Adventure, explore and connect with nature! Camp out or glamp out in Taumarunui, where kayaking, glow worms and baby alpaca cuddles await you!
3 Day/2 Nights, multiple options from $699 for 1 (off peak rate)
Call Ruapehu i-SITE 0800 647 483 for availability and pricing for your chosen departure.
View all Discover Ruapehu Rail Tours Packages
This package is perfect for the family or couple looking to spend time enjoying the natural beauty to the King Country. Try out some camping, glamping or a good old Kiwi cabin stay at Taumarunui Holiday Park. Here you can enjoy kayaking up the Whanganui river, take a scenic bush walk and visit the local glow worms! Day three you will make a visit to Nevalea Alpaca Farm. This unique farm is the largest Alpaca farm in New Zealand where Neville and Leonie are excited about introducing you to their beloved alpacas (especially cuddles with the baby alpacas!!) and their NZ made alpaca products. Take an alpaca for a walk and perhaps hand feed them before you enjoy your very own picnic lunch.
ƒôì Auckland/Hamilton - Taumarunui by Chartered Heritage Train
Ôÿò Morning tea aboard train
ƒì¢´©Å Dinner provided
ƒôì Taumarunui
ƒì¢´©Å Breakfast provided
ƒì¢´©Å Lunch provided
ƒì¢´©Å Dinner provided
Wake up refreshed and get stuck into some breakfast. When you are ready, you can embark on a peaceful bush walk through the Ohinetonga reserve then enjoy some lunch (and perhaps a little siesta!) Take out one of the kayaks for a gentle paddle up or down the Whanganui river before returning for a bit of afternoon relax time then dinner. After dinner, you will be taken to the quant little village of Kakahi where you can explore for glow worms whilst the Whakapapa river flows peacefully in the background, then finally returning to base camp for a rest.
ƒôì Taumarunui - Auckland/Hamilton by Chartered Heritage Train
ƒì¢´©Å Breakfast provided
ƒì¢´©Å Lunch provided
Ôÿò Afternoon tea aboard train
Take a visit to the Nevalea Alpaca Farm ÔÇô New ZealandÔÇÖs largest alpaca farm. Travel on the adventure highway to this unique farm on the outskirts of Taumarunui. Here you can get up and personal with the alpacas, take one for a walk, have a go at feeding one and who can resist the opportunity to cuddle a cria ÔÇô a baby alpaca! Sit down to a picnic lunch as the alpacas watch on before returning to the Taumarunui Railway station to board your train.
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.
Your choice of accommodation awaits at the Taumarunui Holiday park, nestled in a lovely wooded area beside the glistening Whanganui river. You can choose multiple options here, from camping, glamping or stay in one of the cabins. All meals are included on this stay, as well as air beds, torches and sleeping bags for the camping and glamping options. After a day of rail adventure, followed by local adventure, this is the perfect location to soak up nature over a cool bevvy or two!
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 and Taumarunui. The railway geography is diverse, from rolling hills to steep gradients. Our journey passes through conservation land, farms and forests.
Selected Highlights Include:
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.
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.
