Mary Valley Rattler offers special Australia Day service

The team at popular Queensland tourism attraction - the Mary Valley Rattler - plan to celebrate Australia Day by providing entertainment on the platform before and after the train journey and advise a “true blue Aussie BBQ will be available at Gympie Station” along with Australian "staples such as lamingtons, vegemite and cheese scrolls, scones and picnic baskets can be purchased for the train journey.”

Passengers on board the Australia Day service have the opportunity of meeting the drivers, and taking in the history of Gympie Station, one of the largest and most stylish examples of timber railway architecture.

Riding on board the heritage steam train is like riding back in time to an era when everything was slower, a time when the Mary Valley railway line was the driving force of the community and local economy.

Plans for the railway began in the late 1860s, when the name Gympie was synonymous with gold. Initially the rail line linked Gympie to Maryborough, and in 1891, the line to Brisbane opened, servicing the region until the 1990s, when commuter and freight services ended and the new tourist railway was launched to provide visitors with the opportunity of travelling through one of Queensland’s most beautiful landscapes.

The Rattler's 46-kilometre round trip starts at Gympie and after crossing over the Mary River, chugs its way rhythmically around an abundance of curves, across bridges and numerous gentle hills.

The journey passes through Dagun, home to a beautiful heritage station before continuing to the quaint community of Amamoor, where the train is turned on the restored turntable.

There’s a gift shop too, along with Rusty Rails Café offering dine in or takeaway options that can be consumed aboard the Rattler.

In addition to café and local shop offerings in Amamoor a trolley with light refreshments will be making its way through the carriages for on board purchases.

Perfect for the whole family, ticket prices for the Australia Day service are $65 for an adult, $35 for a child, with a special family ticket covering two adults and two children available for $175.  A first-class carriage is also available with premium-service options. The Rattler is wheelchair accessible and passengers have the opportunity to bring their pet aboard as well.

Bookings and further details www.maryvalleyrattler.com.au