An aerial view of the grand, ornate Dunedin Railway Station surrounded by gardens, city streets, and rolling hills under a blue sky.

Before You Go

Get ready for your journey

A little preparation makes arriving at Dunedin Railway Station and boarding your train straightforward.

Your booking confirmation contains the information specific to your journey, so check it before travelling.

Before the Journey

Check your departure details

Departure and check-in times vary between The Taieri Gorge, The Seasider and seasonal or special journeys. Check your booking confirmation for your scheduled departure and arrive with enough time to complete check-in before boarding closes.

Check in before boarding

All passengers must check in before travelling. Follow the signs to the Booking Office when you arrive at Dunedin Railway Station. Our team will confirm your booking and provide your seating information.

Your ticket

Keep your booking confirmation accessible when you arrive. You do not need to print your ticket if you can access it electronically.

The Journey

Blue patterned seats face each other across a small table next to rain-streaked train windows aboard The Seasider train

Seating

Seating is allocated. If you're travelling as a group or have accessibility requirements, contact us in advance where necessary.

Passengers seated in vintage Taieri Gorge train carriage with wooden paneling and luggage racks.

Dress for the journey

Conditions can change throughout the day, particularly when travelling inland from Dunedin. Bring layers and a weatherproof outer layer, and wear comfortable footwear if your journey includes an opportunity to step off the train.

What to Bring

A meat pie sits on a bakery shelf next to a label reading Meat Pie aboard the Taieri Gorge train.

Food, drink & cash

An onboard café operates on all scenic train journeys, with food and drinks available to purchase. We recommend bringing some cash with you, as card payment availability can be affected while travelling through areas with limited mobile coverage.

Accessibility

If you require mobility assistance, the wheelchair-accessible carriage or another accessibility arrangement, contact our team before booking. Wheelchair lift availability is limited and not available on all services.

Accessibility Information

Running late?

If you think you're going to miss check-in or your train departure, contact our team as soon as possible. Late arrival does not guarantee that the train can be held and a missed service is treated as a no-show under our booking conditions.