The Taieri Gorge Railway Experience
Duration: 5 1/2 hours
Tour Code: dud-001
Price:
$299.00 per person
$149.00
Disembarking the ship, your train awaits you at the pier where you'll begin a journey that is sure to be a highlight of your visit to New Zealand. Welcomed aboard by the friendly crew, you'll be offered a glass of either sparkling white wine or fruit juice as you settle in for an amazing excursion into areas only accessible by train.
Upon leaving the port area, you'll first travel alongside beautiful Otago Harbor before turning inland to traverse suburban Dunedin. Leaving the city behind, your train will first pass through the fertile farmland of the Taieri plains before climbing into the Taieri River Gorge. Famous for its sheer cliff faces and dramatic ravines that frame the paradoxically tranquil Taieri River, the kaleidoscope of spectacular scenery that unfolds before you is quite simply, breathtaking. The railroad itself is a true marvel, having been built by early pioneers through some of New Zealand's most rugged terrain; its very existence is considered by many to be a remarkable feat. From your vantage point aboard the train, you'll get an up-close look at the intricate work of the skilled railway gangs, stonemasons and engineers who carved the high bridges and produced the labyrinth of latticework that supports the soaring viaducts that comprise this historic train route.
As you relax and enjoy the magnificent landscape passing by, you will be served both a morning tea and a snack aboard the train. During the course of your journey, the train will wind its way through the gorge, passing one unspoiled panorama after another while navigating through rock tunnels and crossing dramatic bridges suspended high above the river below. Several stops will be made along the route for you to capture some photos that will surely become memorable keepsakes.
Returning to the city, the tour concludes at the Dunedin Railway Station, a superb example of Victorian architecture.
Please note: Comfortable clothing and a light raincoat are recommended. The order of the sites visited may vary. This tour does not operate with a separate guide, but rather with a driver/guide.