The Taieri Gorge departs from Dunedin Railway Station in central Dunedin, New Zealand.

Check-in opens at 8:30am and closes at 9:15am. The train departs Dunedin Railway Station at 9:30am.

The train returns to Dunedin Railway Station at approximately 2:15pm.

The complete return journey takes approximately five hours.

The train travels from Dunedin Railway Station to Pukerangi in Otago via the Taieri Gorge before returning to Dunedin.

Along the route, the railway travels through Hindon and Deep Stream.

Depending on the day's schedule, operating conditions and weather, The Taieri Gorge train may stop at Hindon and/or Deep Stream.

These stops are not guaranteed on every journey.

Yes. The train can pick up and drop off passengers at Wingatui Station on request.

The approximate pick-up time towards Pukerangi is 9:45am, with drop-off at approximately 2:00pm on the return journey.

A pick-up or drop-off at Wingatui must be requested when booking and is subject to availability.

Yes. One-way journeys are available between Dunedin and Pukerangi.

From Pukerangi, passengers can connect with other travel and experiences, including cycle hire on the Otago Central Rail Trail and tour links towards Queenstown.

No. Pukerangi is in Otago.

Yes. If you're travelling on a return ticket, you'll have the opportunity to step off the train at Pukerangi while we prepare for the journey back to Dunedin. Please stay nearby and follow the crew's instructions about when to reboard.

Want to keep exploring instead? You can book a one-way ticket from Dunedin to Pukerangi and finish your train journey there. From Pukerangi, you can connect with onward transport, cycling experiences and other ways to continue your journey through the region.

If you're travelling one-way, make sure you have your onward transport arranged before you travel. There is no public transport or taxi service available from Pukerangi.

Yes. Food and drinks are available to purchase from the onboard café operated by Precinct.

Yes. Toilet facilities are available onboard The Taieri Gorge.

Yes. Viewing platforms are available on the carriages, allowing passengers to experience the landscape from a different perspective during the journey. A dedicated viewing carriage will also be available soon, offering another way to take in the scenery.

Passengers travel aboard classic railway carriages.

Yes. The Taieri Gorge has a wheelchair-accessible carriage with a wheelchair lift and accessible toilet, allowing passengers to remain in their wheelchair throughout the journey.

Space is limited, so use of the accessible carriage and lift must be arranged at least 72 hours before departure. The lift has a maximum capacity of 200kg and maximum dimensions of 900mm x 700mm. Mobility scooters can also be accommodated within these limits.

Wheelchair users cannot move between carriages, and there is no wheelchair lift available at Pukerangi. If you require the lift to board or disembark, your journey must begin and end at Dunedin Railway Station.

Please contact our team before booking so we can talk through your requirements.

Prams are welcome, but storage space onboard is limited and prioritised for one-way passengers. If you need to bring a pram, please contact us before booking and at least 72 hours before departure so we can confirm there is space available.

Absolutely. Bikes can travel with you onboard The Taieri Gorge train at no additional cost, but spaces are limited to 10 bikes per train and must be booked in advance.

Simply select the bike option when booking your ticket.

Planning to ride the Otago Central Rail Trail? You can bring your own bike onboard, subject to availability, or connect with a bike tour operator in Middlemarch who can arrange bike hire and transport to or from Pukerangi.

Children are very welcome onboard The Taieri Gorge.

The complete return journey is approximately five hours, so we recommend bringing anything younger passengers might need to stay comfortable and entertained along the way. Children can move throughout the train and visit the viewing platforms with an accompanying adult, but must be supervised at all times.

Infants aged 0–2 years travel free, but still need to be included on your booking and have their own ticket. You're welcome to bring baby food, bottles and snacks, and child-friendly food and drinks are also available from our onboard café.

Prams can be accommodated by prior arrangement, however car seats cannot be brought onboard. Please note that there are no baby-changing facilities onboard the train or at Dunedin Railway Station.

There's no dress code here. Come comfortable and ready to explore. Dunedin weather can change quickly, and temperatures in the Taieri Gorge can be different from those in the city. We recommend dressing in comfortable layers and bringing a warm or waterproof layer, even when the day starts out fine.

Comfortable footwear is also a good idea, particularly if you're planning to step off the train at one of our stops or spend time taking in the views from the viewing platforms.

A little rain won't stop us. The Taieri Gorge operates in all weather conditions, so your journey will still go ahead if the forecast is looking wet, cold or a little wild. Depending on the conditions on the day, we may adjust our planned stops at Deep Stream and/or Hindon. Our train crew will keep you updated onboard if there are any changes to the journey. We recommend checking the forecast before you travel and bringing an extra layer or rain jacket, particularly if you're planning to spend time on the viewing platforms.

Dunedin Railway Station is located in central Dunedin.

You'll find Dunedin Railway Station on Anzac Avenue, right beside State Highway 1 in central Dunedin. Whether you're walking from the city centre, driving in for the day or arriving from the airport, getting here is pretty straightforward.

Walking from the Octagon: Dunedin Railway Station is approximately 500 metres from the Octagon, less than a five-minute walk. Simply head down Stuart Street and cross State Highway 1 to reach the Station.

Driving: Public pay-and-display parking is available around the Station, along with a number of off-street car parks nearby. If you're travelling by campervan, Thomas Burns car park is the recommended place to park.

By bus: InterCity and other bus services arrive at the Central Dunedin Bus Hub on Great King Street, a short walk from Dunedin Railway Station.

By taxi: It's around a five-minute taxi ride from the Octagon to Dunedin Railway Station. Most local taxi companies can also provide wheelchair-accessible transport.

From Dunedin Airport: Dunedin Airport is approximately 22km from the city, or around a 30-minute drive to Dunedin Railway Station. Taxis and shuttle services are available from the airport.

Give yourself plenty of time to get here. Check-in and boarding open at 8:30am, passengers must be fully boarded by 9:15am, and The Taieri Gorge departs at 9:30am.

For maps, parking information and more detailed directions, visit our Getting Here page.

Yes. Cruise passengers are very welcome onboard The Taieri Gorge, provided your ship's arrival and departure times give you enough time to travel between Port Chalmers and Dunedin Railway Station and complete check-in before departure.

The Taieri Gorge departs Dunedin Railway Station at 9:30am, with all passengers required to be fully boarded by 9:15am.

Booking through your cruise provider? The Taieri Gorge may be available as a shore excursion directly through your cruise line. When booked this way, transport is arranged for you, with passengers picked up from Port Chalmers and transferred to the train. Check the shore excursions available through your cruise provider for details and availability.

Booking directly with us? Transport between Port Chalmers and Dunedin Railway Station is not included, so you'll need to make your own way to and from the Station. Most cruise ships provide shuttle buses between Port Chalmers and central Dunedin. The Station is a short, flat walk from the city shuttle drop-off point. Taxis and rideshare services are also available from Port Chalmers and generally take around 20–30 minutes to reach Dunedin Railway Station, depending on traffic.

If you're making your own way to us, we strongly recommend arranging your transport in advance and checking your ship's arrival and all-aboard times carefully before booking.

Not sure if the timings will work? Get in touch with our team before you book. We keep a close eye on cruise schedules and can help you work out whether The Taieri Gorge is a good fit for your day in Dunedin.

We recommend it. The Taieri Gorge is one of our most popular journeys and some departures can fill up, particularly during the busy summer and cruise season. Booking ahead gives you the best chance of securing your preferred travel date. If there's still space available on the day, you're welcome to pop into the ticket office at Dunedin Railway Station or give us a call to see if we can squeeze you onboard.

We know plans can change. For eligible standard tickets, the following cancellation and exchange options apply:

• 21 days or more before departure: Full refund.
• 7 days or more before departure: 50% refund or a gift voucher.
• 48 hours or more before departure: Exchange your ticket for another available service or travel date.

Charters, special interest trips and one-off services are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged. Promotional fares may also have their own conditions.

If Dunedin Railway Station cancels your scheduled service, you'll receive a full refund of the ticket price, excluding any applicable booking or other fees.

Refunds and exchanges may be subject to booking, processing or administration fees. For all conditions and exclusions, please read our Booking Terms.