Visit the closest historic gold-mining village to Melbourne for a Private Gold Mine Tour. Wonder at how this tiny place was once home to the most productive gold mine in Victoria. Marvel at how Walhalla was one of the first towns in the world to have electric lighting and a phone line in its mine.

 Feel history come alive as you visit this once thriving gold-mining town from the 1860s and get to experience what life was like for the citizens and miners over 150 years ago.

In your Walhalla 1-day Gold Mine tour, you’ll ride the historic Goldfields Railway, be guided through this historic township, with every building having a fascinating tale to tell, and finish with an incredible underground tour of the actual Walhalla Long Tunnel gold mine.

Wallhalla Goldfields Railway Ride

All aboard for a ride back into history. On this heritage-listed train, you will depart from the historic Walhalla Train Station and cross the spectacular Stringers Creek over 6 large historic trestle bridges. This enthralling train ride winds its way through the majestic forests of Happy Creek, before your final crossing of the Thompson River on a historic bridge first built early last century. Your final destination is the gorgeous station of Thompson with its cute picket fence harking back to long-gone days.

Walhalla Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine Tour

On this underground gold mine tour, you will step into a mine left exactly as it was on the final day the last miners stepped out. You’ll walk deep underground into the mountain and feel what it was like for miners who worked what was once the most productive mine in Victoria. Follow in their footsteps along a level, easy walking 50-minute tour. See displays showing how the miners worked and what they did on their breaks some 260 metres underground. See the massive Machinery Chamber hewn from solid rock. Get an up-close view of the famous Cohens Line of Reef, one of the richest gold reefs ever found in Victoria.

• 7:45am – Pickup – Be greeted at your hotel or other city accommodation by your friendly, knowledgeable tour guide.

• 8:00am – Journey – Head east of the city along the South-Eastern freeway for a 2-hour drive to Walhalla. You will pass through some of Melbourne's finest suburbs before the land opens up to pastures and premium grazing land.

• 11:00am – Walhalla Goldfields Railway. Hop aboard for a wonderful meandering historic railway ride as you criss-cross the 6 large trestle bridges spanning the spectacular Stringers Creek Gorge. Pass Happy Creek station before crossing the historic Thompson River bridge and then returning back to the cutest little railway station you are ever likely to see. (Wed, Fri, Sat)

• 12:00pm – Lunch Time in the Goods Shed. Salads and cool drinks in summer, soups and crusty bread in winter.

Note: As this is a private tour, we can adjust the itinerary to suit your needs.

• 1.00pm – Walhalla Township Walking Tour – Take a guided walk around this historic township with a local historian who will beguile you with stories and tales from a more prosperous time when Walhalla boasted a population of over 5,000 people and had a court, post office, bank, police barracks, school, church, Mechanics Institute, its own newspaper, debating, acting & singing groups, plus over a dozen hotels!

• 2:30pm – Walhalla Long Tunnel Extended Gold Mine Tour – Step into the past as you walk in the actual footsteps of the miners in the very tunnel that once produced more gold than any other mine in Victoria.

• 3:30pm – Departure – We head back out of the valley for a leisurely drive through the Baw Baw National Park, past Cooper Creek and Jacob Creek as the view opens out to the sweeping farmland of the Warragul region.

• 5.30pm – Return – Sadly the day comes to an end as we return you to your city hotel or other accommodation where you’ll sleep soundly after a delightful day.