Taieri Gorge Railway
Iconic train trip through the Taieri Gorge
Journey from Dunedin Railway Station into the Taieri Gorge — where engineering, history and wild Otago landscapes meet. This is one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most memorable rail experiences.
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The Taieri Gorge Railway story
Built between the late 1800s and early 1900s, the Taieri Gorge line is a tale of determination, engineering ambition and community connection. Working in dangerous conditions, railway workers cut ledges into steep rock faces, carved tunnels by hand and built more than twenty bridges and towering viaducts to carry the line inland. This railway line created an essential link/lifeline between Dunedin City and Port and remote farms, goldfields and small settlements.
Long before rail arrived, Māori traversed this valley, following seasonal food sources, gathering mahinga kai such as moa (before extinction) and harvesting tī kōuka (cabbage tree). Later came gold miners, pastoral settlers and the workers who helped build and maintain the railway — each leaving their mark on the land and its stories.
Now, more than 140 years after rail construction began, travelling deep into the Taieri Gorge offers a rare chance to experience this history firsthand. Departing from the iconic Dunedin Railway Station, the train climbs through valleys, crosses historic viaducts and travels through hand-carved tunnels — including the longest on the line at 437 metres. Every bend reveals a new perspective on the scale, innovation and persistence required to build a railway through some of Otago’s most challenging terrain.
What you will see and do on the Taieri Gorge Railway
The five-hour Taieri Gorge journey offers a front-row seat to Otago’s landscapes and stories. Whether you're snapping photos, learning about the line’s history, or simply sitting back to enjoy the ride, the Taieri Gorge Railway offers a unique way to experience Otago — with history, nature and rail engineering at the heart of the journey.
Varied landscapes
First, travel across the Taieri Plain — Aotearoa New Zealand’s lowest point at two metres below sea level. From there, flat farmland becomes rolling country, then rises sharply into rugged rock faces, deep gullies and the dramatic schist canyon that defines the gorge. Along the route, familiar landmarks emerge including Pukemakamaka Saddle Hill, said to be the resting body of the taniwha Meremere, whose tail carved the Taieri Gorge.
Feats of engineering
As the line climbs deeper into the gorge, the scale of the engineering becomes clear. The railway crosses hand-built stone bridges and dramatic viaducts — including the impressive Wingatui Viaduct, one of the tallest wrought-iron structures of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Further ahead, The Notches showcase some of the most complex engineering on the line — where track was cut directly into the rock, leaving the railway suspended high above the river.
This dramatic series of narrow rock cuttings was shaped by the Taieri River over millions of years. Building this 300-metre section took two years of careful, often dangerous work using only hand tools and light blasting powder. Many of the original drill holes are still visible today, and the loose stone at the base of the cliffs remains where workers discarded it more than 130 years ago.
Diverse wildlife
Keep an eye out for kārearea (New Zealand falcon), korimako (bellbird), riroriro (grey warbler) and pīwakawaka (fantail). Wild goats, horses and farm animals can be seen along the hillsides, while trout and freshwater species thrive in the Taieri River below.
History comes to life
Onboard storytellers bring to life stories of gold miners, early farming families, railway workers and the natural forces that shaped this landscape over millions of years.
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