RAILWAY ADVENTURES fully escorted group train tours will take you on an endless variety of rail experiences.
Train traveller, well-known TV personality and travel company owner, Scott McGregor, has experienced some of the world’s most inspiring railway journeys and led scores of exclusive group tours to numerous exotic and romantic destinations over the years.
Rustic, character-filled, zig-zagging railways of Burma, opulent hotels on wheels in India, South Africa and Sri Lanka, steam-hauled heritage trains in some of the most staggeringly scenic parts of the world, dinky little rail-cars in outback Queensland, bullet trains in Japan, cliff-hugging lines in Switzerland and Norwayif it travels on a rail track, I’m there! exclaims the self-confessed train travel tragic.
Train traveller, well-known TV personality and travel company owner, Scott McGregor
Pichi Richi Railway. Photo courtesy Chris Walters
In my mind, travelling by rail is still the most wonderful way to immerse yourself in the country you’re visiting. It’s romantic, relaxing and about as much fun as you can have!
Trains heading in all directions, offering temptations and dreams of faraway places, left an indelible impression on a young, inquisitive boy. A child of the last days of steam trains in the busy junction town of Orange in NSW, Scott has been riding the rails in one form or another ever since.
While Scott’s acting career of 30 years kept him busy starring in numerous TV shows and stage plays, and then as an on-air presenter on programs such as Better Homes and Gardens, Room for Improvement and various Pay-TV programs, his passion for train travel was ever-present.
Presenting a series of Railway Adventure travel programs for Channel 7 was a career highlight, he says with as much enthusiasm now as he had then.
In 2012 Scott decided to combine three of his passions: travel, trains and presenting, and launched Railway Adventures.
Not only does he get to expand his own horizons and indulge his love of train travel, but he also gets to use his extensive hosting experience and love of people to lead other like-minded travellers on tours around the world by rail.
Since then, Railway Adventures has mounted hundreds of tours from Sweden to Sri Lanka, Tasmania to Transylvania, Britain to Burma and Venice to Vietnam, thrilling thousands of travellers.
New tours are launched regularly, inspired by new trains, new routes and the growing interest in taking a train to some of the world’s most fascinating places.
The Gulflander, QLD
Mt Fuji Shinkansen Bullet Train
But you don’t have to be a train nut’ to enjoy a Railway Adventures tour there’s something for everyone!
Just one example of how Scott finds inspiration for a tour can be found in Outback Queensland.
There you find some of Australia’s most eccentric and appealing trains and together with a mail-plane flight over the Gulf and some interesting local coach and boat trips you have the essence of a quintessential Aussie outback adventure.
The sleeper train, The Spirit of the Outback, the Savannahlander and the Gulflander (which has been running on the same timetable for more than 130 years!) are all iconic trains that traverse various parts of the wild Outback, Savannah and tropical rainforest landscapes of the vast state of Queensland.
Along with some other special treats not available to the ordinary traveller, Railway Adventures passengers get to do it all!
One of his favourite journeys is by private train in Sri Lanka. For two weeks every year, Scott charters the Viceroy Special heritage train to tour the island on a gentle rail cruise with a lucky group of travellers.
Staying in luxury resorts and hotels along the way, guests aboard his special train get to travel to almost every corner of the scenic island.
Having a private train at your disposal for an adventure around this magical island is a rare treat and a great way to immerse yourself in the scenery and culture of the country, he enthuses.
Our Vietnam tour makes use of private carriages attached to regular trains to explore that great country in comfort and in South Africa we use a variety of trains including the luxurious Rovos Rail and the Royal Livingstone steam train to move from one incredible adventure to another.
Apart from the obvious joy of seeing a country by train, travelling in a small group of like-minded travellers with a dedicated, experienced tour leader and knowledgeable, English-speaking local guides is what really sets Railway Adventures apart.
The camaraderie that comes from both shared purpose and shared experiences on tour is an important aspect of the journey, Scott adds.
We’ve seen many people become life-long friends from the time they shared together along the line. The best feeling in the world is when I welcome these same people on repeat journeys.
Along with popular destinations like Switzerland, Scandinavia, Outback Queensland and Sri Lanka, a new breed of more unusual destinations has gained great interest.
Java, India and the New England region of NSW are just some of the newer adventures on offer.
As for Scott’s next escape, it’s most likely some quality time at Ruwenzori Retreat, his own personal train on the Great Dividing Range near Mudgee, Central NSW.
Built from a collection of vintage railway carriages, it’s now a boutique tourist accommodation, comprising exclusive Orient Express-style comfort for up to 13 guests.
When the travels are done, coming back to my own train in the beautiful Mudgee mountains is the most restorative and magical time for this committed rail romantic, Scott muses.
For more information go to railwayadventures.com
