Train buffs traveling to Australia can do...

Train buffs traveling to Australia can do a two-day tour aboard an antique steam line. Owner spent seven years restoring five passenger cars, a club car. Calls it the Melbourne Limited. Regular departures from Melbourne. Besides the train ride, passengers go cruising on a paddle-wheeler, visit the village of Swan Hill, attend a formal dinner. Overnight accommodations are part of the package. The two-day excursion runs about U.S.$210. Details from the Victorian Tourism Commission, 3550 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles 90010 or telephone (213) 387-3111.

Memories of Hawaii

Rick Davis publishes a magazine for Mainlanders who’ve fallen in love with Hawaii and the South Seas. Calls it Aloha. It’s Hawaii’s answer to the slick Arizona Highways magazine. Stunning pictures, features on Hawaii and destinations beyond. Price: $14.95 a year. Davis also publishes a bimonthly newsletter. Same price. Contains money-saving tips. Latest issue tells about B&B; bargains, a car/hotel package in Honolulu ($59, double occupancy), honeymoon opportunities. Write to Davis, 828 Fort Street Mall, Suite 640, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-4377.

Parking Discount

You can park at LAX for only $2.50 a day when reserving a rental car from Holiday-Payless in other cities: San Francisco, San Diego, Las Vegas, Park City (Utah), Denver and Colorado Springs. Leave your car at Holiday-Payless parking structure, 6355 Westchester Parkway, one block west of Sepulveda (this is two traffic lights north of LAX). Show the attendant your rental contract when you return from your trip. This entitles you to the $2.50 daily fee. Holiday-Payless operates a free 24-hour shuttle to the various terminals at LAX. For information call (213) 645-2100 or (800) 451-7800 outside the 213 area code in California.

American Youth Hostels

Dozens of trips are on the books--China to British Columbia--with American Youth Hostels. Rates as low as $20 a day, including group-prepared meals. Everything from llama packing adventures in Oregon to a 70-day transcontinental bike trip. Designed for bicyclists, hikers, canoeists, rail/van buffs. A series of 16-day budget tours called “Europe on a Shoestring” for under $1,000. This organization represents more than 5,000 hostels, worldwide. For a free copy of the World Adventure Catalogue, write to the Los Angeles Council, American Youth Hostels, 1502 Palos Verdes Drive North, Harbor City, Calif. 90710 or call (213) 831-8846.

Bikers

If San Francisco is everyone’s favorite city, then Vermont must be everyone’s favorite state. Anyone who visits Vermont succumbs to its charms. Scenes straight off an old-fashioned kitchen calendar. Bicyclists love it. Catering to this group are innkeepers who promote bicycle/walking tours. Two days to a week or more. Five inns are involved in the program. Luggage is transferred for you from inn to inn each day. Should your bicycle break down, the innkeeper will drive out and pick you up. Rates are $60 per day. This includes breakfast and dinner. Rent a bike if you don’t have your own. Details from Cycle Inn Vermont or Walk Inn Vermont, RFD 4, Chester, Vt. 05143.

Other trips offered by Vermont Bicycle Touring, P.O. Box 711-PX, Bristol, Vt. 05443 (Vermont, New Hampshire, New York); Vermont Country Cyclers, P.O. Box 145-88, Waterbury Center, Vt. 05677 (Vermont, New York, New Hampshire, Maine); Country Cycling Tours (Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts), 140 West 83rd St., New York 10024.

Meanwhile, Don Finch of Ten-Speed Tours tells about trips by bicycle in Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy. For brochures, write to Finch at Ten-Speed Tours, 11517 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles 90025 or telephone (213) 477-1534.

Miss Liberty

A huge party is planned July 3-6 in New York honoring the face lift and 100th birthday of the Statue of Liberty. President Reagan will lead the unveiling ceremony and a parade of tall ships will anchor near Liberty. Big bands will entertain at a mini world’s fair featuring dancing, ethnic foods, arts, crafts. Former L.A. Philharmonic conductor Zubin Mehta will be joined by classical music stars during an evening concert. For details on the various events, write to the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau, Department SL, 2 Columbus Circle, New York 10019.

Invitation to England

During the summer, the Marquess and Marchioness of Hertford are pleased to host up to three couples a night at Ragley Hall,their magnificent 115-room home on 8,000 acres of farmland, nine miles from Stratford-on-Avon. Included in overnight stays are a champagne reception, drinks before dinner, vintage wines with dinner and vintage port and liqueurs after dinner. Service in the style of British aristocracy with the best china, linen, crystal and cutlery gracing the table and uniformed servants in tow. Full English breakfast is served in the morning. Rate per couple per night is 360 including breakfast, dinner, V.A.T. and all service charges. For more information: First Resort Corp., 200 Madison Ave., New York 10016, telephone (800) 235-3505.

Reader Recommendations

England--Mr. and Mrs. Emil Krieg, Lakewood: “Fully equipped, self-catering apartment that sleeps four persons near London. Available for $146 per week for two people. Contact Tony Bareham, the Ridge, Ridgeway, Horsell-Woking, Surrey, England.”

England--Mr. and Mrs. Donald Cain, Fountain Valley: “We tried a B&B; you recommended in 1983 and it was the highlight of our trip. The Amberwood, 65 Walnut Road, Chelston, Torquay TQ2 6HU, England, run by Jean and Peter Wilson. Excellent location, immaculate, cozy little hotel and cordon bleu meals. The Wilsons were wonderful hosts. B&B; rates 11.25 per person, B&B; and dinner, 16.75 per person.”

England--Robin Duncan, Mission Viejo: “Recommend Eagle House in Bathford. A quiet, comfortable stay. Mr. and Mrs. John Napier were helpful, efficient hosts.” A Georgian house with 1 1/2 acres of garden, three miles from Bath. Rates from 32.50 double with continental breakfast. John and Rosamund Napier, Eagle House, Church Street, Bathford, Avon BA1 7RS, phone Bath (0225) 859946.

Australia--Mrs. James Fiorina, San Gabriel: “During our second recent trip to Perth we stayed at the Carlton Hotel, 248 Hay St. East, Perth, Western Australia 6000. Within walking distance of downtown and the beach, this B&B; hotel is operated by Bob Johnson and his wife. Comfortable accommodations, TV lounge, billiards and dart room plus bar. Food was excellent and rates are Australian $32 double.”

Ireland--Louise and Erig Berg, Westchester: “We found a quaint Irish country inn at Killary Harbour, Leenane, Connemara. The rooms were cozy and warm and the home-style cooking was superb. Only $10 for B&B.; Write to Mrs. Sally Roberts, Leenane, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.”

France--Franklin R. Garfield: “For the past three summers my wife and I have taken biking tours in France with Europed, owned and operated by Peter Boynton. The bicycling tours combine moderate exercise, beautiful scenery, marvelous food and all the charm of the French countryside. Emphasis is on back roads, little villages and out-of-the-way places. Six-day Provence Tour $895; seven-day Dordogne Tour $1,085; 13-day Champagne/Burgundy tour, $1,695. Write Europeds, 883 Sinex Ave., Pacific Grove, Calif. 93950. Telephone (408) 372-1173.”

Mexico--Mrs. Frank Robertson, Richmond Hill, N.Y.: “On a recent trip to Baja California Sur we stayed at the Vista Hermosa which overlooks a river mouth and was comfortably cool. Accommodations were clean, food was good, with almost any dish made to order. Rooms were $35 per night. Write to Hotel Visa Hermosa, Camino al Puerto S/N, Mulege, B.C.S., Mexico.”

Readers: Your recommendations should contain the addresses of hotels, inns, restaurants, as well as prices whenever possible. (Please print or type.)