Your Itinerary

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Day 1 - Friday

­ƒôì Auckland/Hamilton - National Park by Chartered Heritage Train
Ôÿò Morning tea aboard train

A rail adventure begins. Our friendly train-mad staff are ready to greet you onboard at your choice of boarding location. The journey south from Pukekohe takes you through the outer fringes of Auckland and into the Waikato. Our journey to Hamilton will be a mixture of rural farmland and their community centres like Te Kauwhata and Huntly. Be sure to check out the Whangamarino wetlands, the Waikato river and Huntly power station before curving our way through the Taupiri gorge. After our departure from Hamilton, we make quick stops for passengers at Te Awamutu and Otorohanga. Te Kuiti marks the gateway to the real ÔÇ£Main Trunk LineÔÇØ.

Our train will start to climb the steep grades, keep an eye out for the 132 year old Waiteti viaduct. Entering the Porootarao tunnel signals we have reached our summit. From here, we descend to the Ongarue river valley which guides us to Taumarunui. After a quick stop we then follow the Whanganui and Whakapapa rivers for half the trip to the foot of the world renowned Raurimu Spiral. This engineering masterpiece overcomes a 139 metre height difference by spiralling up the volcanic rock escarpment. Catch several glimpses of the town as we climb the various levels of the spiral while also passing through two tunnels. As we burst out of the second of the two tunnels, we have reached the top of the spiral itself. We continue climbing for a further 10 minutes until we finally reach the summit at National Park. Here you will be greeted by the mountain and your shuttle bus transferring you to the grand Chateau Tongariro Hotel where you can unpack, unwind and start chilling out! 

See Train Timetable

Day 2 - Saturday

­ƒôì National Park

Draw back your curtains and take in the scenic panorama from your lavishly appointed room. When youÔÇÖre ready, grab some breakfast then the day is yours! Arrange for a shuttle bus to transfer you to the Sky Waka gondola up the Pinnacle Restaurant for lunch, or just a nosy round the mountain face. Head into the tussock and other flora/fauna for one of the many walks nearby the hotel or simply leave the slippers on and relax in your room all day ÔÇô surfacing only for a bite to eat when you fancy. Take advantage of the indoor pool and sauna or have a go on the unique and rugged 9-hole golf course, with sweeping views of the mountains. Dinner is your choice again tonight, perhaps dine in the ornate and traditional Ruapehu dining room ÔÇô you wonÔÇÖt be disappointed!

Day 3 - Sunday

­ƒôì National Park - Auckland/Hamilton by Chartered Heritage Train
Ôÿò Afternoon tea aboard train

There is still time left! If you missed an activity yesterday you can likely squeeze this in this morning before your shuttle bus transfers you back to the National Park railway station, just in time to catch the train home.

Once again, our friendly staff will be happy to see you again, and to assist you to settle in for the journey home. Take this time to have a little rest or share your stories with other guests onboard.

See Train Timetable

Accommodation

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Opened in 1929, the Chateau Tongariro was built to rival the grand opulence of other world class chateaus at the time. The Chateau Tongariro believes in providing its guests with a timeless elegance experience. Preserving tradition and history, as well as conservation and culture. Your rooms are well appointed and come standard with Sky TV, free WiFi, 24-hour room service and express mini-bar ordering. You will awaken to mountain views or views of the magnificent Tongariro National Park rugged landscape. You have the freedom of selecting your choice of dining.

The Heritage Train Journey

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The North Island Main Trunk is steeped in local and Maori history. Opened completely between Auckland and Wellington in 1908 after over 30 years of construction, the ÔÇ£Main TrunkÔÇØ passes through many rural settlements and towns which were connected up to the major cities by the coming of the railway. The section we travel over covers the main centres of Pukekohe and Hamilton, followed by rural towns like Otorohanga, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui and National Park. The railway geography is diverse, from rolling hills to the steepest sustained climbs up the extreme gradients south of Taumarunui. Our journey passes through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tongariro National Park, as well as conservation land, farms and forests.

Selected Highlights Include:

• Travel over the North Island Main Trunk line on an exclusive heritage train
• Traverse the world famous Raurimu Spiral
• Cross over the spectacular Waiteti Viaduct
• Track our path along the Ongarue and Whakapapa river valleys
• Pass through the Porootarao and Raurimu tunnels
• Stunning Mountain views and spectacular scenery

This heritage train operated by the Glenbrook Vintage Railway will be hauled by restored locomotive DBR1254. Originally built as a DB class locomotive by General Motors Diesel Canada in 1965, this locomotive was rebuilt by Clyde Engineering Australia in 1981. In 2017 the Glenbrook Vintage Railway took ownership of DBR1254 which underwent an intense overhaul before returning to mainline service in 2019.

The carriages date from 1939/1940 and would have made thousands of journeys up and down the main trunk. The carriages retain key features including the iconic flip-over seats, though have been tastefully redecorated for enhanced passenger comfort. The guardÔÇÖs van that travels with these carriages provides an open viewing area for an uninterrupted view of the amazing countryside.

Inclusions

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• Return train travel from Pukekohe/Hamilton/Te Awamutu/Otorohanga to National Park and return.
• Two nightsÔÇÖ accommodation at the Chateau Tongariro Hotel.
• Transfers from and to National Park Railway Station.
• Complimentary light refreshments on outbound and homebound rail journeys.
  

Terms and Conditions

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Full standard Terms and Conditions can be found here: https://www.gvr.org.nz/terms

Additional conditions:

COVID-19

In the event that the NZ government imposes COVID-19 restrictions preventing the GVR train tour from operating, a refund of monies paid may be given, net of any outgoings or payments already made by GVR in conjunction with the operation and organisation of these tours on written application within 7 days of the scheduled date of travel.

Visit Ruapehu and Ruapehu District i-SITE Visitor Centre Conditions

These packages are organised through Visit Ruapehu and the Ruapehu District i-SITE Visitor Centres who handle all accommodation, transfers, and activities for these packages. Please contact them on 0800 647 483 or email them at [email protected] for their terms and conditions which apply to your booking.

All packages are subject to availability, after you place your booking the i-SITE will confirm your arrangements with the individual providers and operators.
If parts of your chosen package are unavailable, the i-SITE will work with you to provide a suitable substitution/customisation or we will refund you fully.

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway Charitable Trust Board will not be held liable for any damages arising from errors or omissions in the information provided for you on this website

Book This Package

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Travelling solo, with kids, or as a group? Package not available for your preferred date? The Ruapehu i-SITE is able to customise packages to suit your requirements. Click here for more information.