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Taieri Gorge Railway

Duration: 5 Hours

Price: from $149 per person

Departure From: Dunedin

Departure Date: Sept-April; Thurs-Mon, Most weekends in winter.

Tour Type: Day Tour

Physical Grading: 1/5

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The Taieri Gorge Railway is an unforgettable heritage rail journey through New Zealand’s stunning landscapes, taking passengers on a scenic adventure through dramatic gorges and over historic viaducts.

The Taieri Gorge Railway offers an extraordinary journey that begins at the majestic Dunedin Railway Station, widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s most impressive and iconic buildings. With its stunning architecture, the station sets the stage for an unforgettable adventure.

As you depart from this historic hub, the journey takes you through the heart of the Otago region, where the landscape transforms in breathtaking stages. Traveling through the renowned Taieri Gorge, the train winds its way through a rugged, awe-inspiring canyon carved by the Taieri River. Passengers are treated to sweeping views of steep cliffs, deep ravines, and dramatic rock formations, creating a sense of wonder at the raw beauty of the land.

Taieri Gorge Railway
The Taieri Gorge Railway weaves its way alongside the Taieri River.

The route to Pukerangi is marked by striking contrasts in the surrounding countryside. Starting in the verdant farmlands, the scenery gradually shifts to a more wild and untamed environment, with dense forests giving way to rocky terrain and open plateaus. The train’s vintage rolling stock, including beautifully restored carriages that echo the past, and the powerful, nostalgic locomotives, bring a sense of history to the ride, evoking the spirit of the golden age of rail travel.

As the train crosses impressive viaducts and tunnels, each one offering more thrilling views of the gorge below, you’ll feel as though you’re journeying through a lost world. The panorama of the Southern Alps in the distance adds a majestic touch, enhancing the sense of immersion in nature’s grandeur. The Taieri Gorge Railway is a must-do for those seeking an exhilarating and intimate encounter with New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes, rich history, and timeless beauty.

Taieri Gorge Railway Highlights

  • Your journey starts from the marvelous Dunedin Railway Station
  • Enjoy the Scenic Taieri Gorge
  • Enjoy incredible scenery in the Taieri Gorge as you hear stories about Otago’s rich history
  • Admire the engineering feats of early railway pioneers including hand-made tunnels and the Wingatui Viaduct: the tallest wrought iron structure in Australasia
  • Marvel at historic viaducts and tunnels
  • Travel in restored vintage carriages and locomotives
  • Beautiful Otago landscapes and panoramic views
  • A personalised and informative live commentary
  • Onboard licensed cafe offering hot drinks and snacks
dunedin railway station
Dunedin Railway Station. New Zealand’s most photographed building.

Taieri Gorge Bookings & Seating

When booking your train journey, you will be allocated reserved seats on a designated coach before your journey starts. This will offer you piece of mind that there is no need to rush or hurry to arrive at Dunedin Station early to secure a spot.

Typically, your reserved seating will keep your family or group together sharing a seating bay with forward and rear facing seats. Providing that you are not travelling at peak season, you will often find additional ‘spare’ seats around you, enabling you to move seats during the journey or swap sides for a better view. It is recommended to book in advance, especially during peak seasons, to secure your preferred departure date.

The Taieri Gorge Train

The Taieri Gorge Railway, while manned by full time employees and operated as a professional working railway line, is still widely considered a heritage line.

The locomotives that power the train through the Gorge and ascend to the high central Otago plains are DJ class locomotives built by Mitsubishi in Japan dating from the late 1960s. The carriages are a variety of styles and ages and while not ultra modern, they are comfortable and clean. Invariably, carriages with open-air platform will bookend the train allowing travellers to enjoy the thrill of outdoor rail travel.

Taieri Gorge Train
A typical Taireri Gorge train.

Taieri Gorge Railway Holiday Packages

The Taieri Gorge railway operates on a limited and primarily seasonal timetable. As such, it can sometimes be challenging to combine a journey on the Taieri Gorge Railway into a wider New Zealand itinerary.

Time and timetables permitting, LOCO Journeys offers the option to combine a scenic trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway as a day excursion. This day trip can often be secured if you allocate a couple of nights to your itinerary in Dunedin. Alternatively, you can enhance your journey by adding a Dunedin railway experience to a fully integrated hosted tour, allowing for onward travel from Pukerangi into Central Otago and Queenstown, with the exciting possibility of cycling along the Central Otago Rail Trail.

The Taieri Gorge Railway is a must-do South Island rail experience and completely complimentary to the TranzAlpine train journey.

For more South Island Rail holiday options please click here

Departure Dates & Timetable

  • From September to April, the railway operates on Thursdays to Mondays and is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
  • The Taieri Gorge Railway operates a limited timetable during winter, but is open most weekends
  • If you are hopeful of including the Taieri Gorge Railway into your travelling itinerary, contact LOCO Journeys and we can try and fit it into your tour, but please be flexible.
  • There is one departure on operating days.
  • The train departs Dunedin Railway Station at 9.30am
  • Check-in begins 1 hour before the train departs and ends 15 minutes before departure.

 

Pricing Notes

  • Adult fares are charged from ages 16 plus
  • Discounted child rates are available for those aged between 5 to 15
  • Infants travel for free
  • Concessions are available for families of 4 and 5 and Groups of 10+
  • The train will carry bikes for free. Up to 4 spaces are available
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Tour Itinerary

Dunedin to Dunedin
The train journey begins at the Dunedin Railway Station, a grand Victorian stone building exuding a touch of flamboyance and rich history, befitting what was once New Zealand’s largest and most economically prosperous city. In days gone by, passengers could catch trains from here on the Southern Line, traveling between Invercargill and Christchurch, as well as along the Central Otago Railway to Cromwell. Unfortunately, these services were discontinued, making a trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway all the more special. Heading west and leaving the main freight line at the edge of Dunedin’s suburbs, you’ll learn about the railway’s fascinating history. The Otago Central Railway project began in 1879, spurred by the gold rush that opened up the inland region from Dunedin. With treacherous gorges to bridge and tunnels to dig—mostly by hand—it was no easy feat to build. It wasn’t until 1921 that the line was completed to Cromwell, the final town before Queenstown. The railway was vital for the region, but with the construction of the Clyde Dam and Lake Dunstan, the final section beyond Clyde was removed in 1980. After the line’s closure in 1990, the track between Middlemarch and Clyde was dismantled, leaving only the section from Dunedin to Middlemarch, which is still in operation today as part of the Taieri Gorge Railway. As the train departs from the fertile plains of the Dunedin district, the climb to Central Otago begins. The hills grow steeper, and the landscape becomes drier. Along the way, you’ll pass impressive bridges, deep valleys, cuttings, and numerous tunnels. At times, the tracks cling to steep hillsides, with the land dropping sharply down to the rocky Taieri River below. This challenging terrain makes for a striking and unforgettable ride. The journey is enriched with a detailed commentary that beautifully describes the railway’s history and the surrounding scenery. The train stops at Pukerangi, the turn-around point of the trip, where you can stretch your legs and take in the stunning, rugged landscape that so often captivates artists. This area is known for its dry, rocky terrain, which makes the less-visited parts of Central Otago all the more appealing. While plans are in place to eventually reinstate services all the way to Middlemarch, for now, you are allocated 30 minutes in Pukerangi to explore a small market run by locals, offering a taste of rural life. On the return journey, there’s a stop at Hindon, providing another opportunity to stretch your legs and take in the quiet solitude of this sparsely populated area. The journey also offers fantastic photo opportunities, with open-air balconies at the ends of some carriages. These allow you to feel the fresh air whizzing past and snap unobstructed photos, unencumbered by windows. For cyclists and long-distance walkers, the Taieri Gorge Railway is an excellent way to access the Otago Central Rail Trail. The train stops where the rail trail begins, and you can bring your bike on board for a one-way ride, then disembark and continue your journey along the well-graded trail where the tracks once ran. Most passengers, however, enjoy the Taieri Gorge Railway as a half-day excursion while visiting Dunedin.

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