Taieri Gorge Railway

Our Taieri Gorge trip was an absolutely fantastic experience. The journey was filled with stunning views—rolling valleys covered with bright yellow flowers, deep river gorges, and beautiful landscapes that kept getting better at every turn. The combination of greenery, cliffs, and flowing rivers made the whole route feel magical and refreshing. One of the most special moments was when the staff gave us the opportunity to visit the engine room. Watching how the train works from the inside was truly fascinating, and it felt like a rare and privileged experience. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and clearly passionate about what they do, which made the journey even more memorable. A warm cup of coffee with those breathtaking views would make the experience perfect. Overall, highly recommended—beautiful scenery, great staff, and a unique journey through nature.

We absolutely loved this trip. We did the return leaving dunedin at 9.30am and getting back in at 2.15pm. There was plenty of food on the train. The commentary throughout was clear and information, no crackly speakers. The train carriage was immaculately clean, warm and comfortable. I cant wait to do more trips on the trains!

Pleasant trip but expensive for what it is. The scenery was lovely, and the commentary was great and personalised, which was a nice touch. Overall, it was a nice experience, but I certainly wouldn’t rush back given the price.

Spectacular rail journey. Stunning scenery and history of the area. The locals were so friendly. Even the dog in the locomotive enjoyed the trip.

Fantastic scenic railway trip. The crew are really helpful and friendly. This is one of our favourite rail trips. The scenery is amazing. We thoroughly recommend it.

One of the world’s most spectacular rail trips - it’s a must! The train winds for about 50kms through a wilderness area, along the side of a rocky gorge like nothing else in NZ. Incredible views and great commentary along the way, covering social, cultural and environmental history.

This is a great experience for families or individuals. The coaches are air conditioned and quite comfortable. Each coach has a nice bathroom. There is great narrative throughout the trip.

Fabulous experience traveling through rugged landscapes from coast to highland plains. Great commentary over the PA throughout trip and good food and beverage options in dining car. Friendly knowledgeable staff and comfortable seating with plenty of opportunities to take video and photos from the carriage observation platforms.

A neighbor recommended that we take the Taieri Gorge Railway trip so we booked it through our cruise line. The train cars were waiting for us in Port Chalmers. Some of the cars were vintage, others from the 1960's. We were seated in one of the 1960's cars. The cars are hosted by volunteers who provided the drinks and food during our ride. They are train buffs but sure do work hard for the opportunity to ride and meet people. There was narration throughout the trip. We had a brief stop in Hindon to get out and stretch our legs and then a longer stop at the end in Pukerangi. Local artisans had tables set up there selling wool items and other hand-made souvenirs. Heading back to Port Chalmers we stopped at the Dunedin Railway Station for about 20 minutes, enough time to take pictures of this beautiful station, inside and out. Overall an enjoyable tour though too much sitting for me.

We took the train for the half day trip to Taieri Gorge. The trip was fun and we saw many places that you wouldn't see from the road. This train goes through some very steep countryside and across a number of bridges. We did the ride in Mar 2017

It blows my mind that I lived in Dunedin for 5 years and never even knew about the Taieri Gorge Train. Granted, I was a student who was probably more concerned with getting OTP at Gardies and the train doesn't actually go anywhere useful (Middlemarch & Pukerangi) but still.... In fact, the only reason that I found out about the Taieri Gorge Railway was because I was did the Central Otago Rail Trail, which ends in Middlemarch. My family were taking the shuttle back to QT but I needed to get to Dunedin and after a little research, I found out there was a train. Chuffed! Who doesn't love a train ride.... Arriving at the Pukerangi station - a tiny wooden shack surrounded by farmland, I didn't have very high expectations. I thought we'd be travelling in an old musty train through flat farmland. Well, I was wrong. The train was actually reasonably modern with large panoramic windows and the scenery was spectacular. The train hugged to the side of the steep cliffs with water rushing beneath. It was actually somewhat exhilarating. We saw hawks, salmon and even a family of wild mountain goats huddled together on a sheer-faced ledge. All up the trip took a couple of hours - from Pukerangi to the Dunedin Railway Station. I was told you can do return trips in a day so if you're visiting Dunedin and want a relaxing tourist activity I'd definitely recommend this! Fabulous way to see South Island scenery - I only wish I'd done it earlier!