Kiama Picnic Train, 14-15 and 28-29 November 2026: Steam Train From Wollongong at 10:30am, Fares From $260 a Group (NSW)

The Kiama Picnic Train runs four days in November 2026: Saturday 14, Sunday 15, Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November. From Wollongong the steam-hauled train leaves at 10:30am and reaches Kiama at 12:35pm, with the return leaving Kiama at 4:20pm.

This guide uses the operator’s own Kiama Picnic Train page, checked on 29 October 2026. All times are New South Wales daylight time (AEDT). The times on that page are labelled indicative, so treat them as a plan rather than a promise.

What is the Kiama Picnic Train?

The Picnic Train describes itself as a living museum on rails, run by volunteers, with steam locomotives 5917 and R766 as its star attractions. Passengers ride in 1930s carriages. The Kiama service is its signature journey: a steam-hauled train from Sydney to Kiama and back, which also picks up passengers at Sutherland and Wollongong.

The operator’s page says the train travels through the Royal National Park and along the coastline on the way south. At Kiama there is a long break, and passengers can walk to the Blowhole, sit on the surf beach or browse the shops.

Which dates are running, and where do they start?

The four dates split into two pairs, and the starting station is different for each pair.

Dates	Starts at	Picks up at
Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November 2026	Sydney Central	Sutherland, Wollongong
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026	Tempe	Sutherland, Wollongong

For anyone boarding at Wollongong, the Wollongong times are the same on all four days.

What time does the train leave Wollongong, and when is it back?

The operator publishes one southbound and one northbound timetable. The Sydney end changes between the two pairs of dates, but the Sutherland, Wollongong and Kiama times do not.

Southbound	14-15 Nov (Central)	28-29 Nov (Tempe)
Sydney end	Central departs 8:45am	Tempe departs 8:45am
Sutherland	departs 9:30am	departs 9:30am
Wollongong	departs 10:30am	departs 10:30am
Kiama	arrives 12:35pm	arrives 12:35pm

Northbound	14-15 Nov (Central)	28-29 Nov (Tempe)
Kiama	departs 4:20pm	departs 4:20pm
Wollongong	arrives 5:15pm	arrives 5:15pm
Sutherland	arrives 6:40pm	arrives 6:40pm
Sydney end	Central arrives 7:30pm	Tempe arrives 7:30pm

That gives a Wollongong passenger about three hours and 45 minutes in Kiama, from 12:35pm to 4:20pm. The operator asks passengers to arrive at least 20 minutes before departure. For a 10:30am Wollongong departure, that means being on the platform by about 10:10am.

How much does it cost?

The operator says all fares are for same-day return travel. Most seat types are sold per group, not per person, so the price depends on how many are travelling together.

Seat type	Price	What the operator says
DUO ticket	$260 per group	Seating for two people, two window seats guaranteed, with a table
Four seater booth	$360 per group	Four-seat booth with a table in a classic non air-conditioned heritage saloon carriage
Group of 4 seating, air conditioned lounge car	$360 per group	Four seats together in an air conditioned lounge car. This car does not include picnic tables
Private compartment	$550 per group	A whole compartment in a heritage non air-conditioned carriage, up to eight people including children, fitted with tables
High tea, first class dining car	$179 per person; $340 for a group of 2; $620 for a group of 4	Air conditioned dining car with morning high tea going south, and afternoon tea with a cheese and meat platter coming home. Tea and coffee all day

The operator adds that single high tea tickets are seated at a shared table of four, that bookings of two are also at a shared table of four, and that high tea does not cater for any dietary requirements. It also asks buyers to pay special attention to the number and type of seats they select before purchasing.

Which seat type should I pick?

The operator does not rank its seats, so this is a way to read the price list rather than a recommendation from the operator.

• Two people: the DUO ticket at $260 per group is the cheapest listed way to guarantee two window seats with a table.
• Four people: both the four seater booth and the air conditioned lounge car are $360 per group. The booth has a table; the lounge car does not have picnic tables.
• Five to eight people: the private compartment at $550 per group covers up to eight, including children.
• Anyone who wants a meal on board: only the high tea tickets include food, served in the air conditioned dining car.

Two of the seat types are in heritage carriages that the operator describes as non air-conditioned, so choose with that in mind.

What can I bring on board?

The operator encourages passengers to bring their own picnic hampers. A buffet car sells light snacks and drinks.

• Bring-your-own alcohol is allowed and alcohol can also be bought from the buffet car. The operator says the Picnic Train is now a licensed venue.
• Alcohol is not sold to anyone under 18, and the crew is trained to ask for proof of age.
• No alcohol may be taken off the train or drunk off the train.
• Large eskies are not permitted.
• There are no charging points in the heritage carriages, so the operator suggests an external battery charger for phones.

Can I take a pram or a wheelchair?

Space is limited. The operator says large prams and mobility equipment cannot be taken aboard. A small collapsible pram can come, as long as it is folded and ready to go into the overhead luggage racks when the train arrives at the platform. Babies in arms and small toddlers who do not need a booked seat travel at no extra cost.

The page says to call if in doubt. Its contact page lists the operator’s details, and the Terms and Conditions and FAQ are linked from the same page. Anyone who uses a wheelchair or walker should ask before buying.

Toilets are available in most carriages, but they are locked while the train is in metropolitan areas.

What is there to do in Kiama with 3 hours 45 minutes?

The operator names three things: the Kiama Blowhole, the surf beach and the shops. Lunch is the one thing it asks people to plan: if you intend to eat in Kiama, it says to book beforehand to avoid disappointment.

The operator’s page says passengers may disembark at Kiama, and that the ticket is for the round-trip journey aboard the train only. That means the fare does not cover anything in town. Allow enough time to be back on the platform before the 4:20pm departure.

Will a steam locomotive actually haul the train?

The operator says the Kiama train will be hauled by one of its restored steam locomotives, but it also says the locomotive rostered for each service cannot be guaranteed and may change for operational reasons, with or without notice. It adds that the ticket is for the journey and does not depend on the locomotive advertised.

If you are booking mainly to see steam, treat that as the one real uncertainty. The seat, the route and the Kiama visit are the parts the operator is selling firmly.

Will the times change?

They can. The operator says the times are indicative, that departures and arrivals may change at any time, and that an update email goes to the booking contact a couple of days beforehand with final details. On the day, the onboard crew keeps passengers informed.

Is there an alternative if I only want to get to Kiama?

This article is about the heritage train, not the regular timetable. The Picnic Train is a separate service with its own tickets, and its own page covers booking. For an ordinary trip, check the Transport for NSW timetable.

Sources

• The Picnic Train — Kiama Picnic Train (dates, fares, timetables, conditions)
• The Picnic Train — home page

Featured image: the steam locomotive R766 hauling The Picnic Train, photographed in 2022 (photo: SpottoBotto / CC BY 4.0) (text added).

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with The Picnic Train. Event details can change; check the organiser’s page before you go.