Great North Island Steam & Diesel Tour

Duration: 12 Days

Price: NZ$8,990

Departure From: Auckland

Departure Date: 11 June 2025

Tour Type: Escorted Tour

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Selected Meals

Physical Grading: 2/5

ENQUIRE NOW

Join the Glenbrook Vintage Railway as we experience some of the country’s best of the scenic railways under steam power as we embark on the Great North Island Steam & Diesel Tour.

Embark on an extraordinary adventure aboard Glenbrook Vintage Railway’s private heritage train, travelling through the North Island’s less travelled railway routes, where breathtaking scenery meets the golden age of rail. This is a journey to be appreciated at leisure; our steam locomotive maintains a gentle pace, allowing ample time to absorb the ever-changing landscapes as we make our way south.

Experience legendary feats of engineering like the Raurimu Spiral and enjoy the rare opportunity of steam-hauled travel between Te Kuiti and Palmerston North. Each day covers a comfortable distance of railway, with plenty of time to appreciate the beauty of the journey and capture stunning memories in remote locations only accessible by rail.

The tour coincides with the Federation of Rail Organistaion’s NZ (FRONZ) 50th Anniversary celebrations, making it a must for rail enthusiasts. Further south, explore destinations like Napier’s Art Deco cityscape, with overnight stays in captivating locations such as Ohakune and Napier. Exclusive experiences including an Art Deco Car Tour and a Winery visit in Hawke’s Bay add to the charm of this one-of-a-kind rail adventure.

Our June 2025 tour is fully escorted, ensuring an unforgettable experience filled with history, nature, and nostalgia. Travel by steam and heritage diesel and experience the romance of rail travel at a relaxed and unhurried pace.

North Island Steam Tour
Ww 644 in action hauling our dedicated charter train of heritage carriages.

Great North Island Steam & Diesel Tour Highlights

  • Steam Haulage by Ww644; Ww 644 was built at Hillside Workshops in Dunedin and entered service in 1915 in the South Island for the NZGR (New Zealand Government Railways). After withdrawal in 1969 she journeyed under her own steam from Greymouth to Auckland in 1970, finding a new home at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR).After years in storage, a restoration began in 2002, returning to service in 2007. In 2018, Ww 644 underwent an extensive overhaul, including the fitting of a new modern boiler, culminating in certification for mainline operation in July 2022. This restoration not only preserved a piece of New Zealand’s rail heritage but also reinstated Ww 644’s presence on the modern rail network. The locomotive’s inaugural passenger journey on the national rail network in over five decades occurred in March 2023.
  • Skyline Rotorua; Stratosfare Restaurant and Bar offers one of the best buffets in New Zealand with incredible views overlooking Lake Rotorua and the city. Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring a stunning array of freshly prepared dishes highlighting locally sourced seafood, meat and produce. The contemporary ambience features luxurious Italian marble, granite, schist, timber and David Trubridge lights, while the panoramic view of Lake Rotorua offering a sight to behold.
  • Horopito Motors; Horopito Motors, affectionately known as “Smash Palace,” is a renowned vintage car dismantling yard, established in the 1940s by Bill Cole, it has grown into the largest vintage car dismantler in Australasia, boasting a vast collection of vehicles ranging from the 1920s to the 1970s
  • Art Deco Napier; Napier is renowned for its art deco architecture, a charming relic of its post-earthquake rebuilding in the 1930s. This coastal city boasts a vibrant cultural scene, with galleries, boutique shops, and cafes lining its streets, offering visitors a taste of its eclectic charm.

Please see below for a full list of tour inclusions and a detailed itinerary.

For customers not wanting to attend the FRONZ celebrations at the end of the tour in Palmerston North, please make this known at the time of enquiry and we can adjust the tour price and include a return journey to Auckland or other onward destinations.

For alternate New Zealand rail-fan and steam heritage tours, please click here.

Diesel Rail Tour New Zealand
Diesel traction through the Manawatu Gorge

Great North Island Steam & Diesel Tour Options

If you are looking for a shorter version of this great tour, consider these options:

  • 7 Day Mini Tour departing Wednesday 11th June – The itinerary remains the same as per the 12 day tour. On day 7 your tour concludes in Napier. You are free to find your way home or continue to explore independently. For those flying to Auckland or elsewhere a shuttle will be provided to the Napier Airport for connecting flights at 9am.
  • 5 Day Mini Tour departing Wednesday 11th June – The itinerary remains the same as per the 12 day tour. On day 5 your tour concludes in Ohakune. After breakfast we will arrange transport to meet the Northern Explorer for a return journey back up the North Island Main Trunk to Hamilton or Auckland to conclude your tour.

For a detailed itinerary, departure details, and booking conditions, please see below.

Click here for alternate Heritage Rail Tours designed for Steam enthusiasts or rail-fans.

Tour Inclusions

    • Travel aboard the exclusively chartered GVR Tour Train
    • 12 Nights’ Accommodation in premium, unique stays – pre-booked on a twin share basis.
    • Gondola Ride, Buffet Dinner at Skyline Rotorua
    • Visit to Horopito Motors, Tangiwai and Ohakune Rail Museum
    • Visit to Oruawharo Homestead & Lunch
    • Exclusive group charter of Art Deco Car Tour
    • Wine tasting and tour at Mission Estate Winery
    • Visit to Fell Locomotive Museum & Silver Steam Railway
    • Premium Seating on FRONZ 50th Excursion Trains
    • Welcome & Farewell Dinner
    • Morning and Afternoon Tea aboard GVR Tour Train
    • Activities, coach transfers and relocations as stated in the inclusions and/or as detailed on this website or in the brochure
    • Shuttle/bus transfers to/from accommodation as detailed, as required
    • All Breakfasts, 12 Lunches & 2 Dinners

Pricing Notes

    • Advertised price based on per person, twin share
    • A single supplement is available
    • Price will vary depending on the date of departure.
    • Cancellation and amendment charges will be advised at the time of booking
    • Price is subject to change unless paid in full
ENQUIRE NOW

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 | Auckland to Tokoroa by Heritage Diesel Train - Rotorua (L,D)
Today our Glenbrook Vintage Railway charter train hauled by Heritage Diesel Locomotive DBR 1254 takes us on the historic Waiuku Branch Line, before turning right at Paerata where we join the North Island Main Trunk Line to Pukekohe for passenger pickups with connecting AT Metro Services. We then continue to head south through the lush farmlands surrounding Franklin and the Bombay Hills. We descend down to Pokeno and Mercer, where we join the mighty Waikato River - passing through significant swamplands and through rolling countryside. Arriving in Hamilton we stop here to pick up those joining us from Rotokauri or Frankton Stations before we head East on the busy - freight only - East Coast Main Trunk Line. Departing Hamilton (Frankton) we journey under the centre of Hamilton, through the old underground station, and across the Claudelands bridge over the Waikato River. We then travel east in a straight line through the Ruakura Innovation Park and out towards Morrinsville. At Morrinsville we turn right, passing over the Piako River, and follow gentle curves through to the junction at Waharoa. Here we proceed straight ahead to continue down the Kinleith Line (the route of the old Rotorua line), to our destination of Tokoroa. At Tokoroa we transfer to our coach which transports us to Rotorua and our night's accommodation. After our arrival into Rotorua, and with time for dinner we head to the famous Skyline Rotorua. High above Rotorua we indulge at the Stratosfare Restaurant Buffett Dinner with the panoramic views of Rotorua, the Lake and Mokoia Island our backdrop for the evening
Today, we bid farewell to Rotorua and journey by coach to Te Kuiti, where Steam Locomotive Ww 644 and our GVR Tour Train await. Stepping back aboard, we prepare for a spectacular day of steam travel through the heart of the North Island. As we depart Te Kuiti, we leave behind the mighty Waikato and venture into the rugged beauty of the King Country. Soon, we cross the historic Waiteti Viaduct, the oldest on the North Island Main Trunk. Feel the rhythm of the locomotive as it works steadily, its beat echoing through the hills. The train begins its climb toward the Porootarao Saddle, a challenging section of track that has tested steam engines for generations. With a rush of steam, we plunge into the darkness of the 1.5-kilometre-long Porootarao Tunnel, a gateway between the watersheds of the Waikato and Whanganui rivers. Emerging on the other side, the landscape opens up, revealing the meandering Ongarue River Valley below. As we continue, the landscape shifts, revealing rolling farmland, dense native bush, and remnants of old railway settlements. The train gently winds its way toward Taumarunui, a town that came to life with the arrival of the Main Trunk Line. Once a vital junction where passengers transferred between river steamers and trains, Taumarunui remains an iconic railway town, its history etched into the tracks beneath us. With steam curling into the afternoon sky, we ease into the station, where Taumarunui’s rail heritage greets us at every turn. This is a place where time slows, and the spirit of the Main Trunk lives on.
As we depart Taumarunui, the rhythmic beat of Ww 644 echoes through the valley, signalling the start of an unforgettable climb into the volcanic heart of the North Island. Today, the locomotive will be working hard, it’s all uphill from here. Our journey begins alongside the Whanganui River, a waterway steeped in Māori legend. The river served as a natural highway for generations, connecting settlements deep in the King Country to the coast. As we skirt the settlement of Piriaka, the land begins to rise, and Ww 644 digs in for the climb up the Kakahi Bank, now following the Whakapapa River, which flows from the snowfields of Tongariro National Park. The small settlement of Owhango soon appears, its history tied to the timber industry. A century ago, sawmills here processed vast amounts of native timber, with workers relying on the railway to transport goods through this rugged land. We then pass Oio, a quiet remnant of the once-bustling milling town that supported railway workers and bushmen. Then, we reach one of the most famous feats of New Zealand railway engineering; the Raurimu Spiral. This world-renowned section of track was the solution to an immense problem: how to gain 132 meters in altitude in just a few short kilometres without steep gradients that would defeat the locomotives of the time. Feel the power of the locomotive as we tackle the Spiral, a moment that has thrilled rail travellers for over a century. At the summit, we emerge onto the Central Plateau, where the landscape shifts dramatically. The dense forests give way to open tussock lands, and the towering peaks of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe, and Ruapehu dominate the eastern horizon. These volcanic giants are part of the UNESCO-listed Tongariro National Park, a place of immense cultural and geological significance. For centuries, Māori have revered these mountains, and today, they stand as both sacred landmarks and a breathtaking backdrop to our journey. Beyond the alpine village of National Park, we continue across the Waimarino Plateau. Here, we traverse some of the most spectacular viaducts on the Main Trunk Line. The Makatote Viaduct, soaring 79 meters above the river below, is a stunning feat of early 20th-century engineering. Soon after, we approach the Hapuawhenua Viaducts, both old and new. The original 1908 Hapuawhenua Viaduct, remains standing as a testament to the railway’s history, now repurposed as a walking and cycling bridge. Meanwhile, we cross the modern Hapuawhenua Viaduct, built in 1987, a sleek replacement that allows trains to glide high above the forested valley below. As the afternoon casts it's long light across the plateau, our train rolls into Ohakune. Once a bustling railway town, Ohakune’s history is deeply entwined with both rail and agriculture. Here, we pause for two nights, with time to breathe in the crisp mountain air, reflect on the journey so far, and prepare for the adventures ahead.
Today we have a leisurely pace, starting with a visit to the world-famous Horopito Motors, a family run business and the largest vintage automotive dismantler in Australasia. A visit here is sure to intrigue and bring back fond memories of days gone-by. We retrace yesterday's steps and watch our Steam Engine cross the mighty Makatote Viaduct and 'chase' it back to Ohakune. Again we 'chase' it to Tangiwai where there is time to reflect on NZ's worst rail disaster before again catching our train cross the Whangaehu River and returning to Ohakune. This afternoon we have a visit to the wonderful Ohakune Rail Museum where you can learn more about the Tangiwai disaster from the educated team of volunteers and locals. The remainder of the day is provided free at your leisure to explore the many short walks and township of Ohakune.
As we depart Ohakune today, our journey begins with a gentle run toward the Whangaehu River, passing the site of the Tangiwai Disaster of 1953, a tragic moment in New Zealand's history. The locomotive's beat changes as we begin the climb up the Waiouru Bank, where the train steadily makes its way into the rugged terrain. We wind through the valley of the Hautapu River, a quiet and picturesque stretch of countryside, before reaching the dramatic Turangarere Horse Shoe Curve. From here, we arrive in the town of Taihape. Leaving Taihape behind, we make our way toward the Rangitikei River valley. Beginning with the Toi Toi Viaduct we start of a series of stunning crossings as the land drops away below us to the Rangitikei River. The Rangitikei North Viaduct, standing 81 meters high and stretching 160 meters across the gorge marks the first of the big three viaducts. Our next viaduct, the Kawhatau Viaduct, stands 73 meters high and 160 meters long. Here, we catch a glimpse of the confluence of the Kawhatau and Rangitikei Rivers. Continuing on, we approach the final of the three viaducts, the Rangitikei South Viaduct. At 78 meters high and 315 meters long, this engineering marvel spans the river gorge with elegance and strength. Further on we drift through the township of Managweka before bursting through the tunnel of the same name. As we emerge back into the open air we cross the impressive Makohine Viaduct. Completed in 1902, this steel giant stretches 229 meters long and rises 73 meters above the valley floor. Its striking presence has made it one of New Zealand’s iconic railway landmarks. From here, we continue our journey, passing through Hunterville and the rail junction of Marton, linking the Main Trunk to the New Plymouth line. As we continue south, we travel through the gentle rolling hills of Kakariki and Halcombe, the scenery becomes softer, the land more open, until we finally arrive in the Manawatu region. Our arrival at Palmerston North signals the end of our steam powered leg of the journey.
This morning we relocate to the railway station from our hotel and we depart north-east towards Napier on the Palmerston North – Gisborne line, powered again by Diesel Locomotive DBR1254. Passing through the breath-taking Manawatu Gorge, now only accessible by rail, we pass through Woodville where we stop briefly before we continue north. Rolling through the meandering countryside, north of Dannevirke we cross the six famous viaducts of Mangatera, Piripiri, Mangatewainui, Makotuku, Ormondville and Kopua. We make a stop in Waipukurau for lunch at a local eatery and time to stretch the legs. The Pekapeka Wetlands signal our entry into the horticultural heart of the Hawkes Bay, often quoted as ‘The fruit bowl of New Zealand’ where we soon greet the coastline south of Napier, shortly before arriving into the heart of town. We are relocated to our accommodation in Napier’s scenic centre.
Today is a leisurely day in Napier with a twist. This morning we split into groups and we have the opportunity to travel by vintage car around Napier and learn about the Art Deco scene and the 1936 earthquake that made Napier in to the Art Deco capital. There is also plenty of free time and the opportunity to explore the town at your leisure. In the afternoon we venture as out to one of the Hawkes Bay's most notorius wineries for a tasting and tour.
Today’s travel retraces our steps, back down to Woodville. Leaving Napier we once again roll through the lush orchards and growing areas of central Hawkes Bay. You hear the locomotive work hard as we head up the Opapa Bank, the steepest on this part of the line between Napier and Woodville. Between Waipukurau and Dannevirke we pass through several old towns of New Zealand, now reminiscing at their glory days in the height of the New Zealand Railways. At Woodville we get the chance to see the Woodville Balloon Loop, an iconic piece of rail infrastructure as we head on our journey further south, down the Wairarapa Line. This line is not used by any scheduled freight or passenger services. Having crossed the Manawatu River, and passing the famous Tui Brewery at Mangatainoka we stop at Pahiatua for lunch and time to look at the Pahiatua Railcar Society’s magnificent collection. Here we relocate to a bus for our last leg of the journey, our departure from Pahiatua sees us climb through stunning native bush up to Mount Bruce and in to the Wairarapa. Arrivng in to Masterton late afternoon.
After a leisurely start to the day, we continue by bus through the Wairarapa to Featherston, near the foot of the former Rimutaka Incline. Here we stop for lunch and a visit to the Fell Locomotive Museum learn the history of this unique piece of railway engineering and the only Fell locomotive left in the world. Departing Featherston we climb over the Rimutaka Hill into the Hutt Valley before we make a visit to the delightful Silver Stream Railway where we will embark on a journey along their line before a chance to look at the collection of locomotives and rolling stock that is preserved here. From Silver Stream we finish our journey alongside the Hutt River before we arrive on the shores of the Wellington Harbour and our accommodation in Wellington for the night.
This morning we have an early relocation to Paekakariki to board our train to Palmerston North. We leave the Kapiti Coast and coast along the rolling farmland and market gardens as we travel through the towns of Otaki and Levin. Skirting the foot of the Tararua Ranges and passing through the rural townships of Shannon and Tokomaru, we arrive back in to Palmerston North. This afternoon we partake in the start of the festivities before relocating back to our accommodation. The evening is provided free at your leisure.
Today our journey takes us on one of the steam and diesel excusions over the weekend of celebrations involving several heritage groups. Further details of exact trips will be confirmed in due course - possible destinations to be confirmed later include Whanganui and Ohakune by steam and diesel.
Today our journey takes us on one of the steam and diesel excusions over the weekend of celebrations involving several heritage groups.

For more information about this tour, price queries and updates on specials, please Enquire Now.