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    Nestled amongst the towering rainforests, cool fern gullies and native flowers of the Emerald Lake Park precinct, the Lakeside Visitor Centre combines its natural surroundings with the authentic sights, smells, and sounds of Puffing Billy Railway to offer guests a cultural hub with world class facilities.

    Dine in at the modern café, explore the walking trails, go swimming (during summer!), hire a bike, discover steam artifacts in the Lakeside Hall before jumping on board your steam train, or host an event in a private function room.

    Whether you're after outdoor adventure or total relaxation, the Lakeside Visitor Centre is the perfect destination to meet, eat, drink, and spend your day whiling time away with family and friends!

    The Lakeside Hall Museum, located within the Puffing Billy Lakeside Visitor Centre. Puffing Billy's original locomotive 3A can be seen sitting on a plinth, as can a variety of other historic assets and interpretive displays.

    • Opening Hours

      Monday - Thursday | 9 am - 4.00 pm
      Friday - Sunday | 9 am - 4.30 pm

    • Admission

      Free

    • Cafe Menu

      View Menu

    • Changing Places

      Accessible adult change facilities

    Dining

    After a big day of outdoor adventure and family fun, reward yourself with a delicious bite to eat! Morning Tea, lunch or a quick cup of coffee, the Railway Café caters to all tastebuds.

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    Functions

    Set in the scenic surrounds of Emerald Lake Park, the Lakeside Visitor Centre features indoor and outdoor event spaces, local food and wine, and inspiring group experiences. Celebrate anything from birthdays and private dinners to an engagement party or milestone event.

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    Activities

    Every day, there is plenty to see and do off the rails. Hire an e-bike and explore the Eastern Dandenong Ranges Rail Trail. Learn all about the Railway in the Lakeside Hall. Or simply settle into the Railway Café with a coffee flight and a good book. 

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    Plan your visit

    Start your journey on board our open-side carriages through the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, with lush fern gullies brushing past and Mountain Ash trees towering overhead.

    Plan Your Visit

    Directions and Parking

    • Address: Emerald Lake Road, Emerald VIC 3782 (View Map)

    • Council-operated ticketed machines apply - $2 for 2hrs / $8 for a full day

    • If you or someone in your travel party has accessibility requirements, there are accessible car parking spots available.

    PARKING OPTIONS

    There are two carpark options in the Emerald Lake Park precinct:

    1. Lakeside Visitor Centre carpark (200+ spots) - to access, turn left at the fork on Emerald Lake Road, cross over Lake Treganowan and past the railway level crossing. Follow this road around and past the bus drop-off and accessible parking zone. General parking is to your right.
    2. Lakeside carpark (114 spots) – to access, continue straight and past the fork on Emerald Lake Road where you will find a cul de sac of car park spaces.

    Council-operated ticketed machines apply - 2 for 2hrs / $8 for a full day

    If you have any access requirements, you will find more information under the point about Reduced Mobility Access to Puffing Billy Railway further down on this page. 

    Lakeside Visitor Centre Facilities Map 2022

    Reduced Mobility Access

    Car Parking and Arrival

    PATHWAYS | There are paved pathways to Lakeside station and the Lakeside Visitor Centre from the car park. Please note that due to the topography of the area, the pathways are steep and/or narrow in places. 

    Concrete Steps From Top Lakeside Car Park. The steps has handrails and there is a wooden bench at the bottom of the steps. A concrete path continues on.
    Steps From Top Lakeside Car Park

    ACCESSIBLE CAR PARKING SPACES | The Lakeside Visitor Centre has accessible car parking spots in two different locations, both located within the Emerald Lake Park Precinct, Emerald Lake Road Emerald (view map here):

    • Lakeside Visitor Centre Main Car Park: Three accessible car spaces. From there, access to the station platform is via a ramp. Please note that this ramp has a moderate gradient (see photos below).
    Road sign showing the directions to two accessible car parking areas as well as a public car park.
    Signage shows the way to the two accessible car parking areas at the Lakeside Visitor Centre.
    Three accessible car parking spots, with a zebra crossing opposite.
    Accessible Car Parking Spots near the main entrance to the Lakeside Visitor Centre.
    A paved pathway curves to the right down to main entrance of the Lakeside Visitor Centre. The modern centre can be seen on the right, with a black roof, while the heritage Lakeside station is on the left with warm yellow walls and red roofs. There are handrails along the path, which is on an incline.
    Paved pathway from the accessible car parks to the main entrance to the Lakeside Visitor Centre and Lakeside station.
    • Lakeside Visitor Centre Loading Dock: Two accessible car spaces. From there, you can access the Centre via a short wig wag pathway and step-free access to the alfresco deck entrance (see photos).
    Two accessible car parking spots next to a building with black cladding.
    Paved walkway with white picket fence to a train platform.
    Pathway from the accessible car parking spots at the loading dock to the alfresco entrance.
    Ramp up to an alfresco deck. A train platform is located adjacent to the ramp.
    A ramp provides step free access to the Lakeside Visitor Centre Alfresco Entrance.

    LAKESIDE VISITOR CENTRE ACCESSIBILITY | The Lakeside Visitor Centre has step-free access throughout and features one of the Dandenong Ranges' few Changing Places Adult Change Facilities.

    A concrete corridor next to a cafe
    Lakeside Visitor Centre Corridor Next To Cafe

     

    EMERALD LAKE PARK PRECINCT ACCESSIBILITY | Emerald Lake Park features many pathways to explore the precinct. The pathways around the lake have some paved and some gravel sections. Please note that due to the topography of the area, the pathways are steep and/or narrow in places.

    Accessible Toilets

    The Lakeside Visitor Centre features both an accessible toilet as well as a Changing Places toilet.

    Sensory

    A MULTI-SENSORY EXPERIENCE

    At Puffing Billy Railway, some areas are busy with a mix of multimedia, loud noises, low light, indoor exhibits, loud trains and/or strong smells. However, there are also quiet, light areas that are further from the train and with fewer people.

    Cafe inside the Puffing Billy Lakeside Visitor Centre. The cafe is busy, with many people sitting down to eat at the same time.
    The Lakeside Visitor Centre's Railway Cafe.
    View of Emerald Lake (Lake Treganowan)
    View of Emerald Lake (Lake Treganowan)

    If you or anyone in your travel party experience sensitivity to sound, we recommend that you bring headphones or ear plugs along for your visit to Puffing Billy Railway.

    Listen to Puffing Billy's Whistle

    Ever wondered what Puffing Billy's train whistle and engine sound like? Have a listen here! 

    SOMETHING TO CONSIDER

    You will be travelling on board a century old steam train that uses coal to fuel the fire and get the locomotive moving! This coal turns into soot and smut and occasionally when sitting in our open carriages can travel through the air and land on your lap or sometimes in your eyes. We want you to enjoy a scenic ride through the magnificent Dandenong Ranges, so please consider this part of the experience before embarking on your journey. To best avoid the soot and marvel at Puffing Billy’s steam, passengers can bring along a pair of sunglasses or, if preferred, goggles, or bring along a hat.

    SENSORY MAP

    We have a Sensory Map available for the Lakeside station and Lakeside Visitor Centre precinct.

    Map of the Lakeside Visitor Centre and surrounding area, highlighting low sensory and high sensory areas as well as parking, access and facilities.. Map of the Emerald Lake Park Precinct, showing low sensory and high sensory areas, facilities, parking and access.

    Download Sensory Map (PDF 5.3 mb)

    Our story

    The Lakeside Visitor Centre, adjacent to Lakeside Station and sitting at the heart of the Railway, was developed to enhance the visitor experience within the surrounding Emerald Lake Park precinct.

    Renowned architects Terroir designed this cutting-edge facility in stark contrast with the neighbouring heritage station, while retaining a connection to place through design features that reflect the region’s rail heritage and environment.

    The new state of the art 2,500sqm building features expansive windows that bathe the centre in daylight while providing unparalleled views of moving steam locomotives, as well as interior Tasmanian Oak and exterior Silvertop Ash hardwood cladding.

    Enhancing the visitor experience further are purpose-built indoor and outdoor event and dining space configurations and an historical interpretive zone - the Lakeside Hall - that give guests a glimpse into the early days of steam train travel.