Group & School Bookings

Group and School Bookings

Bring your group to Emerald Lakeside Model Railway

Since 1982, our model railway has been delighting visitors of all ages. Whether you're organising a school excursion, a community outing, a scout troop visit or a private tour, we'd love to host you.

Who we welcome

  • Primary and secondary school excursions
  • Kindergartens and childcare groups
  • Scouts, Guides and youth groups
  • Seniors' groups and social clubs
  • Model railway and hobby clubs
  • Birthday parties and private tours
  • Tour groups
  • And any other group

What your group will see

Our layout is the biggest HO scale model railway in Australia. Spread across a 30 metre by 6 metre space, it features 8 train tracks and a city tram running over 2.6 kilometres of track.

Inspired by European cities and mountains, it also has cute little English villages and many different scenes to discover, so there's always something new to spot, no matter how many times you look.

Visitors young and old can also play our I-Spy game inside the layout room.

Group discounts

We offer discounted entry for groups of 10 or more. Because pricing depends on group size and the day you'd like to visit, please contact us for a quote.

Visits outside our regular opening days

Need a day that suits your timetable? We can open on additional days for school groups, and we also offer private tours for groups who'd like the layout to themselves. Tell us the date you have in mind and we'll see what we can arrange.

Planning your visit

  • How long to allow: Anywhere from 30-60 minutes
  • Getting here: 50 Emerald Lake Road, Emerald. We're close to Puffing Billy's Lakeside Station, so a visit pairs well with a train ride.
  • Parking and buses: Plenty of bus and car parking right beside our building
  • Facilities: Toilets and café nearby, lunch area, wet-weather space
  • Accessibility: Wheelchair and pram access, steps, space to move around

For teachers

The layout is a great way to bring model-making, engineering, scale and measurement, and railway history to life. We can provide printed I-Spy sheets for school groups, which keep students engaged while they explore. 

How to enquire

Please send us a booking enquiry with:

  1. Your group or school name
  2. Your preferred date and an alternative
  3. The number of children and adults
  4. Whether you're after a standard visit or a private tour
  5. Any access or additional needs
  6. The best phone number and email to reach you

Or contact us directly:
Phone: 0419 885 489
Email: emeraldlakesidemodelrailway@gmail.com

We aim to reply within 2 business days.

Booking details

  • Payment: Once your booking is confirmed, an invoice will be provided with payment options.
  • Changes and cancellations: Minimum 48 hours notice is required for changes/cancellations.
  • On the day: Arrive at the Lakeside Station and proceed to the Model Railway.