One of South Australia’s most nostalgic day trips has returned for the school holidays, bringing together the much-loved Cockle Train and Goolwa’s historic PS Oscar W for a special Rail and Sail experience on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
The offering gives passengers the chance to spend the day travelling the old-fashioned way, first by heritage rail, then by paddle steamer.
Departing from Victor Harbor, the experience takes guests aboard the Cockle Train for the journey through some of the Fleurieu’s most recognisable coastal towns, including Middleton, Port Elliot and Goolwa.
The Cockle Train is one of South Australia’s most iconic heritage rail experiences, travelling along the oldest steel-railed railway in Australia. The line dates back to 1854, when it was built to link the River Murray with the ocean wharfs at Port Elliot and later Victor Harbor. Today, the route is better known for its relaxed pace and spectacular coastal views.
The name itself is part of the charm. In the early days of settlement, locals would take the horse-drawn train to Goolwa to collect cockles from the sandy beaches near the Murray mouth, turning the journey into a popular day out.
Image: PS OSCAR ‘W’ Friends Incorporated, via Lester
Once in Goolwa, the Rail and Sail experience continues from the historic wharf precinct, where passengers board the PS Oscar W for a one-hour cruise. Built in Echuca in 1908, the Oscar W is a steam-driven, wood-fired paddle steamer and one of the great living pieces of River Murray history.
The cruise gives passengers a chance to see, hear and feel the boat in action, from the working steam engine to the paddle wheels moving through the water. Depending on the route, the cruise takes in the lower River Murray, with views towards the Goolwa Barrage and Hindmarsh Island bridge, before returning to the Goolwa Wharf.
It’s perfect for families looking for some school holiday fun, with plenty of novelty for kids who may never have stepped inside a vintage train carriage or watched a paddle steamer at work.
There is also the option to add lunch into the day, with passengers able to pre-book an Express Lunch at Hector’s Modern Australian Kitchen on the Goolwa Wharf at a special price through the booking process.
When: July 9 and 16
Where: Victor Harbor to Goolwa
For more information and bookings, click here.
