TASTING TRAIN
Climb on the Mary Valley Rattler for a truly unique experience
The Rattler has a new addition to its weekly services - the Tuesday tasting train. Jump aboard for an epic journey filled with the delights of local produce for lunch at Amamoor.
There’s something romantically nostalgic about taking a trip on the Mary Valley Rattler - the soporific rattle of the old carriages, picturesque rolling hills of the countryside and the promise of a quaint country station at the end of the line.
Add a tasting plate menu designed by celebrity chef Matt Golinski, filled with delicacies from around the Gympie and Mary Valley regions, and the experience is complete.
This is the latest addition to the Valley Rattler’s weekly schedule - a Tuesday Tasting Train - and I was lucky enough to be sharing a carriage with the celebrity chef as one of the first passengers on board.
As the train traversed the Mary Valley at speeds topping 30kph, I marvelled at the irony - slow food at its best.
Travellers were served up a tasting plate with Lindols lemon myrtle macadamias, Piggy in the Middle salami, Kenilworth cheddar, dried Double Creek tomatoes, Lust for Crust sourdough crostini, Trish and Bruno’s Italian leaves, CC’s zucchini relish, Queensland Quail’s scotched quail egg.
At Amamoor Station, a veritable banquet feast was laid before us ... all sourced from local farms and producers. There were Kenilworth cheeses, kalamata olives, Italian greens (a mix of dandelion, chickory, cavolo nero and sorrel leaves) with a lime dressing, a roasted pumpkin and kale frittata using free range eggs and cream from the (Cooloola) dairy we passed by on the train at Dagun, roast chicken from a free range chicken farm at Imbil (Moy Valley chickens), butter made from jersey milk from Dagun, locally-grown baby potatoes, Roma tomatoes from Imbil, capers and caper berries from the Bunya Mountains, kimchi and beetroot relish made by fermentation expert in the Mary Valley, pickled cucumbers from Double Creek and locally-grown peaches drizzled with finger lime honey.
Matt said he happily took on the task of developing a
menu, but said this would change with the seasons and what ingredients were available at the time.
“We have a lot of different growers and producers in the region and I’ve tried to use as many as possible.
“Kenilworth Cheeses are kind of like our Russell Crowe because they’re from Kenilworth. They’re not quite Gympie, but we’ll have them anyway and the beautiful kalamata olives are from Murgon so, once again, not quite us, but they’re kind of like our Crowded House.”
Regardless, the locations are just a hop, skip and a jump away from the Mary Valley.
Mary Valley Rattler general manager Mike Green said the idea of the ‘tasting train’ came from the volunteers.
“We help convert new ideas into new guest experiences ... one of these ideas was to introduce a train service on Tuesday,” he said.
“The idea then organically grew into a tasting train which highlights the local produce of the region.
“I am really excited about this new service. We have also introduced a new VIP footplate experience which allows our guests to get up close with our drivers and experience a return trip on the footplate.”
As we pulled away from the station, bellies full and satisfied, there was time to sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery (after having our tickets dutifully punched by Marilyn) as the train rattled its way back to Gympie.
MARY VALLEY RATTLER TIMETABLE
Tuesday Rattler Tasting Train, 11am-2pm from Gympie Wednesday
Classic Gympie, Rattler plus 11am-2.30pm Service, 9am-noon from Amamoor and 1.30-4.30pm from Thursday
Rattler Picnic Train, 11am-2pm from Gympie Friday
Classic Rattler Friday Service, 10am-1pm Saturday
Classic Rattler Service, 9am-noon and 1.30-4.30pm from Gympie, plus 11am-2.30pm from Amamoor Sunday
All Stations Train Service, 10am-1.30pm stopping at Dagun and Amamoor stations Christmas/New Year
The Valley Rattler has a range of special services for the festive season, including two Christmas Twilight Trains and a Boxing Day Holiday Express train in addition to the regular services. Friday, December 13
Christmas in Amamoor: Christmas Twilight Train, 5-9pm. A special twilight train journey through the Mary Valley to join the Friends of Amamoor Christmas party at Amamoor Station. Food, entertainment and more, with fireworks to round out the night. No BYO alcohol. Friday, December 20
Christmas in Dagun: Christmas Twilight Train, 5-9pm. Join us for an Aussie Bush Christmas, with Christmas carols, live music, dancing and more. Food trucks and beverages available for a bush banquet, with plenty of festive entertainment. No BYO alcohol.
Prices for the Christmas Twilight Trains are: adults $59, concession $49, kids $30 Thursday, December 26
Boxing Day Holiday Express: Departs: 10am. Bookings required.
www.maryvalleyrattler.com.au.