Planning Your Visit to the National Railway Museum

The National Railway Museum is located within the heritage precinct of Lipson Street in Port Adelaide. The Museum features locomotives, railway carriages, a train ride, exhibits and displays housed within two large fully enclosed pavilions and around the extensive Museum grounds. Be sure to check our What's On page for information about our Events and Exhibitions.

Please be advised that for safety and security reasons, many of our locomotives and carriages are locked off.

Port Adelaide Map (PDF)

Museum Map (PDF)

 

What's on offer at the Museum

How to get here

Food options

Access and facilities

Group and school bookings

More to see and do

 

Train Rides

Take the family on a ride around the Museum site on our free small train ride, included in price of Museum admission. Trains generally run once every half hour.

Ride the Semaphore Train along the beautiful Semaphore coastline, one-way or return from Semaphore foreshore to Port Malcolm.

 

Displays

Steam and diesel locomotives are on display, as well as royal carriages, brake vans, passenger cars, maintenance vehicles, carriages from the Tea and Sugar train, and a range of railway ephemera. Explore the mechanical and social history of the railways, and try out our train simulator!

 

Museum Shop

The Museum Shop has a range of railway books, DVD’s, souvenirs, toys and ice creams.

 

Archive

The Museum houses an impressive collection of Australian railway heritage items, including photographs, artefacts, documents and ephemera. The Archive is open by appointment and also offers an enquiry service (fees may apply). Please visit the Collections page of this website for details.

 

Party

Host your kid’s next birthday party in the café car, includes free train rides. See the Functions and Commercial page for more information.

 

Tea and Sugar Train

Climb aboard and play with the interactives on the iconic Tea and Sugar Train and learn about how the train helped and serviced isolated communities along the Nullarbor Plain.

 

Model Railway

Completely constructed at the Museum by skilled model railway enthusiasts, this display highlights the extensive variety of scenery and terrain through which the railways of this State have operated; sea ports, the open plains, country towns, the Adelaide Hills and suburbia.

 

Push and Pull

The kids will enjoy playing with interactive bells, levers and buttons around the Museum. The train simulator is a great way for kids to learn about driving trains. 

 

How to Get Here

To help you plan your bus or train trip to the Museum visit the Adelaide Metro site, which includes timetables and a journey planner.

 

By Rail

The Museum is about a 15 minute walk from the Port Adelaide Railway Station on the Outer Harbor Line. From the Station, walk north along Commercial Road, turn right into Godfrey or Butler Street. The Museum is directly ahead on Lipson Street.

 

By Bus

Buses that service Commercial Road, parallel to Lipson Street, include Routes 117, 118, 150, 230, 232, 252, 254, 254X, 350, 261 and 361. Of these, Route 150 is the most direct.

 

Cycling and Walking

The Museum is located in central Port Adelaide and the route is well signposted. Cycling or walking is an ideal way to see the many attractions in Port Adelaide.

 

By Car

• From Adelaide via Port Road (Route A7)
• From Glenelg via Tapleys Hill Road (Route A15) or Military Road
• From northern suburbs via Port River Expressway (A9)

There is free parking adjacent to the Museum and in nearby streets, however please be aware that this parking is shared with the other residents and businesses around the Port.

 

Food Options

The Museum has covered outdoor eating areas with tables and chairs, visitors are welcome to bring their own food and drink. There are also vending machines onsite containing snack foods, cold and hot drinks.

The Port boasts an impressive and diverse range of cafes, pubs, bars, bakeries and eateries located at the north end of Lipson Street, St Vincent Street, Commercial Road and in the nearby Port Canal and Port Adelaide shopping malls. Nearby Semaphore is also home to many delicious places to eat.

 

Access and Facilities

• Accessible parking is available in the Museum carpark, near the Museum Shop.
• Wheelchairs are available free of charge, please enquire with the Bookshop.
• We have wheelchair accessible toilets.
• Support dogs are also welcome.
• We provide pass out tickets.

 

NRM Visual Narrative

• This PDF is a visual narrative of the NRM.
• May be of assistance for our visitors with autism.

 

Facilities for Parents of Young Children

• A change table is available in the women’s toilets and in the accessible toilet.
• The Museum does not currently have a dedicated breastfeeding area, however breastfeeding is welcome at the Museum. There are seating areas located around the Museum site.

 

Dogs

• Sorry, only support dogs are allowed on the Museum site.
• Dogs are allowed on the Semaphore Train, but must be on a lead and under full control. Dogs travel free.

 

Group and School Bookings

• For group and school bookings please contact our the Museum Shop directly by phone: 8341 1690.
• Groups must be a minumum of 10 people.
• Information about school bookings can be found on the Learn page.

 

More to See and Do

The Port Adelaide area boasts the following attractions, which you can combine with a visit to the National Railway Museum:

South Australian Maritime Museum

South Australian Aviation Museum

Port River Dolphin Cruises

Pubs, restaurants, cafes and art galleries

 

 

Port Adelaide Visitor Information Centre

For helpful and knowledgeable information about where to stay, what to see, do and experience in the Port Adelaide region visit the Port Adelaide Information Centre on Commercial Road, Port Adelaide; housed in the historic site of the former Port Adelaide Police Station.