The Gracelander: Heritage Steam to
Castlemaine and Bendigo - Saturday 9 July
Join 707 Operations for the Gracelander day tour to Castlemaine and Bendigo on Saturday 9 July. Celebrating the Bendigo Art Gallery's Direct From Graceland Elvis Exhibition, the Gracelander will take you from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station to Bendigo for a day trip, or if Elvis don't shake you up, change trains at Castlemaine and join the Victorian Goldfields Railway and travel to the historic township of Maldon. Your fare fore the days includes entry to the Direct From Graceland exhibiton or travel on the Victorian Goldfields Railway. Book your tickets here.
Our train will depart from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station at 9.10 am and arrive into Castlemaine at 11.15 am and Bendigo at 12.40 pm. You can select from either option:
---At Castlemaine, you have the option to change trains and travel with The Victorian Goldfields Railway on their heritage steam train service to Maldon. You'll have ample time in Maldon to enjoy lunch, returning to Castlamine in time to connect with the Gracelander on it's return journey.
---At Bendigo, a shuttle bus transfer will link you with the Bendigo Art Gallery where you can immerse yourself in all things Elvis. Created in partnership with Graceland, the exclusive Elvis: Direct from Graceland exhibition explores the extraordinary life and style of Elvis Presley. One of the most iconic public figures of the 20th century, Elvis's influence on music, design, art, and pop culture was profound. He is arguably the single greatest influence on the history of modern men's fashion, constantly referenced and re-mixed by designers and celebrities today.
Your train ride on the Victorian Goldfields Railway, or transfers and entry into the Elvis: Direct from Graceland exhibition are included in your steam train fare.
Enjoy your afternoon in either Maldon, or Bendigo before your steam train returns to Melbourne. Departing from Bendigo at 4.58 pm and Castlemaine at 5.30 pm.
Our 707 Operations moving heritage train museum train features:
- Fully restored and Air Conditioned 1950's saloon style and compartment style sitting carriages
- A fully licensed Club Car and Lounge Car (Lots of room to spread out, meet new friends and enjoy a drink
- Cafe Hudson espresso bar and selling a wide range of drinks, hot foods and light refreshments
- Heritage steam locomotive R707 "The City of Melbourne" built in Scotland in 1951 for the Victorian Railways
- A relaxed vintage travel atmosphere
Saloon Carriage Club Car Compartment Seating
The trip provides a great opportunity for a group of friends and family to enjoy a catch up while travelling on a heritage train trip to the heart of Victoria's goldfields. The Victorian Goldfields Railway and the quaint Maldon township are an ideal destination for a day excursion, and the Elvis Exhibition in Bendigo: The King is in Bendigo, so get ready to shake, rattle and roll on The Gracelander!
Generous group discounts apply. Please contact us for more details.
Full carriage charter is available on board The Gracelander. Please contact our office for a detailed quote. Full carriage charter is the perfect setting for a family, school or office function. Catering is available if required.
Fares
| Bendigo and the Graceland Exhibition | Castlemaine and the Victorian Goldfields Railway | Castlemaine or Bendigo Rail Only | |
| Adult | $130 | $130 | $99 |
| Child (4 to 16 yrs) | sold out | $40 | $20 |
| Child (under 4 yrs) | sold out | free | free |
| 707 Operations Member | sold out | $115 | $84 |
| Compartment for upto 8 people | sold out | $910 | $690 |
All fares inclusive GST and include entry to the Bendigo Art Gallery Direct from Graceland Exhibition or travel on the Victorian Goldfields Railway.
Please contact us larger group (e.g. family gathering, workplace group or school) fares.
Catering is available if required.
Train Travel Times
The following train times are approximate and subject to change. SMS updates will be sent to all booked guests prior to this slow rail journey, and an email confirming actual times will be sent three days prior to departure.
| To Bendigo | To Melbourne | |
| 9.10 am | Southern Cross Station | 8.05 pm |
| 11.15 am | Castlemaine Station | 5.30 pm |
| 12.40 pm | Bendigo Station | 4.58 pm |
Passengers may join or leave the train at any of the above stations.
For other information about travelling on our train - visit our frequently asked questions page.
COVIDSafe Travel
You'll also notice some subtle (but necessary) changes as you travel with us in 2022. We've adopted a COVID-Safe plan in line with Government requirements. You'll notice extra on-train cleaning, extra hand sanitising and capacity restrictions in carriages on many of our future journeys, as well as contact tracing documentation prior to boarding. Our volunteers will be on hand to make the check-in and travel process as streamlined as possible, but we do ask for your cooperation to follow all published guidelines when on board our trains.
Refund Policy
Book with confidence: If you develop COVID-19 symptoms prior to our departure, please email us (contact@707operations.com.au) to discuss your options. The safety of you, other booked guests and our volunteers is our priority.
Revised: 15 June 2022