Lynchford Express
Step onboard our heritage train at Queenstown Station for a short journey to Lynchford, a former gold town tucked just outside the valley. This experience is a simple taste of the West Coast Wilderness Railway, perfect for visitors who want a lighter heritage adventure or are short on time. Travel in our restored carriages as the train rolls out of Queenstown and into the forest. Along the way, our guides share a brief insight into the pioneers, prospectors and railway workers who shaped life on the West Coast. At Lynchford Station you can explore the nearby mine shafts and learn about the gold rush that once brought hundreds of hopeful prospectors to the area. Guests are invited to try their hand at gold panning at the site where Cornelius Lynch famously uncovered a nugget the size of a cricket ball in 1881. You can also visit the small kiosk for a drink or step inside the Pioneer's Room, where you will find a compact display of local minerals and stories that explain the region's mining history.