Richmond Vale Heritage Railway
The "Need to Knows"
Where:
262 Leggets Drive, Richmond Vale
Richmond Vale Heritage Railway is located in the Hunter Valley. It is 4km from Kurri Kurri, 20 minutes from Cessnock or a 1hr 45 minute drive North of Sydney
When:
Open the first 3 Sundays of every month plus every Sunday during NSW school holidays from 9.30am
Cost:
Adults: $16, Concession: $11, Kids (5-15): $7.50, Under 5’s: Free
Kid friendly?
Yes! Plenty to see and do. Our kids loved the ride on the steam train and the miniature trains as well as working the old signals. Our eldest found the heritage museum interesting.
Nearby: Hunter Valley Gardens (30minutes), The Big Kookaburra @ Kurri Kurri (4km)
More info:
Richmond Vale Heritage Railway provided an interesting activity stop on our roadtrip North. Located in the Hunter Valley, it is close by to both Cessnock (20minutes) and Pokolbin (30 minutes) and is about a 1hr 45 minute drive North of Sydney. Located in a peaceful bush setting, the railway is the only operating heritage railway north of the Hawkesbury.
​
The railway provides unlimited full sized train rides once you have paid your admission. During March- November these will generally be steam powered, with diesel used during Summer or total fire bans. The trains take a track through the bush setting and back, completing a round trip in about 20minutes. Our little train lover was spellbound!
In addition to the big trains, there is also a miniature train operating. There is, however, an additional cost for this- a gold coin donation. Well worth it for the joy of the kids as they go around being pulled by one of the museums 2 locomotives.
​
The railway also houses two museums. The first is located at the entry, and contains a range of artefacts and information about trains and the railway. Further back on the property, a larger museum is located inside the old colliery administration building. This museum contains maps, photos and artefacts that relate to both the history of the colliery and the development of the South Maitland Coalfields. Our kids loved some of the old objects here, including the typewriters and switchboard phones.
​
Another feature of the railway that the kids enjoyed were the old signals. The kids could actually operate these and enjoyed testing their strength in doing so.
​
There is a kiosk and souvenir shop on site and plenty of space to enjoy a picnic while you watch the trains. This was definitely worth the stop- especially if you have a train lover- and was a nice break on our drive through to Tamworth.
