamoor was nice and I bought some lovely “wet bags” from a stall too. A bonus ????

Special time with family We loved it, the beautiful scenery was incredible and the kids loved it too. My only tip would be to get there early we had 2 minutes to spare and luckily made it. The tickets say to be there at the tour desk by 9:15 which we missed.

Family Outing The trip was amazing and the staff were a delight to meet, they could not do enough to make sure everyone was safe and happy. Beautiful people who gave us all a memorable experience
10 stars

Great trip for kids. We took 3 of our grandkids on this trip and they loved it. The staff on the train were great with advice and taking time to talk to the kids.

Santa train OVERPRICED!!
A pity there was a toilet blockage. No time to to do much at Amamoor Santa Fair. Long lines for food.

Country tour by Steam Train ???????????? It was a wonderful trip. Carriage attendants were great and told us about thing's around the area's. VERY enjoyable ????