Ultimate self-drive rail car journey
Description
Travel along scenic railway lines in a self-drive rail car, offering a unique perspective of Rotorua’s breathtaking landscapes, 1000 year old virgin native forests, rolling farmland and views over Lake Rotorua. With space for up to four passengers, these petrol-electric rail cars provide comfortable seating and clear views through waterproof sides, allowing you to savor the sights as you cruise at a leisurely 20km/h. Listen to the audio tour and delve into the rich history of New Zealand’s railways while enjoying stunning views of Lake Rotorua and Mount Tarawera. This innovative experience is perfect for families and adventurers alike, making it a must-do when in Rotorua.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Rotorua Railcruising Station is your starting point for your journey up the rails. After a short safety briefing your guide will settle you into your rail car and set you up the track. On the way you will see rolling farmlands, 1000 year old native forests, views over Lake Rotorua.
Passing through the site of the now gone Tarukenga Station, you can see to your side Toi te Whenua, a 5.5 m high aluminium sculpture positioned alongside the road to greet travelers as they enter Rotorua from the Waikato side.
A little further on, on the right hand side of the track is the Tarukenga Marae. This Marae is a Te Arawa marae located just outside Rotorua, and closely tied to Ngāti Te Ngākau and Ngāti Tura hapū of the Te Ure o Uenukukōpako iwi. Its wharenui (meeting house) is named Te Ngākau, and it serves as a cultural, spiritual, and community hub for the local people
Ohokeriki or Dansey Road Scenic Reserve is a 468-hectare native forest west of Ngongotahā, Rotorua, known for its ancient rimu and tawa trees, rich biodiversity, and conservation efforts. The railway drives through this native forest that is 1000s of years old.
Mamaku Railcruising Station stands on the site of the original Mamaku Rail station and is your turn around point, or end of your journey. Here you will disembark and able to go inside the beautiful log cabin for a hot drink. You can watch a video on the history of Railcruising, or browse through historical and local information. Bathroom facilities are also available here.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Pet friendly
- Baby changing Station at Mamaku Station
Reviews(47)
Nice view on farm animals and forests, the lake view was also stunning on the way back, could be a little bit cold during winter. Staff were so friendly and we were offered some hot drinks on the destination which helped to warm us a lot in this cold winter.
We enjoyed our rail car journey, but because we did this in winter I would recommend wearing extra warm clothing. We were provided with blankets, which came in very handy. The views throughout the journey were lovely and there were hot drinks and biscuits waiting for us in a warm shelter at the turn-around point. I would recommend this to families with younger children.
The experience itself was good. Booked through trip advisor and discussed that my debit card was charged $160 dollars for what we saw and booked as a $90 trip for 2 people. Claiming a US$ to NZ$ transition. Absolutely disgusted by the fee.
Thank you for your review. We are sorry this happened, and had no idea Trip Advisor was charging you in US Dollars. We've had communication with you and contacted Tripadvisor to avoid this happening again. We do hope this has been resolved with you and Trip Advisor via the Trip Advisor booking app you used.
Love this cruise along the tracks, it was nice to be able to choose something different and out of the norm. Commentary was great, nice touch with the blankets 👌 as it was cold. Was great to have a coffee and a bickie half way. Enjoyed the trip.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We’re really glad you enjoyed cruising along the tracks and trying something a bit different. It’s great to hear the commentary added to your experience, and we’re happy the blankets helped keep you cosy on a cold day. We’re also pleased you enjoyed the coffee and bickie at the halfway stop. We appreciate you joining us and hope to see you back on the tracks again.
Rubbish It didn't help us at all in the end. We also didn't enjoy the ride. One way was manageable, but on the return trip we wanted to take a taxi instead because we had our 4.5-year-old child with us and didn't have any other options. What we saw in the photos was completely different from the reality. Certain areas were dirty, and the seats were dirty as well. It was definitely not worth paying that much for the experience.
We’re sorry to hear that your experience didn’t match what you were hoping for. We take your comments seriously and have passed them on to our team to review. The photos shown online are taken along the same route, but the experience can feel different depending on weather, lighting, and the time of year. Even so, the areas you mentioned regarding cleanliness and comfort are not the standard we aim to provide, and we will be addressing this with our staff. Based on your experience in requesting a ride back with our staff instead of on the rail cart, we are now also purchasing a child seat in case this happens again. While many visitors enjoy the trip, we acknowledge that it isn’t the right fit for everyone, and we’re sorry it didn’t meet your expectations. Your feedback helps us improve, and we appreciate you taking the time to let us know. Ngā mihi nui.
We were disappointed overall. The blankets were appreciated & the reception & toilets at Mamaku were very nice, but the start had a grotty porta-loo, the hand washing room was locked, & the receptionist/guide was not very friendly. Because the weather was wet we put the plastic sidings down, but they were very old and faded so we couldn't see through them. The sound system was terrible & couldn't be heard over the train. The view is dull most of the way, it could be greatly enhanced by getting local sculptors to put up some installations or similar. Overall a waste of money.
Thank you for your review. We’re glad to hear you found the blankets helpful and enjoyed the facilities at Mamaku Station, but we’re sorry that other parts of your visit didn’t meet expectations. The temporary toilet at the starting point is used only when our main facilities are unavailable, and we understand it doesn’t offer the same standard as the amenities at Mamaku. Wet weather can make the journey feel quite different, and putting the plastic sidings down does reduce visibility. These covers are essential for safety in rain, but we appreciate your feedback about their condition and we had hoped to have had new ones back from the manufacturers by now. We’re also looking into improvements to our audio system so commentary remains clear even when the railcar is working harder on the track. The forested section of the line is naturally enclosed, and while many visitors enjoy the quiet native bush environment, we understand it may feel less scenic for some. Your suggestion about incorporating local art installations is a thoughtful one, and we have been in discussion with the local Iwi and others as to options that may be available for in the future. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. Feedback like yours helps us continue improving the experience for all visitors. Ngā mihi nui.
Commentary a little muffled. Personal headphones would be helpful
Thank you for sharing your feedback with us. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed the experience and appreciated the organisation, the tea and coffee, and the safety video. It’s great to know that you relaxing and not rushed journey. Thank you also for mentioning the commentary sounding a little muffled — that’s helpful for us to know and we will pass on the feedback. Personal headphones are a great suggestion, and we’ll look into ways to improve clarity for future guests. Thanks again for joining us, and we’re happy you enjoyed the trip along the tracks.
Lovely experience. Blankets are a nice touch. Staff friendly and kind. Tidy. Just be sure to dress warmly.
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed the experience and appreciated the blankets — they’re a small touch, but they make a big difference on those colder days. Our team will be happy to know their friendliness stood out to you, and we’re pleased the space felt tidy and welcoming. Thank you again for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back to the track again soon.
To those who love nature, green scenery and something unique, this is a good experience for you. It was raining on the day we booked it but the staff were friendly and helpful, process was easy to understand. We enjoyed the whole trip. there were some areas that could do some bush trimming as they were blocking some good views. None the less, definitely worth a try. you'd even get complimentary hot drinks and biscoff when you reach Yogi bear's hut!
Thank you for your lovely review. We’re so glad you enjoyed the nature, scenery, and unique experience. Our team is happy to hear the process felt easy, even on a rainy day, and that you enjoyed the hot drinks. Thank you as well for your feedback about the bush trimming. We appreciate you pointing this out, and we’ll review those areas to make sure the views stay as open and enjoyable as possible. We’re delighted you found the experience worthwhile, and we hope to welcome you back for another cruise along the tracks.
Such a lovely and relaxing way to spend a few hours seeing and learning about Rotorua's history! The workers (lady with pink hair, softly spoken man with glasses) were lovely to us aswell making it a better experience all around! Would go again 😊
Thank you so much for your lovely review. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed such a relaxing few hours learning about Rotorua’s history. Our team will be thrilled to know they helped make your visit even better, and we appreciate you mentioning them so kindly. We would love to welcome you back for another cruise along the tracks.
