South Australia · Attraction
Cockle Train
Australia's oldest coastal railway
schedule 1 min read / Updated Jun 2026
Running along the oldest steel-railed railway in Australia, dating to 1854, the Cockle Train links Goolwa with Victor Harbor via Middleton and Port Elliot. Steam and diesel heritage locomotives haul restored carriages along a stunning coastal route above the dunes of Encounter Bay, with no advance booking required.
The 30-kilometre journey departs from Goolwa Railway Station in the historic Wharf Precinct and hugs the coast past Middleton Beach before pausing at Port Elliot, where passengers can detour into the National Trust station museum, then continuing to Victor Harbor. The locomotive is uncoupled on arrival and turned on a turntable before rejoining for the return trip.
Services operate on Sundays and Wednesdays throughout the year, plus most South Australian school holidays and the full summer season. Steam locomotives haul the train on clear days; a diesel takes over under fire-ban conditions or when the forecast is hot. Tickets are sold at the station on the day, and passengers may board at any station along the route.
The route was originally built to carry goods from the Murray River port at Goolwa to the sea at Port Elliot, bypassing the dangerous Murray Mouth bar. It is the oldest surviving railway in South Australia and remains a practical link between three Fleurieu Peninsula towns as well as a heritage experience.
Where to stay
Holiday parks near Cockle Train.
3 options via our booking partner
BIG4 Port Elliot Holiday Park
10.8km away
NRMA Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park
16.6km away
Victor Harbor Holiday Park
16.9km away
Bookings handled by our partner Parkbooker. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Scenic views
