New Zealand by train

This chapter is about a train trip that soon unfortunately will be history. Due to high costs the train service between Auckland and Wellington is not longer viable. This is really a shame. Before the service really is closing down we booked a trip. We went from Wellington to Taumarunui and back. It was a great trip.

We boarded the train at 07.23 at Wellington Station. I mention this boarding time so specifically because the train was supposed to leave at 07.25. Still a lot of people where waiting to be checked in. The closure of the operation of the train made a lot of people decide the make the trip and obviously no one was prepared for this. The train left 15 minutes late.

The train first passes the Wellington suburbs, like Tawa, Porirua and Paraparaumu. The first point of interest is the longest tunnel of the stretch. This is the 4th longest railway tunnel in New Zealand (and the longest double-track tunnel in New Zealand). It is the 4324 m long Tawa No.2 tunnel between Wellington and Tawa. It was opened in 1935 for goods trains on one line and in 1937 for all traffic.

Between Porirua and Paraparaumu the train follows the Kapiti Coast. You are able to see Kapiti Island. This is a Nature Reserve and bird sanctuary. I have been there twice already and it is a great place to visit.

Paraparaumu was the first stop. It took almost an hour to get there. The train continued via Waikane and Otaki to Levin. After Levin the train left the coast and went inland. The scenery was mainly green with of course lots of sheep.

After two and an half hours the train reached Palmerston North. A town with around 70,000 residents. After all the green meadows suddenly some high risers occur on the horizon. The train stops far from the city centre so you don’t see anything of the town.

The train continues through the Rangitikei plains. This is definitely not the most interesting part of the trip, but the huge amount of lambs running through the fields made it very entertaining.
Around Mangaweka the trip becomes really interesting. The train will pass 4 enormous viaducts in 45 minutes. The first, just before Mangaweka is the 7th highest railway viaduct in New Zealand. It is the 72.5 m high, 229 m long, Makohine viaduct between Marton and Mangaweka on the North Island Main Trunk Line. This viaduct is of steel girder construction and is a well-known landmark for road users of State Highway 1.

The second viaduct is the 4th highest railway viaduct in New Zealand (also the 2nd longest viaduct in New Zealand). It is the 78 m high, 315 m long, South Rangitikei viaduct spanning the Rangitikei River. It is the southern most of the 3 large viaducts on the Mangaweka Deviation, opened in 1981, between Mangaweka and Taihape on the North Island Main Trunk Line. I think this was the highlight of the trip. The views are spectacular.

The third viaduct is the 6th highest railway viaduct in New Zealand. It is the 73 m high, 160 m long Kawhatau viaduct spanning the Kawhatau River.

The fourth viaduct it the 2nd highest railway viaduct in New Zealand. It is the 81 m high North Rangitikei viaduct spanning the Rangitikei River. It is the northern-most of the 3 large viaducts on the Mangaweka Deviation, opened in 1981, between Mangaweka and Taihape on the North Island Main Trunk Line.

After the viaduct the train reaches Taihape and it start its climb up to the Central Plateau. Taihape is the gumboot capital of New Zealand. An iron gumboot is visible form the train.
The next stop Waiouru is the summit (819 meter) of the journey. When the train leaves Waiouru on his way to National Park you constantly see Mt. Ruapehu. We were lucky. Although it was not a completely clear day, we could see the top of the volcano, covered with snow. Magnificent.

Around 01.00 pm the train reaches National Park. Just before National Park the train crosses the highest railway viaduct in New Zealand. This is the 78.6 m high Makatote viaduct about 10 km south of National Park on the North Island Main Trunk Line.

In National Park there is time for a lunch break. The Station restaurant is doing their utmost to serve everybody in time, but nevertheless there was quite a queue waiting for coffee or something to eat. Their cakes looked great.

After 45 minutes the train leaves again. Directly after National Park is the Raurimu Spiral railway. A pretty impressing peace of engineering. The train needs to descend 90 metres in 5 km. Obviously a train can not do this, so a spiral has been built. Several times you see the train track going underneath the spot where you are. It is hard to explain.

Our final destination was the first stop after National Park, Taumarunui. We arrived around 03.00 pm. The train had half an hour delay. We really enjoyed the trip. I hope you enjoyed reading this.

We spent the night in Taumarunui. The next day we returned to Wellington with the same train again. Because we knew where the highlights were, we could enjoy the trip even more and we made pictures so we will be able to enjoy it again and again. And we are able to show some of the photos on this website.