Taieri Gorge Railway

Image Credit: Taieri River, Otago, 1865 by Nicholas Chevalier. Gift of Mrs Caroline Chevalier, the artist's widow, England, 1912. Te Papa

An exciting and memorable rail journey which takes you over the fertile Taieri Plains and through the remote Taieri Gorge to Pukerangi in Central Otago. The spectacularly rugged scenery and the thrill of negotiating several narrow tunnels and high viaducts, combined with an informative commentary on the history of the area, make this a very enjoyable, worthwhile experience. The Taieri Gorge Railway comprises 60 km of the Otago Central Railway of the New Zealand Railways, started in 1879 and closed in 1990. If you want to join with the Otago rail trail you can take your bike on the train to Pukerangi and cycle 21km to the start of the trail at Middlemarch. Or, on Fridays and Sundays from October to April, a second departure takes you right to Middlemarch, the rail & trail head.

TAIERI GORGE RAILWAY TRIP

Landscape Taieri by RN Field