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Bay Of Islands Vintage Railway, Kawakawa

4.5
#3 of 8 in Things to do in Kawakawa
Tour · Scenic Railroad
Take a fun journey on Bay Of Islands Vintage Railway, run by volunteers. This railway was the first in North Island, and is the only one in New Zealand to go through a town center. It passes Hundertwasser's toilets on way to the longest curved wooden bridge in the Southern Hemisphere, through beautiful countryside. It is the perfect activity for a family day, regardless of the weather. Check the website for the train timetable and other practical details. Use our Kawakawa sightseeing planner to arrange your visit to Bay Of Islands Vintage Railway and other attractions in Kawakawa.
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Bay Of Islands Vintage Railway reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating
TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
76 reviews
Google
4.5
TripAdvisor
  • By Richard F
    Running the 11 kilometers between Kawakawa nd Opua, this narrow gauge railway famously runs down the centre of Kawakawas main street before taking a more traditional track through farmland and bush...  more »
  • By 1dani021
    Headed down to Kawakawa for the afternoon to check out this neat little gem. Nice lunch at the railway cafe and then an enjoyable trip out to the countryside. Staff have a lot of knowledge of the...  more »
  • By mellybones
    Stopped in Kawakawa to look around and saw the train was running so grabbed a spot and enjoyed the idyllic 45 minute ride. Very scenic, and wonderful to hear about the history of the railway line.  more »
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Google
  • By Alexander Duthie
    One of the oldest railways in New Zealand. The volunteers have done an amazing job. The trip is well organized with a running commentary. The cafe has nice food and coffee at reasonable prices. Great family outing. In peak season trains run daily. Best check if in the off season.
  • By Kelly Lewis
    Absolutely love this trip! History, scenery, great guides along the way. I look forward to it going through to Opua.
  • By Mike Fisher
    This was a highlight of our visit to Northland. The latest Google reviews are true - the train ride and commentary are delightful. The coffee at the station cafe is also very good.
  • By Virginia Townsend
    If you are a train lover or even if you are not that into it, pay a visit to this place! Got there by chance and ended up having a tour by one of the volunteers (He showed us around and explained everything about the trains that you can see). Even better if you can go on a ride in one of those beautiful machines!
  • By Harry Crow
    Perfect day out on the rails, the people who run it are very friendly and informative, learned loads about the area and the railway! Hope they get the extension finished as when we come back to New Zealand, we will be visiting again!
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