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%22From nowhere to nowhere%22
Gulflander has now closed for the 2021 season.

The Gulflander will resume operations for the next season from Wednesday 16 February 2022, dependant on favourable weather conditions.

See you in 2022!
2
Normanton Station
Gulflander has now closed for the 2021 season.

The Gulflander will resume operations for the next season from Wednesday 16 February 2022, dependant on favourable weather conditions.

See you in 2022!
2

View the Gulflander Brochure (PDF, 3.5MB)




A legend of the outback

Take a journey aboard the legendary Gulflander for a rail journey unlike any other. Originally built to connect the once bustling river port of Normanton with the rich gold fields of Croydon, today the Gulflander is a tourism icon.

From wetlands and grasslands to the arid Savannah, the 1950 railmotor, also known as the 'Tin Hare', ventures through countryside that most people would never see. This nostalgic rail journey is the perfect way to discover an area steeped in pioneering history and heritage. 

Our Normanton Officer-in-Charge, Station Master and Driver of the Gulflander, Ken Fairbairn, takes visitors on a unique rail journey through some of Northern Queensland's iconic Gulf Savannah landscapes.

Normanton was the port for the Croydon Gold Rush, with the Normanton Railway Station featuring preserved Victorian architecture. Croydon is a small town with a big history which started with the discovery of gold in 1885. 

As the Gulflander only carries a small number of passengers, you will experience a friendly atmosphere which adds to the charm. Enjoy morning tea en route as the on board accredited Savannah Guides keep you entertained with trivia, species identification, amusing stories and colourful characters.

Step back in time and discover a rich pioneering history and the incredible Gulf Savannah country aboard the Gulflander.

Vaccination requirements

There are new vaccination requirements for our customers from 17 December 2021. For more information please check the Travel Safe page.






 

From nowhere to nowhere
One of a kind
A tale to tell

From nowhere to nowhere

Affectionately said to go from ‘nowhere to nowhere’, the Heritage-listed Normanton to Croydon line was never connected to the state rail network and remains the only line in Queensland still measured in miles.

One of a kind

The Normanton to Croydon line was laid in a fashion not found anywhere else in the world. With an innovative sleeper design, seasonal flood waters flow over the line to lessen flood damage. A testament to the ingenuity of this design, today much of the original rail and sleepers laid between 1888 and 1891 still remain.

A tale to tell

The drivers and onboard staff of the Gulflander are accredited Savannah Guides. During your journey you will learn about the diverse Gulf landscape and its rich past. Fascinating trivia, species identification, amusing stories and colourful characters, staff aboard the Gulflander will keep you entertained throughout.


As a working tribute to the Gulf of Carpentaria’s early pioneers, the Gulflander is a once in a lifetime experience.






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    Certificate of Excellence 2019                            
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We love hearing from our customers and are delighted to be awarded the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence in 2019. 

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