What will you see on The Seasider?
What will you see on The Seasider?
The Seasider travels north from Dunedin Railway Station towards the Pacific coast, revealing a different side of Dunedin from the landscapes experienced aboard The Taieri Gorge.
Expect ocean views, beaches, coastal cliffs and small communities as the railway makes its way north.
Passengers travelling to Ōamaru on Full Day and Full Day+ services continue further along the coast and experience a longer section of the railway.
The Pacific Ocean
Ocean views are at the centre of The Seasider experience.
As the railway reaches the coast, sections of the journey open out towards the Pacific Ocean.
From your carriage or the viewing platforms, watch the coastline unfold as the train travels north.
Beaches
The railway passes stretches of Dunedin's coastline where sandy beaches sit between the surrounding hills and the Pacific Ocean.
Pūrākaunui Beach, Warrington Beach, Karitane Beach
Coastal cliffs and headlands
Other sections of the route travel through elevated and rugged coastal landscapes.
The changing terrain means the view can shift between beaches, open ocean, cliffs and views across the wider coastline.
Between Pūrākaunui and Blueskin Bay, the railway winds through one of the most dramatic sections of the journey. The line follows the coastal cliffs above the Pacific, passing through rock cuttings and the historic Cliffs Tunnel as the landscape opens to views across Pūrākaunui Bay and the surrounding coastline.
Coastal communities
The Seasider passes through communities north of Dunedin that developed alongside the coast and railway.
The journey passes through small coastal communities that have long been connected by the Main South Line. Travel through Waitati on the shores of Blueskin Bay before continuing north through Seacliff and Karitane towards Merton.
The railway has been part of this landscape since the 19th century, connecting communities along the coast with Dunedin and the wider South Island. Today, travelling by train offers a different perspective on these settlements and the landscape surrounding them.
Live onboard storytelling provides more context about the places you pass throughout the journey.
Blueskin Bay
Blueskin Bay is a large coastal estuary north of Dunedin, with Waitati on its southern shore and Warrington to the north. The railway runs alongside the bay between Waitati and Evansdale, offering changing views across the tidal landscape, surrounding hills and towards the Pacific coast.
The appearance of the bay changes with the tide, creating a landscape of open water, tidal flats and channels as the train passes.
Beyond Merton
Passengers travelling aboard The Seasider Full Day and Full Day+ continue beyond the standard Seasider route towards Ōamaru.
The longer journey reveals more of the coastline and communities north of Dunedin before arriving in Ōamaru.
Beyond Merton, the Full Day and Full Day+ journeys continue north through the wider Otago landscape towards Ōamaru. Pass through Waikouaiti, Palmerston, Hampden and Herbert as the railway moves between coastal views, farmland, river valleys and small rural communities.
Along the way, the Main South Line crosses the Waikouaiti estuary and continues through North Otago before arriving in Ōamaru, where passengers have time to explore the town before the return journey to Dunedin.
See it from the viewing platforms
Viewing platforms allow you to step away from your seat and experience the coastline from another perspective.
A dedicated viewing carriage is also planned, creating another way to experience the landscape outside your seated carriage.
