Dunedin – Taieri Gorge Railway & Dunedin Sightseeing

Experience our award winning cruise excursion on the unique Taieri Gorge Railway, rated as one of the top rail journeys in the world, with its numerous viaducts and tunnels. In the afternoon, prior to rejoining your cruise ship, enjoy a comprehensive city sightseeing tour of Dunedin City together with its interesting hills and beach suburbs.

This experience was voted one of  New Zealand’s Top 10 Experiences on TripAdvisor and rewarded the Travellers Choice Award! 

At 8.45am (depending on the cruise ship’s arrival/departure times), the coach departs the Dunedin Port and takes you to the Dunedin Railway Station. At 9.30am, depart Dunedin by train on the Taieri Gorge Railway. You will travel through the spectacular Taieri Gorge to Pukerangi, across wrought iron viaducts and through tunnels carved by hand more than 100 years ago. This is one of the great train journeys of a bygone era. Throughout this round trip journey, there will be numerous stops to afford you some magnificent photo opportunities. The return train journey is four hours in duration, which will have you back in Dunedin at 2.00 – 2.30 pm approx.

At 2.30pm, following the Taieri Gorge Rail Journey, you will rejoin the coach and set off on a full-commentary coach tour of Dunedin City. Take in the ‘dress circle’ of Dunedin’s original homes of the wealthy settlers, travel up the world’s steepest street to a lookout overlooking the city, University campus and out to the Peninsula high road for some spectacular harbour, rural and ocean views. Lastly, see the St Clair beach esplanade before returning back to your ship between 4:00 pm-4:30 pm.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Taieri Gorge Railway

Journey through the rugged and spectacular Taieri River Gorge
Viaducts and Tunnels
Full commentary on the construction and history of the Railway

Enjoy a introductory city tour of Dunedin

A lookout over Dunedin harbour and city
New Zealand’s first botanical garden
New Zealand’s oldest University
Dunedin’s classic old railway station and courthouse precinct
Baldwin Street, the world’s steepest street
Olveston House
The Robbie Burns statue: Scottish poet & unofficial patron to the arts of Dunedin
Otago Boys High School

Should your cruise ship timetable be indicating that you will be berthing in Dunedin (Port Chalmers) at 9.00am or later, please email info@leisuretours.co.nz to discuss available options.

Please Note that as the train will travel into remote areas, mobile phone connection is limited. For this reason, please bring cash if you wish to purchase items from the onboard buffet carriage.

We are proud to announce this tour has won the prestigious  Travellers Choice Award! Thank you all who voted!

Start time: 8.45 am
Duration (source): 7 hours approximately