Thursday: Central Station, Sydney - Temora

It’s all the fun of the fair at Central Station on the first morning of your tour with a gathering of Elvis look-alikes, and performers to send us on our way. Your exclusive train, “The Elvis Special ‘’, another icon from the 1960’s, is your home away from home for the next four days. Once on board you can recline in your private compartment or join us in the lounge car for a more social affair.

Our journey takes us along the main southern line, where we begin the steep climb up the range to the Southern Highlands. The train rolls into Moss Vale where we transfer to the renowned Centennial Winery for a wine themed lunch and the first ‘Elvis’ performance of our tour. David Cazulet has been bringing the songs and music of Elvis to life for over two decades and his tribute show will set the scene for the days ahead while we dine on local delicacies and a glass of wine (or two).

After lunch there’s a couple of Off Train Experiences to choose from. The first being to the extraordinary world class collection of antique carnival rides, grand music machines and rare memorabilia at Fairground Follies and the other to Retford Park, the grand mansion and stunning gardens of the Fairfax family. Both of these tours are hosted by expert guides and will conclude with a transfer back to the station around 5:00pm for the continuation of our journey down the Main Southern line.

Dinner will be served in the dining car after which you can retire to the lounge bar to continue your celebrations to a rock and roll soundtrack, or relax in
your quiet and cosy private compartment. Around 10:00 pm our train will swing onto the Riverina branch line pulling up a little later at Temora, where the ‘Elvis Special’ will be stabled for the night, ensuring a quiet, stable environment for your evening rest. (L,D)

Subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control.

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Friday: Temora - Bribbaree - Parkes

After breakfast in the Dining Car you have some free time to wander the main street and explore some of what Temora has to offer before our train departs. If you have any interest in our military aircraft history, you may like to join Scott on a visit to the Temora Aviation Museum.

The next stage of our rail cruise takes us east through the village of Stockinbingal, an important railway junction where we switch onto the cross country railway, part of the future ‘Inland Rail’, that will take us north toward Parkes. One of the numerous crossing loops on this line is the halt of Bribbaree, our destination for lunch in the village’s classic old Aussie pub, The Rusty Horse Inn, right beside the railway. Here we’ll relax over a drink or two and some fine pub grub while a local entertainer keeps our music juices flowing.

Back on board, we continue our journey north through Forbes to Parkes, arriving in the late afternoon just in time to enjoy the evening’s Elvis Festival events. You’ll have tickets to one of the events tonight, to be confirmed once the program has been released. Afterwards, rejoin the fun at the Main Stage or come back to the train at your leisure. Your home away from home on wheels will be parked on its own safe and accessible siding in the heart of town for the next two nights so you can come and go as you please. (B,L)

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Saturday: Parkes

This is the day you’ve all been waiting for! Just after breakfast in the Dining Car we wander up town to grab a spot to view the Grand Street Parade – unless you’d like to join in yourself, in which case, go for it! The Parkes Elvis Festival has been running for over two decades and has been growing in size and reputation every year. Thousands gather to watch and perform and the town is alive with a ‘gyration’ of Elvis impersonators and ‘wannabes’, with a supporting cast of all kinds of characters, classic cars, and no end of memorabilia. The street parade brings it all together in a cavalcade of colour and movement to a soundtrack that rocks.

The new outdoor stage in the main park in the centre of town is the hub for Elvis fans today, hosting a non-stop line up of performers. This day is yours to enjoy all the events on offer – the main stage free entertainment, the eclectic markets, and the various shows that are presented in the air-conditioned comfort of the Leagues club, the Services club and the many pubs around town. Your all inclusive ticket for the Festival hop-on hop-off bus will enable you to loop around the venues and museums all day.

This evening you’ll have reserved seats at the Parkes Leagues Club to enjoy the headline show of the Festival with the celebrated Elvis tribute artist, (soon to be announced). You are guaranteed of a great show with one of the country’s top artists and it doesn’t get much better than that when it comes to Elvis impersonators! (B,D)

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Sunday: Parkes - Central Station, Sydney

This morning after a hearty Sunday breakfast on the train you’re free to wander up to the main stage at the park for the Elvis Gospel service, if that’s your thing. For those who may be interested, you can renew your marriage vows at a special ceremony and/or join the church service before we head off just after midday.

As the train leaves Parkes and starts the steep climb to Orange and the Central Tablelands lunch will be served in the Dining Car while our train continues onto Blaney
and Bathurst. The long summer afternoon is ideal for soaking up the scenery along the Fish River past Lithgow and over the Blue Mountains.

Dinner is served along the way and your train rolls into Central later in the evening. This is the point in the program where you can announce that ‘Elvis has left the building’. (B,L,D)

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