Grand Circle Rail Cruise

Travel with Steam Incorporated on this special pre-Christmas rail excursion for an easy and relaxing outing.

Sunday 3rd December 2023

Join the Steam Incorporated team as we circum-navigate the Tararua Ranges, exploring the Wairarapa’s best hidden secrets!

The train will run from Paekakariki to Paekakariki via Wellington, Masterton, Woodville & Palmerston North. Travelling over one of Wellington’s grand circle route, we will circumnavigate the Tararua Ranges in a counter clock wise direction. Departing from Paekakariki, we head south along the Kapiti Coast line - known by many as the most scenic section on the local network - through the densely populated suburbs of outer Wellington, served by commuter trains, picking up passengers at Porirua. Once in Wellington, our locomotives will change ends, and we head out of the Capital on the Wairarapa route, picking up at stations through the Hutt Valley - Petone, Waterloo and Upper Hutt.

We emerge out the other side of the 8.9km long Rimutaka Tunnel and drift down into the Wairarapa. At Masterton, depending on what options you have selected, buses will depart from the station to take you to either the Mauriceville Fair, or Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre. For all those travelling the 7km up the line to Opaki for the buffet lunch, you stay on the train. The beautiful Wingate Lane Restaurant will host us for a lovely buffet lunch, there will be Paper Road wines available for tasting - and whilst you do so, feel free to go and explore the grapes themselves out in the vineyard. Upon reboarding the train, we will travel north through the Wairarapa’s backyard, perhaps one of the region’s best kept secrets, and very rarely sees train travel pass over it. The rest of our passengers rejoin us at Mauriceville & Eketahuna, and after a slow and steady crawl through the bush, we arrive into Woodville. After the huge slips through here a few years ago demolished the road, rail is the only way to see this beautiful stretch of scenery. After a leg stretch at Palmerston North, it is a fast run back into Wellington. If you boarded the train in the Hutt Valley earlier in the morning, we hope to connect with the 7:05pm Metlink service to take you back to your initial station. This is not included in your fare.

A relaxing day out with Steam Incorporated, great for an early Christmas present for the family, your mates or your work collegues! We can cater for larger group bookings - these are best dealt with directly through us by emailing bookings@steaminc.org.nz or contacting 0800 783 264

We will make several other stops during the day just in case you need a leg stretch.  You can board the train at Paekakariki, Porirua, Wellington, Petone, Waterloo and Upper Hutt.

Adult train fare ex Paekakariki, Porirua, or Wellington: $169, Child $99.

Adult train fare ex Petone, Waterloo, or Upper Hutt: $139, Child $79.

Additional charges apply for off-train excursions to the Mauriceville Fair, Pukaha Mt Bruce and the Buffet Lunch. 

Book this adventure now!

Book online or call 0800 783 264 to book directly with the team!

Get the full Grand Circle Rail Cruise timetable and conditions of travel on the booking form.