My Unbiased Review of Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway. Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway is much more than a scenic train ride, as the slower pace makes the journey…
My Unbiased Review of Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway.
Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway is much more than a scenic train ride, as the slower pace makes the journey itself the highlight. It travels through some of the island’s most remote and dramatic landscapes, following tracks built initially to serve the booming late-19th-century mining industry and now restored as a heritage experience. Dense rainforest, deep river valleys, and weathered remnants of the past unfold slowly outside the carriage windows.
I joined the West Coast Wilderness Railway in Queenstown for its Rinadeena, Rack & Rainforest expedition, travelling in the Wilderness (Premium) Carriage, where the combination of comfort, onboard dining, attentive service, and unhurried storytelling made the three-hour journey genuinely memorable.
This post is a detailed personal review of my experience and shares photos from the journey through one of Tasmania’s most remote regions.
About the West Coast Wilderness Railway
The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a historic 34.5-kilometre tourist railway linking Queenstown and Strahan on Tasmania’s rugged west coast, built through cliffs, rivers, and rainforest. It is renowned for using restored 120-year-old steam locomotives and the rare Abt rack-and-pinion (cogwheel) system to climb steep, dense rainforest terrain. Initially built in the 1890s to transport copper from the Mount Lyell mines, the railway offers heritage, wilderness, and dining experiences.
Rack-and-pinion railways are specialised mountain railways designed for extremely steep gradients. The West Coast Wilderness Railway has three kilometres of rack-and-pinion track to haul the train up the mountain between Rinadeena Station and Dubbil Barril Station. In this section, the train climbs from 90 metres above sea level to 270 metres over 2.5 kilometres, reaching a gradient of 1 in 16 and using 3,000 litres of water to cover that distance. It is the steepest steam railway journey in the Southern Hemisphere.
My West Coast Wilderness Railway steam train experience was on the “Rinadeena, Rack and Rainforest” 3-hour expedition, departing Queenstown and featuring off-train activities at Lynchford and Rinadeena stations, with views of the King River and ancient temperate rainforests.
The railway crosses the King River Gorge, a popular spot for river rafters.
This wilderness railway trip was an included excursion on Fun Over 50 Holidays’ 10-day Tasmina tour. It was one of the many highlights of the trip.
Choosing the Wilderness (Premium) Carriage
Travelling in the Wilderness (Premium) Carriage was the decision of Fun Over 50 Holidays when creating the itinerary – an excellent decision at that!
West Coast Wilderness Railway offers two very different carriage experiences. The Heritage (Standard) Carriage features upholstered seating and large windows for scenic viewing. The carriage can accommodate up to 40 passengers.
At the time of writing, the price for travel in the Heritage (Standard) Carriage is $95 per adult and $75 per child. Family tickets are available.
In contrast, the Wilderness (Premium) Carriage offers a more exclusive, relaxed, and personal travel experience:
- Fewer passengers (a maximum of 26),
- Spacious, comfortable leather booth seating with tables,
- Attentive service,
- Food and beverages served on board,
- A dedicated host who shares stories and historical insights throughout the journey, and
- A balcony for up close images as you wind your way through the rainforest.
At the time of writing, the price for travel in the Wilderness (Premium) Carriage is $135 per person. No family tickets are available.
Is the premium upgrade worth it? Absolutely!
The Journey: Highlights Along the Route
Map of the West Coast Wilderness Railway’s Rinadeena, Rack & Rainforest route, which starts and ends in Queenstown.
With its hillsides left bare by 19th-century copper mining, deforestation, and sulphur fumes, Queenstown is not a pretty town. However, soon after leaving the station, the train begins to wind its way through mountainous scenery characterised by dense, cool-temperate rainforest, steep, rocky terrain, and deep, lush gullies.
The train travels through cool-temperate rainforest as it climbs the mountainous terrain.
The journey includes several stops along the route, offering opportunities to stretch our legs, photograph the landscape, and learn more about the region’s mining history.
At Lynchford Station, in a historic former gold-mining area, we could try our hand at gold panning, explore the Pioneer Room to learn about the area’s history, or walk alongside the Queen River through the rainforest.
Don’t leave Lynchford Station without pouring a cup of black coffee into the orange-coloured Queen River beside the station. The river is so polluted from historic copper mining upstream that the black coffee turns green when it hits the water. The Wilderness Carriage host showed this ‘trick’ to a friend and me.
Lynchford marks the start of the steep, dramatic climb through temperate rainforest, mountainous terrain, and rugged wilderness towards Rinadeena. Before reaching Rinadeena, the train uses the three-kilometre rack-and-pinion system to ascend the steep grade, beginning just beyond Halls Creek Siding and ending just before Dubbil Barril Station. It is the steepest incline of any railway in the Southern Hemisphere.
The steam locomotive takes on water on the Rinadeena, Rack & Rainforest journey.
We stopped for half an hour at Rinadeena Saddle. The station offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and untouched rainforest, especially from its overhead bridge. It is here that you realise how remote and inaccessible the area is.
The last stop was at Dubbil Barril Station on the northern bank of the King River. It is the turnaround point for the West Coast Wilderness Railway, where the steam locomotive is turned on a turntable to reconnect with the carriages for the return journey to Queenstown.
The time taken to turn the steam locomotive around allowed me to explore the rainforest adjacent to the station.
A walk through the rainforest at Dubbil Barril Station.
Food and Drink in the Wilderness Carriage
One of the perks of travelling in the Wilderness (Premium) Carriage was the onboard catering included in the fare, a service not provided in the Heritage (Standard) Carriage, where snacks and drinks can be purchased on board or at stations along the way.
Boarding our Wilderness Carriage, we were welcomed with a glass of wine or orange juice and canapés as we departed Queenstown Station. Morning tea and lunch were served at our table during the journey, allowing us to chat with new friends and watch the landscape slowly pass by.
The quality and presentation of the catering elevated the journey, turning the day trip into a dining experience as well as a historic steam train ride. It added a relaxed rhythm to the day and reinforced that this was indeed a premium experience to be savoured by all the senses.
Service and Onboard Experience
Service throughout the journey was warm, knowledgeable, and unobtrusive. The Wilderness Carriage host shared stories and historical context without overwhelming the experience, striking a balance between informative and relaxed.
Questions were welcome, and the host showed genuine pride in the railway and its history. Combined with the slower pace of travel, the service helped create an immersive atmosphere rather than a rushed one.
Travelling aboard Tasmania’s West Coast Wilderness Railway was not just a scenic train ride. As we travelled through dense rainforest, alongside rivers and past relics of a brutal mining past, the journey itself became the highlight. The combination of a heritage steam locomotive, the rare rack-and-pinion climb, and the attentive hospitality of the Wilderness (Premium) Carriage transformed the Rinadeena, Rack & Rainforest journey into an unforgettable adventure.
Whether you’re a railway enthusiast, a lover of the wilderness, or simply seeking a unique Tasmanian experience, the West Coast Wilderness Railway from Queenstown offers a journey that lingers long after you return home.
Disclaimer: This post contains no affiliate links. All views and opinions are my own and non-sponsored. All photos are my own and remain the copyright of Joanna Rath/Just Me Travel.
© Just Me Travel 2018-2026.
Are you planning your own trip to Tasmania and have questions about the West Coast Railway? Drop them below, and I’ll be happy to help.
Like this post? Save it for later!
Author’s Note: Please check the latest travel restrictions before planning any trip and follow government advice.
© Just Me Travel 2018-2026. All rights reserved.
No Comments on FROM QUEENSTOWN INTO THE WILDERNESS ABOARD TASMANIA’S HISTORIC TRAIN
