When people think about day trips from Melbourne, they often think of well-known destinations like the Great Ocean Road, Phillip Island, or the Yarra Valley.
They’re all wonderful experiences.
But if you’re looking for something a little different, one that combines food, scenery, heritage, and a slower pace, we’d love to introduce you to one of Victoria’s best-kept secrets: The Bellarine Peninsula.
And at the heart of it sits The Q Train.
One of the things we hear most often from guests is how easy it is to get here.
Located a little over an hour from Melbourne, The Q Train can be reached by car, ferry, coach transfer, or a combination of all three.
Many guests choose to turn the journey itself into part of the experience by travelling from Melbourne aboard Port Phillip Ferries.
Leaving Docklands in the morning and returning in the afternoon, the ferry offers a relaxed way to cross the bay before transferring to Drysdale Station for your dining journey.
As one recent guest shared:
“We linked this with the ferry from Docklands, so the whole package was curated nicely.”
Another wrote:
“The Q Train was a great day out. We started the day with the ferry from Docklands, pick-up in their minibus to the Q Train station, a welcome drink, an excellent dining experience, and customer service… Returning to Melbourne seamlessly on the ferry the same day.”
For many visitors, it becomes more than just lunch. It becomes an entire day out.
Australia’s premier rail restaurant
The Q Train is a moving restaurant travelling along the historic Bellarine Railway.
Departing from Drysdale Station, guests settle into beautifully restored heritage dining carriages and enjoy a relaxed three-hour return journey to Queenscliff and back.
Along the way you’ll savour a five-course degustation crafted onboard, celebrating local producers from Geelong, the Bellarine and the Otways.
As the landscape unfolds beyond your window, each course arrives at a gentle pace, allowing plenty of time to relax, connect, and enjoy the journey.
It’s a dining experience that’s difficult to describe until you’ve experienced it yourself.
Some day trips are about fitting as much as possible into a single day.
The Q Train is the opposite.
It permits you to slow down.
One guest celebrating a milestone birthday described the experience like this:
“The food was magnificent, as was the wine and the service. Enjoying our return journey up the Bay on the ferry late in the afternoon, we agreed we couldn’t have wished for a better day.”
Another guest praised the seamless nature of the experience:
“Had a wonderful time aboard The Q Train with excellent service from the pickup from the ferry to the train, aboard the train and delivery back to the ferry after the train trip. Food was excellent.”
That’s exactly what we’re hoping to create. Not just a meal. Not just a train ride. A day where everything flows together.
Victoria has no shortage of amazing experiences, but few combine heritage rail travel, local food, regional wine, and coastal scenery quite like The Q Train.
So if you’re searching for:
- Unique day trips from Melbourne
- Must-do Melbourne experiences
- The best food experiences in Victoria
- Bellarine Peninsula attractions
- Things to do near Melbourne
Perhaps it’s time to trade the freeway for the railway.
We’ll have a glass of local bubbly waiting for you.
Explore travel options, including ferry and transfer packages, and start planning your journey aboard The Q Train.
All aboard The Q Train, where local flavours delight, exceptional service unites, and unforgettable memories are made.