Glenbrook Vintage Railway

08/09/2026

🚂💨 THE KING COUNTRY EXPRESS: STEAM TO TAUMARUNUI! 💨🚂

📅 Sunday 4 October 2026, one day only!

👉 To Book: https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/kexp

Round up the family and get ready for a spectacular steam-powered adventure through the heart of the King Country!

Step aboard GVR’s lovingly restored heritage carriages as Ab 608 “Passchendaele” leads us south from Hamilton, Te Awamutu, Ōtorohanga and Te Kūiti to Taumarunui and return. This is your chance to experience the unmistakable sound, atmosphere and excitement of a steam locomotive working hard through some of the North Island Main Trunk’s most impressive country.

🌉 Cross the impressive Waiteti Viaduct
⛰️ Travel over steep grades and through rugged King Country terrain
🚇 Pass through tunnels and winding river valleys
🏔️ Look out for glimpses of Mt Ruapehu
🌿 Relax on the open-air viewing balconies as the countryside rolls by

Once we arrive in Taumarunui, you’ll have a couple of hours to make the day your own. Explore the town centre, find a café for lunch, browse the local shops or discover Taumarunui’s fascinating railway story at the nearby Railway Museum.

While you explore, Ab 608 will head away on a local steam trip, creating a fantastic opportunity to watch and photograph the train departing from and returning to the historic Taumarunui Railway Station.

Back aboard, settle into your seat and enjoy the journey home. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase throughout the day, the train is fully licensed, and our friendly onboard team will bring refreshments through the carriages.

🚉 Departure times
📍 Hamilton, Frankton: 8.30am
📍 Te Awamutu: 9.00am
📍 Ōtorohanga: 9.25am
📍 Te Kūiti: 9.50am

The train is scheduled to arrive in Taumarunui at 11.25am, depart at 3.20pm, and return to Hamilton at approximately 6.00pm.

🎟️ Return fares
👨 Adult: $135
👧 Child aged 2 to 14: $95
👶 Infants travelling on an adult’s lap: Free

It’s more than a train ride. It’s a full day of family fun, spectacular scenery, railway heritage and classic Kiwi steam travel!

🚂 Steam in the King Country is a rare sight, so don’t miss your chance to be part of it.
👉 To Book: https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/kexp

07/09/2026

🌿 RIDE THROUGH THE MANAWATŪ GORGE – BY TRAIN! 🌿

On Saturday 7 November, the East Coast Endeavour sets out from Napier for one of those railway journeys you simply can’t experience on a normal day.

Step aboard our train hauled by classic diesels DBR1254 and DC4818, and travel south through Hawke’s Bay and into some spectacular railway country.

🌉 Cross impressive viaducts
🌿 Follow winding rivers and rolling farmland
🚆 Climb the mighty Opapa Bank
🏘️ Pass historic railway towns including Waipawa, Waipukurau, Ormondville and Dannevirke

And then comes the highlight…

🛤️ THE MANAWATŪ GORGE!

From Woodville, our train enters the dramatic Manawatū Gorge for the journey through to Ashhurst - a spectacular section of railway squeezed between the river and towering bush-covered hillsides.

With the old road now closed, the gorge can only be explored by rail, bike or on foot, making travelling through aboard a heritage train a pretty special experience.

At Ashhurst, our locomotives run around the train for the return journey, and passengers swap sides so everyone gets the chance to enjoy the best views through the Gorge. 📸

THREE WAYS TO JOIN US:

🚉 Napier/Hastings or Waipukurau → Ashhurst & return
The full railway adventure, including the Manawatū Gorge.

🏘️ Napier/Hastings → Dannevirke & return
Enjoy around two hours to explore Dannevirke.

🚆 Dannevirke → Ashhurst & return
A fantastic local trip through the Manawatū Gorge and back.

📅 Saturday 7 November 2026
🥤 Food & drinks available onboard
🥪 Optional lunch packs available

This is railway travel the way it should be - a comfortable heritage carriage, ever-changing scenery outside the window and a route very few passenger trains get to travel.

👉 https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/ecer

06/09/2026

🏔️ TARANAKI BY TRAIN – THE TARANAKI MOUNTAINEER! 🏔️

On Wednesday 4 November, climb aboard our beautifully restored heritage carriages for a rare passenger journey through the heart of Taranaki – over railway lines normally reserved for freight trains.

Hauled by GVR’s classic heritage diesels DBR1254 and DC4818, we’ll travel from New Plymouth around the mountain, through Inglewood, Stratford and Hawera, before continuing south via Pātea to Waitotara.

🌿 Watch the landscape change from New Plymouth’s coastline to rich Taranaki farmland.

🏔️ Keep an eye out for magnificent views of Mt Taranaki.

🌉 Beyond Hawera, we pass the enormous Whareroa dairy factory before tackling a fascinating stretch of railway – crossing rivers, viaducts and rolling country before meeting the coast again at Pātea and continuing to Waitotara.

📸 And don’t forget our open-air viewing balconies – one of the best places to watch the countryside roll by!

🚆 OPTION 1 – NEW PLYMOUTH TO WAITOTARA & RETURN
Board at New Plymouth, Inglewood or Stratford and enjoy the full-day journey around the mountain and down the South Taranaki coast.

🎟 $99 Adult | $79 Child - Dep New Plymouth & Inglewood
🎟 $69 Adult | $49 Child - Dep Stratford.

🚆 OPTION 2 – HAWERA TO WAITOTARA & RETURN
Calling all Hawera locals! Join us for the rarely travelled passenger journey through Pātea to Waitotara and back.

🎟 Just $45 per person, ages 2+

🌸 OR COMBINE RAIL & GARDENS!

We’re also working with the Centuria Taranaki Garden Festival to offer a special Garden Excursion.

Travel by heritage train from New Plymouth to Hāwera, then transfer by coach to visit four beautiful South Taranaki gardens — Sullivan Garden, Gravetye, Oakley and Christiansen Garden — before returning to New Plymouth by train. 🌺🌿

There’s even an optional picnic lunch to enjoy amongst the gardens.

🎟 Garden excursion from $130pp
🥪 With picnic lunch $155pp

👉 Garden Festival package:
https://www.gardenfestnz.co.nz/events/glenbrook-vintage-train

📅 Wednesday 4 November 2026
🥤 Food & refreshments available onboard
🍺 Fully licensed train
📸 Open-air viewing balconies

No driving. No rushing. Just settle into your seat and enjoy Taranaki from a completely different perspective.

👉 Book now: www.gvr.org.nz/event/ttmt

Take a Scenic Rail Adventure from New Plymouth & Hawera to Waitotara and return with GVR!

05/09/2026

🚂🌲 STEAM INTO THE TIMBERLANDS! 🌲🚂

Saturday 3 October, Ab 608 “Passchendaele” steams out of Hamilton for a day exploring the South Waikato — and you choose how you spend it!

The Timberlands Flyer travels through the rolling Waikato countryside before turning onto the historic Kinleith Branch and heading into the heart of New Zealand’s timber country.

🌲 OPTION 1 – NZ TIMBER MUSEUM & TRAINWORLD

Step off at Putāruru and transfer to the fantastic New Zealand Timber Museum.

Set across six hectares, there’s plenty to discover — historic buildings, vintage forestry machinery, working sawmill displays, native forest, timber-industry history and more.

🚂 Plus, explore TrainWorld — New Zealand’s largest model railway display, with five detailed layouts bringing forests, sawmills and railway scenes to life.

🎟 Adult $150 | Child $120

🛍️ OPTION 2 – STEAM TO TOKOROA

Stay aboard for the rare opportunity to travel by passenger train beyond Putāruru, through Lichfield and deep into South Waikato timber country.

You’ll have almost three hours in Tokoroa to explore, grab some lunch, check out the famous Talking Poles and browse the local market planned to coincide with the train’s visit.

Then climb back aboard for the steam-hauled journey home to Hamilton.

🎟 Adult $115 | Child $85

📅 Saturday 3 October 2026
📍 Departs Hamilton (Frankton) 9.15am
🚂 Hauled by Ab 608 “Passchendaele”
🥪 Optional lunch packs available

Two great ways to spend the day. One very special journey behind steam.

Which option would you choose? 🌲 or 🛍️

👉 Book now:
https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/ttfl

Muster your family and friends and jump onboard this little train adventure from Hamilton to Putaruru and the NZ Timber Museum or Tokoroa and return on our unique heritage train.

05/09/2026

👀 15 seats have just been released on our Kaimai Steam Express - Get in quick! 👉 https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/kmex

Missed out? Join the mailing list to hear about our trips first!
https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/80077/177803723555211126/share

04/09/2026

Steam is coming to a town near you this Spring and tickets are selling fast 👀 get them now! 🚂

🔗 in bio

03/09/2026

🚂 A LITTLE TASTE OF AB 608 “PASSCHENDAELE” IN ACTION!

Some fantastic footage from Mike Tame showing Ab 608 working through the spectacular Manawatū Gorge - a great look at this impressive locomotive out on the main line.

While none of our upcoming spring trips travel through the Manawatū Gorge, the video gives a brilliant sense of Passchendaele at work with a passenger train behind.

This September and October, Ab 608 will be heading across the Waikato, King Country and Central Plateau on a special series of GVR journeys.

If this whets your appetite for a day behind steam, have a look at what’s coming up 👇

🚂 View all upcoming trips:
https://www.gvr.org.nz/trips-events/new-zealand-trips-tours

🎥 Video: Mike Tame - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7lHBuYE5kQ

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

02/09/2026

🚂🔥 HAMILTON – MAKE A WEEKEND OF STEAM THIS 3 & 4 OCTOBER! 🔥🚂

Two days. Two completely different journeys. Both departing from Hamilton behind Ab 608 “Passchendaele”.

If you’ve been waiting for a proper mainline steam adventure, this is the weekend for it.

🌲 SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER – THE TIMBERLANDS FLYER

Depart Hamilton and steam south through the Waikato before turning onto the Kinleith Branch and heading into South Waikato timber country.

Then choose how you spend the day:

🌳 Option 1 – NZ Timber Museum & TrainWorld
Explore New Zealand’s timber history, historic buildings, machinery, native bush and TrainWorld – New Zealand’s largest model railway display.

🚂 Option 2 – Tokoroa Explorer
Stay aboard for the rare chance to travel by passenger train beyond Putāruru to Tokoroa.

Once there, enjoy time to explore the town, grab a bite to eat and browse the local markets before rejoining the train for the steam-hauled journey back to Hamilton.

🎟 From $115 Adult | $85 Child
👉 https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/ttfl

⛰️ SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER – THE KING COUNTRY EXPRESS

The next morning, we head in a completely different direction.

Steam from Hamilton into the rugged King Country, crossing viaducts, climbing steep grades, passing through tunnels and following river valleys on the way to Taumarunui.

🎙️ Along the journey, our onboard commentary brings the railway to life – telling the stories of the people who surveyed, engineered and built the North Island Main Trunk through some incredibly challenging country.

Enjoy time in Taumarunui before settling back into your heritage carriage for the steam journey home.

🎟 Adult $135 | Child $95
👉 https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/kexp

🚂 Two days of steam from Hamilton.
🌲 Timber country on Saturday.
⛰️ King Country on Sunday.

Join us for one – or make a weekend of it and do both!

New Zealand's Premier Heritage Railway Experience

01/09/2026

🚂🎉 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS! 🎉🚂

Wow! We were blown away by the love for the Dad’s out there that we had to give away two more passes!

The winners of our Father’s Day Spring Steam Series giveaway are:
🏆 Chloe Monique Day
🏆 Shagun Kapoor Amar
🏆 Alex Bradley
🏆 Sasha-Lee Kopke

You’ve each won four seats aboard the Spring Steam Series trip of your choice, plus a special extra surprise!

Thank you to everyone who entered. There could only be four giveaway winners, but this Father’s Day we’re celebrating the fact that all dads are winners! 💙

Didn’t win? You can still make Dad’s day with an unforgettable steam train adventure. Choose from an exciting range of Spring Steam Series trips departing between 20 September and 1 November, with spectacular scenery, classic heritage carriages and the unmistakable sound of steam power.

🎁 Skip the socks
🚂 Book the train
💙 Make some great family memories

👉 Find the perfect Spring Steam Series trip for Dad
https://www.gvr.org.nz/trips-events/new-zealand-trips-tours

Happy Father’s Day from the team at Glenbrook Vintage Railway!

Winners have been contacted directly by GVR. Please be aware of fake accounts. GVR will never ask you to provide payment or banking information to claim a prize.

31/08/2026

🚂✨ OUR 2026–2027 OPERATING SEASON IS NOW ON SALE! ✨🚂

Steam is coming back to Glenbrook - and bookings are now open for another season of our ever-popular railway adventures!

This season is going to be a particularly special one for us as we head toward an important milestone in the Glenbrook Vintage Railway story.

1977 saw the Glenbrook Vintage Railway begin public operations from Glenbrook to Pukeoware. Now, almost 50 years and a couple of extensions later, we’re getting ready to celebrate five decades of steam and diesel trains, restoration, volunteering, railway heritage, and generations of families making memories along the line.

There’s plenty to look forward to over the coming season… and a few special things still to be revealed. 👀🚂

🚂 STEAM TRAIN EXPERIENCE

Climb aboard at Glenbrook Station and enjoy a steam-hauled journey through the Franklin countryside, with time to explore the railway, watch the locomotive at work and soak up the atmosphere of a real heritage railway.

Hop off the train in Waiuku, explore the town and return on a later train. Take a walk along the heritage trail, visit the Waiuku Museum Society, or stop in at one of the town’s many cafés and shops before heading back to Glenbrook.

🍰 FIRST CLASS EXPERIENCE

Make the journey a little more special aboard our beautifully restored First Class carriages.

Sit back and relax as food and refreshments are served while the train rolls through the countryside - ideal for birthdays, celebrations, catching up with friends or simply treating yourself.

🔥 Real steam locomotives
🚃 Heritage carriages
🌿 Franklin countryside
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A great day out for all ages
🫖 First Class experiences
🎉 A milestone season ahead

📅 Selected operating days from October 2026 through to June 2027.

🎟️ BOOKINGS ARE OPEN NOW!

👉 View dates, fares and book at:
https://www.gvr.org.nz/experiences/steam

Waiuku Business and Development Association Visit Auckland

Ride a heritage steam train from Glenbrook to Waiuku near Auckland. Enjoy a 70-minute return journey, restored heritage carriages, countryside scenery and a special steam train photo stop.