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Central Otago Adventure: Scenic Train Journey
4.9
14 Ratings
Dunedin
Embark on a luxurious journey from Dunedin to Queenstown, exploring gold rush trails and cinematic landscapes with Cheeky Kiwi’s unforgettable tour.
Embark on a luxurious journey from Dunedin to Queenstown, exploring gold rush trails and cinematic landscapes with Cheeky Kiwi’s unforgettable tour.
Duration:
9 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Dunedin Railways - Start your adventure in Dunedin, the cultural heart of the South. Marvel at the intricate architecture of the station before boarding the Taieri Gorge Train.
- Taieri Gorge Railway - Discover the engineering wonder of the Taieri Gorge Railway. Journey through narrow gorges, deep canyons, and historic viaducts as you head…
- Dunedin Railways - Start your adventure in Dunedin, the cultural heart of the South. Marvel at the intricate architecture of the station before boarding the Taieri Gorge Train.
- Taieri Gorge Railway - Discover the engineering wonder of the Taieri Gorge Railway. Journey through narrow gorges, deep canyons, and historic viaducts as you head inland towards the Otago highlands.
- Pukerangi - Alight at this secluded high country outpost and meet your guide for the next part of the journey — a scenic road trip through Central Otago’s most historic and picturesque sites.
- St. Bathans - Immerse yourself in the haunting beauty of this ghost town preserved in time. Explore the surreal Blue Lake, created by gold mining, and stroll through the well-preserved streets of this former gold rush settlement.
- Ophir Historic Bridge - An ideal photo opportunity, the 1880-built suspension bridge spans the Manuherikia River, highlighting the pioneering engineering spirit of 19th-century Otago.
- Cromwell - Situated at the meeting point of two rivers, Cromwell is a delightful Central Otago town with a lively heritage precinct and award-winning local produce.
- Kawarau Falls - Travel through the stunning Kawarau Gorge, where steep cliffs, turquoise waters, and stories of gold seekers unfold at every turn. Enjoy views of Lake Dunstan and the dramatic Gibbston wine region.
- Queenstown - End your day in Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand. Your guide will drop you off at your hotel, leaving you with unforgettable memories of the landscapes, legends, and stories that have shaped this region.
What's Included
- Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person
- Taieri Gorge Train ticket (Dunedin to Pukerangi)
- Small group experience (max 15 guests)
- Hotel drop-off in Queenstown
- Water and snacks provided on the bus only (not available on the train)
- Space for luggage - 1 large & 1 small per person
- Taieri Gorge Train ticket (Dunedin to Pukerangi)
- Small group experience (max 15 guests)
- Hotel drop-off in Queenstown
- Water and snacks provided on the bus only (not available on the train)
What's Not Included
- Hotel pickup in Dunedin
- Hotel pickup in Dunedin
Additional Information
This is more than just a journey; it’s a narrative unfolding through gold rush trails, highland outposts, and cinematic vistas. Traveling from Dunedin to Queenstown with Cheeky Kiwi offers a personal, luxurious, and unforgettable experience of Central Otago’s finest.
While most tours focus on reaching the destination, ours emphasizes the journey itself….
This is more than just a journey; it’s a narrative unfolding through gold rush trails, highland outposts, and cinematic vistas. Traveling from Dunedin to Queenstown with Cheeky Kiwi offers a personal, luxurious, and unforgettable experience of Central Otago’s finest.
While most tours focus on reaching the destination, ours emphasizes the journey itself. From the moment you step onto the historic Taieri Gorge Train in Dunedin, you are enveloped in stunning scenery, rich history, and carefully curated stops that highlight Central Otago’s hidden treasures.
- Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. Will you require seat hire ($20NZD per seat) or will you bring your own?
- Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair.
Location
Dunedin Railways
Anzac Avenue
Begin your journey in Dunedin by collecting your tickets at the Dunedin railway station, check in, before boarding the Taieri Gorge Train.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(14 Ratings)
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Matthewong
Mar 24, 2026
Enjoyable and Entertaining - Enjoyable trip by Tairei Gorge train ride and then by coach by Cheeky Kiwi Travel. Driver Jonathan was cheerful and friendly keeping us entertained by his jokes and was very informative about the history of Otago various past. Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Eileent920
Mar 22, 2026
Travel Otago in Comfort and Style! - Cheeky Kiwi has really figured out how to make the most out of point to point travel on the South Island. By starting the journey aboard the Taieri Gorge Train, you get to experience a stretch of landscape that is otherwise fairly inaccessible. The train is a very comfortable and relaxing way to experience the gorge. I met a nice group of people, which made the journey even more memorable. The highlight of the train trip is when the train comes to a halt at the start of a viaduct and passengers are invited to cross the bridge on foot. Even though I'm afraid of heights, with the support of crew and fellow passengers, I felt safe and confident in the crossing and am glad to have had this once in a lifetime experience. On arrival in Pukerangi, we disembarked the train and met up with our driver and guide, Martin, for the remainder of the journey to Queenstown. We had some delays along the way (none the fault of Cheeky Kiwi), but Martin was still able to make the best of the time we had - giving us a flavor of the Otago region and its gold mining past - and squeezing in a few strategic stops along the way. If you want to travel across the South Island in style, from the baronial architecture of Dunedin to the natural majesty of Queenstown, this is a fantastic option.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donna
Mar 16, 2026
Great way to see the countryside without the stress of driving! Beautiful scenery! Great guides! - This tour is a wonderful way to get from Dunedin to Queenstown! The narration during the train ride was great and the views were stunning! Our driver during the bus part was Andy. He was GREAT! We made a few stops that he recommended and they were well worth the time! He also gave us advice on what to stop and see on our drive from Queenstown to Wanaka that we were planning the next day. His recommendations were spot on. Thanks, Andy!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
2023travels
Mar 15, 2026
Great experience! - This was a great adventure! The train ride was a wonderful experience where had incredible views. Then we met our guide who brought through small towns, incredible landscapes, and shared unique information about what we were seeing. I would strongly recommend this for a unique experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mikhailas2026
Feb 20, 2026
The best way to see the Otago Region - Such a clever way to get from Dunedin to Queenstown! We had a beautifully sunny day and the train ride had amazing scenery. Our guide, Jonathan, was waiting for us at the end of the line. He was such a kind host and had lots of great stories + jokes. He even extended the tour a bit so we could all get ice cream at the orchard stop!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roamthecountry
Feb 16, 2026
Gorge and plains - I liked the fact I could travel some of the way by train from Dunedin to Queenstown and the rest by comfortable minibus over the plains via interesting goldmine villages.
The driver gave interesting information and insights into the old days and current living in Otega region.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jillprasad
Jan 9, 2026
Informative and very enjoyable trip. - This was a very well organised and informative small group trip.. I have been coming to NZ since 2002 and learnt a lot of things regarding the history of NZ. Jeff and Hannah were very helpful and friendly guides and there were plenty of photos stops. We also traveled off the beaten track. I would thoroughly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michaelk1958
Dec 22, 2025
Great way to travel from Dunedin to Queenstown - A great way to travel from Dunedin to Queenstown. The train ride was a lot of fun where the guide told us about all the the sites along the way. Jonathan picked us up at the end of the line and drove us the rest of the way to Queenstown. He was a great guide who filled the day with interesting and often humorous stories about the small towns that we passed through.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shyama_s
Mar 23, 2026
Gorge train ride - Amazing train ride but the seats on the train were not comfortable with the fixed tables in between 4 passengers.
Some noisy passengers made it impossible to listen to the train commentary.
Cheeky Kiwi coach driver cum tour guide,Jonathan is excellent...very knowledgable,entertaining n helpful
Review provided by Viator
Janels6026ar
Mar 21, 2026
Great tour. - A great way to go from Dunedin to Queenstown with a train journey & a tour through historical Otago.Thank you Sophia
Review provided by Tripadvisor
