Overnight Sleepers: 7 Places To Stay In A Train Carriage In NSW

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Have you noticed your little one has tunnel vision? Or have they simply signalled an interest in trains that is just not running out of steam? Enough of that!

Before this derails any further, let’s get back on track with a list of places to stay with train carriages. Here are seven awesome overnight sleepers in NSW. Trust us, they're first-class!

1. Redleaf Farm Carriage Stay

Redleaf Farm Carriage Stay - Overnight Sleepers: Stay In A Train Carriage In NSW
Carriage 1238 - a passenger car from the 1920s that maintains its historical charm


Wake up amongst the gumtrees in an old-school, refurbished train carriage at Redleaf Carriages, set on a 270-acre property in the Southern Highlands. 

While at a collectors junkyard in Sydney's North West, brainstorming how they could share their unique way of living (TV and WiFi-free!) city-dwellers, Katrina and Sam Sparke came across what they now call the '343' - an abandoned silky oak timber guard's carriage. This now resides at Redleaf, where the couple has brought its beauty back to life with plenty of sanding, polishing, and patching up with locally-sourced river oak. It is powered only by solar!

Redleaf also owns Carriage 1238 - a passenger car from the 1920s that retains its old timber interiors, (complete with almost 100 years of graffiti), plus a chandelier and original sliding doors. Original toilet compartments are at either end, with one converted to a shower. Carriage 1238 deck overlooks the paddocks for an immersive farm experience.

Where: Fitzroy Falls, Southern Highlands

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2. Krinklewood Cottage & Train Carriages

Krinklewood Cottage & Train Carriages
The ornate interior of a Krinklewood Train Carriage


The restored self-contained train carriages at Krinklewood Carriages in The Hunter Valley, boast some unique original features and period pieces. Some have combustion fires and all have BBQ facilities. You can choose to stay in one of the following themed carriages:

The Royal: Sleeps 2 for a romantic getaway and is beautifully restored with French antiques and a bath.
Orient: Sleeps 4 and is decked out with exquisite Rosewood and Jarrah.
Safari: Sleeps 8 (has two compartments) renovated with an African theme - great fun. 
Victorian: Sleeps 8 and has a great deck for entertaining. 
Chardonnay: Sleeps 12 and is the best for a get-together or a group for a concert.

There is also a tennis court, a 10-person spa, an aboveground pool and a lovely cottage that sleeps 10. Relax around the grounds or hire a Grapemobile bike next door to visit the 7 vineyards in the same laneway, along with The Verandah Restaurant.

Where: 333 Palmers Lane, Pokolbin 

Sydney Railway Square YHA

Railway Square YHA
A fun family getaway at Central Railway station!


This is a bit of a fun surprise for Sydneysiders and the idea of a super cool and affordable treat for families. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, stay inside an old red rattler - funky railway carriage on platform zero at Central Railway station!

Railway Square YHA has a 4-bed Family Room, so you can catch the train to stay on a train, in one of the comfy rooms in the historic main building. The hostel features free, fast Wi-Fi throughout the property, 24-hour access, a tour desk, indoor and outdoor communal areas and a self-catering kitchen, right in central Sydney.

Where: 8 - 10 Lee St, Sydney

3. Ruwenzori

Ruwenzori Train Carriages
Ruwenzori's unique train accommodation includes four large antique railway carriages 


Live out your Orient Express dreams in the much-loved Ruwenzori retreat just outside of Mudgee. Surrounded by 25 hectares of lush bush, there are four large 100-year-old carriages for your train fans to enjoy. Although small children are absolutely welcome, the retreat does note that they are not childproof. Visitors love staying here time and time again - and why wouldn’t they? It is set in a magical location and the host is TV personality (and railway enthusiast), Scott McGregor! 

Where: 193 Ridge Rd, Cooks Gap

4. Little Forest Country Cottages

Little Forest Country Cottages
Little Forest  is a popular Southern Highlands destination.


A little over an hour from Sydney in the picture-perfect Southern Highlands, you’ll find Little Forest - a beautiful farm with the apt tagline 'where every day is Sunday'. The Angas is a one-hundred-year-old sleeping carriage originally built by the South Australian government. It was one of fifteen carriages that travelled between South Australia and Victoria in the ’20s. You can also explore the nearby towns of Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale and Robertson.

Where: 800 Old Hume Highway, Alpine

5. Ba Mack Farm Stay

Ba Mack Train Carriage
The Ba Mack 'Red Rattler' Train Carriage


Chug along into Mudgee to stay in this luxurious Red Ratter train carriage at Ba Mack Farm Stay. As it's located on a farm your kids get the double experience of farm animals too!

The Ba Mack Train Carriage has been renovated and lovingly decorated with a rustic country atmosphere. There are lots of soft toys for the children to play with as well as books, a fully equipped kitchen and two bedrooms (with a cot for babies if required). A full country cook-your-own breakfast is provided with sausages, bacon, eggs, hash browns, tomatoes and cereals, jams and their yummy freshly baked homemade bread as well as tea, coffee, hot chocolate, marshmallows, milk and juice. There's also complimentary afternoon tea daily and complimentary Kid’s Club available every afternoon with lots of fun activities!

Where: 1367 Windeyer Road, Windeyer

6. Carriageway

Carriageway
The restored ‘Red Rattler’ train carriage at Carriageway.


Set on Williams River at the gateway to the World Heritage Wilderness area of Barrington Tops, Carriageway offers unique and beautiful accommodation for families or larger groups.

Experience a memorable stay in a fully-restored red rattler train with a queen bed and bunks that caters for up to six. The carriage is fully self-contained with air conditioning and screened verandah to take in the view. They offer swimming, train spotting, bird watching, fishing, picnics and a cubby house, slide and swing for the kids.

Where: 4426 Clarence Town Road, Dungog

7. Madison’s Mountain Retreat

A perfect place for family holidays, not far from Sydney, Madison’s Mountain Retreat near the Blue Mountains offers two converted, self-contained train carriages and several cottages. Facilities include an indoor pool and tennis courts, plus there are goats, alpacas and chooks to collect eggs, bush tracks and even a Thomas the Tank Engine train set for the kids. What more could you want for your energetic train fans?

* The two refurbished train carriages are temporarily unavailable as they were damaged in the bushfire *

Where: 1880 Bells Line of Road, Kurrajong Heights

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