Arrive by Train

Experience one of New Zealand’s most scenic rail journeys with a trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway. Running between Dunedin and Middlemarch, this historic line takes you through dramatic landscapes, tunnels, and viaducts carved into the rugged Taieri Gorge. Whether you’re arriving for adventure or heading off on the next leg of your journey, the train offers a memorable way to travel.

Discover Spectacular Otago Rail Adventures

Dunedin Railways is one of New Zealand’s most iconic scenic railway experiences, offering unforgettable journeys through Otago’s most breathtaking landscapes. Proudly based in Dunedin, we run heritage rail experiences through rugged gorges, along dramatic coastlines, and into the heart of Oamaru city’s historic past.

Our journeys—from the dramatic Taieri Gorge to the windswept coastline of the Seasider and the historic charm of the Victorian—blend engineering marvels with storytelling, hospitality, and uniquely local perspective. Every journey celebrates our region’s natural beauty, rich, historic stories, and engineering marvels.

Alongside our signature trips, a growing programme of seasonal and event trains — like the Stargazer, Twilight Train, and Christmas Train — offer new ways for visitors to experience Otago through celebration, entertainment, and immersive tourism. Whether it’s an afternoon escape, a stargazing adventure, or a festive event train, Dunedin Railways invites locals and travellers alike to discover Otago in a whole new way.

The Taieri Pet Cloud

“From Outram you climb the hills under the Taieri Pet, such a fond name for a cloud that looks like the aftermath of an apocalypse. When you reach the top, if you can stand at all in the inevitable gale, you have the view of the Gods. A blasted rocky foreground, the whaleback of the Rock and Pillar Range glowering to the left, and forever in the distance the mythical Hawkduns. Spread below you is Strath Taieri, a savagely blended Maori and Scots title for the wildest of flats.”

Sam Neill, 1995,
Introduction to the book Timeless Land

Highlights

  • Otago Central Rail Trail
  • Rock & Pillar Range
  • Sutton Salt Lake

Proximity

  • Dunedin 1hr
  • Oamaru 1hr 45mins
  • Queenstown 2hrs 45mins

Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, a peaceful retreat, or a taste of authentic country life, Middlemarch is a destination worth exploring—where the vast skies, golden hills, and warm hospitality invite you to slow down and take it all in.