The Cockle Train travels along the oldest steel railed railway in Australia dating back to 1887 when it was constructed to provide a link between the River Murray and the ocean wharfs at Pt Elliot and later at Victor Harbor.

Why is this icon journey called the "Cockle Train"? In early days of settlement the local residents would take a horse drawn train to Goolwa to collect Cockles from the sandy beaches near the Murray mouth. It was a great day's outing and thus gained its name.




The Cockle Train Experience

The Cockle Train is based at our Goolwa Depot and commences its run each day at Goolwa station, in the historic Wharf Precinct alongside the River Murray. After crossing the main Goolwa to Victor road the line heads off across the plains to Middleton, picking up or dropping off passengers on request, and then to Port Elliot where it reaches the Encounter Bay coast. The station here is operated by the local National Trust and features a small historical museum.

After leaving Port Elliot the train climbs to the top of the coastal cliffs and passengers then experiemce some of the most picturesque coastal scenery on the Fleurieu Peninsula, with nothing separating you from the beach below and a perfect view of the Southern Ocean - in winter the home of Southern Right Whale.

After a 30 minute journey the train edges into Victor Harbor station, right in the centre of the town and surrounded with its iconic pine trees. Here, the locomotive is detached from the carriages and turned on our specially retained 30m long electric turntable before rejoining the carriages for the return journey to Goolwa.

The number of trains operated varies through the year. Passengers can buy tickets at any of our stations for one-way jouneys in either direction along the line or for a bargain priced round trip. Trains wait for about 30 minutes at both Goolwa and Victor and roundtrip passengers can extend this period by returning on a later train.





Train Running Dates and Timetables

From Goolwa to - Adult ingle Child Single Adult Return Child Return Middleton $10 $6 $13 $7 Pt Elliot $12 $7 $16 $9 Victor Harbor $21 $12 $26 $15

From Victor Harbor to - Adult Single Child Single Adult Return Child Return Pt Elliot $9 $5 $12 $6 Middleton $11 $6 $14 $8 Goolwa $21 $12 $26 $15

  

From Middleton to - Adult Single Child Single Adult Return Child Return Goolwa $10 $6 $13 $7 Pt Elliot $3 $2 $4 $2 Victor Harbor $11 $6 $14 $8

From Port Elliot to - Adult Single Child Single Adult Return Child Return Middleton $3 $2 $4 $2 Goolwa $12 $7 $16 $9 Victor Harbor $9 $5 $12 $6

Children under 5 years travel FREE          Children 5 to 15 years travel at CHILD fares

Special Round Trip Return Fares are available
Adults   - $26.00          Child   - $15.00
Seniors (holders of State Government issued Seniors Card)   - $23.00
Family (2 adults and 2 children or 1 adult and 3 children)   - $64.00
These fares allow you to join at any station and travel via both Goolwa and Victor in either order back to where you joined




Buying Tickets

The Cockle train does not have reserved seats
Most passengers buy their Cockle Train tickets from Victor Harbor, Pt Elliot or Goolwa station ticket offices on day of travel.

Offices open at least 30 minutes before the first train departure of the day.
At Victor and Goolwa stations we accept cash, VISA and MASTERCARD credit cards and most bank EFTPOS cards.
Port Elliot station only accepts cash.



If you wish you can book an unreserved seat on some services in advance over the internet

  to make an internet, phone or email booking
Have your VISA or MASTERCARD ready



A group booking discount is available to prebooked groups of ten or more. Call 1300 655 991 for details


to return to page showing all services