History through the Heartland Rail Tour

An 12 day Rail Tour Experience focusing on the historical influences through the North Island’s Central Heart

Welcome aboard...

We would like to warmly invite you onboard our first multi-day rail tour in many years, exploring “History through the Heartland”. An 12 day rail experience focusing on different historical influences through the North Island’s central heart, with our steam & diesel hauled heritage trains linking your journey together - on a journey into the shaping of a nation.

For the full tour itinerary and list of inclusions, please download the brochure by clicking here!

Email us or call 0800 783 264 to chat to our reservations team!

Itinerary

Thursday 18th February - Wellington to Napier

Gather together with the rest of your travel companions at Wellington’s Platform 9, and board your luxury coach for the short sprint towards Paekakariki. Here, you will be transferred onto your beautifully restored steam hauled train, bound for Napier. Settle into vintage comfort as you glide through the heart of the island. Travel through the scenic Manawatu Gorge, rail providing the perfect view, and see the start of the new Te Ahu a Turanga highway. Watch the dramatic coastlines unfold outside your window as we approach Napier, our Art Deco Capital. Upon disembarking the train, reboard your luxury coaches and travel through to your accommodation, and settle in for the evening with dinner out, getting to know your tour peers a little more. 

Friday 19th February - Wine & Dine

Enjoy breakfast with the group at East Pier Hotel before embarking on your first day of exploration in Napier. We arrive by coach at Marine Parade for As the Dust Settles, an immersive experience showcasing life just after the 1931 earthquake.  After an insightful look into the impacts that shaped Napier as it is today, we head out of town, for a lunch like no other. Crab Farm has been in the Jardine family for over 100 years. Originally purchased sight unseen, Hamish Jardine’s great-grandfather was surprised to find the land partially underwater. With tidal pools, rushes and hundreds of crabs, it was jokingly named ‘Crab Farm’. Today, enjoy a wine tasting followed by a sumptuous lunch under the Hawke’s Bay sun. Return by coach to the hotel to relax before heading out for dinner with the group.

Saturday 20th February - Get Down to Deco

The day begins with breakfast, catching up with the group, ahead of an ‘Art Deco’ themed day in the Napier . Travel by coach into Napier CBD, where you’ll have two hours at your leisure to explore the plenty of Art Deco festivities filling the city. Sit back and witness a festival highlight, the Vintage Car Parade.  Later in the afternoon, we will jump back onboard the coach for a private guided ‘Art Deco’ tour, lead by representatives of the Art Deco Trust. This tour explores the old port area at Ahuriri, and the Art Deco suburb of Marewa before finishing at the inner-city Deco precinct. Following this insightful tour around Napier, we will head back to our accommodation, where you’ll have a chance to freshen up ahead of an evening meal out with the group.

Sunday 21st February - Leisure Day in Napier

Enjoy a relaxed Sunday discovering Napier during the vibrant Art Deco Festival, with the freedom to explore at your own pace. The streets come alive with vintage cars, live music, street performers, and elegantly dressed festival-goers celebrating the glamour of the 1930s. Wander through Napier’s famous Art Deco architecture, browse boutique shops and market stalls, or relax along Marine Parade soaking up the festive atmosphere. In the evening, we gather for a sumptuous dinner at Mission Estate Winery, the perfect setting to unwind, share stories, and celebrate our final night in Hawke’s Bay together. Art Deco dress is encouraged!

Monday 22nd February - Departing the Deco

We board our heritage train for our journey south, leaving behind Art Deco as we begin our journey west. With our heritage Diesel Electric locomotive at the front of the train, we whisk our way through the country side, enroute to a special destination, in the heart of the Horowhenua district. Recognised as an architectural landmark, Tatum House remains a significant piece of New Zealand’s modernist heritage and a testament to William Toomath’s enduring legacy. Recently subjected to a multi million dollar restoration, and rejuvenation, we are one of the first tour group to utilise the fresh spaces. We disembark the train, ‘on the back door step’ of Tatum, and it’s just a short walk to your accommodation within the grounds. Greeted by a glass of bubbles, the Tatum team are excited to host us and host a fabulous evening, just for our group.

Tuesday 23rd February & Wednesday 24th February - To the River City

Wake up to the sweet surrounds of the Horowhenua district, a slice of rural paradise. Our diesel hauled private train arrives behind Tatum’s mass complex, ready and waiting to take us north towards Whanganui via the Marton - New Plymouth Line. Here our coaches await, taking us to our accomodation, and onwards to a private dinner at Bushey Park Homestead - a surviving feature of Whanganui’s edwardian history. This is a special ‘Formal Dress’ evening - time to dress to the nines! After a night’s rest, Whanganui has much in store! We tour round the Sarjeant Gallery, the Whanganui Regional Museum, and visit NZ Glassworks before enjoying the late afternoon on the Paddle Steamer Waimarie enjoying a lovely dinner.

Thursday 25th February - A Taste of Americarna

Enjoy a relaxed morning at your leisure before boarding your own private heritage train bound for Inglewood. Sit back in comfort as you journey through stunning Taranaki countryside. On arrival, dive into the vibrant energy of Americarna—Inglewood’s iconic celebration of classic American cars, live music, and street festivities. Soak up the atmosphere, explore the displays, and enjoy the local hospitality. As the festival winds down, you’ll be comfortably transferred by coach to your central New Plymouth hotel, ready to unwind or continue exploring. A perfect blend of relaxation, rail adventure, and automotive excitement in one unforgettable day.

Friday 26th February - A Historical Insight

Discover the rich culture and creativity of New Plymouth with a day exploring two of the region’s most celebrated attractions. Begin at the fascinating Puke Ariki Museum, where interactive exhibits and engaging displays bring the stories of Taranaki’s people, environment, and history to life. Just a short walk away, experience the striking Len Lye Centre, home to the internationally renowned kinetic artist whose bold, innovative works combine motion, light, and sound in a truly unique gallery setting. After a morning of discovery and inspiration, unwind with a relaxing lunch at Pukekura Park. Nestled among the tranquil gardens and overlooking the lake, the park offers a welcoming setting to enjoy delicious food and refreshments while surrounded by the natural beauty of one of New Zealand’s most scenes. It’s the perfect balance of culture, creativity, and relaxation in the heart of New Plymouth.

Saturday 27th February - Leisure Day

Spend a leisurely day discovering the charm of New Plymouth at your own pace. Wander the award-winning Coastal Walkway and take in sweeping views of the Tasman Sea, including the striking Te Rewa Rewa Bridge. Throughout the city, the atmosphere will be buzzing as the vibrant Americarnival brings colour, music and classic American car culture to the streets as part of the wider Americarna celebrations. Browse boutique shops, relax at a seaside café, or visit Fitzroy Beach to watch the surfers in action. With its coastal scenery, lively festival atmosphere and relaxed vibe, New Plymouth offers the perfect place to unwind.

Sunday 28th February - Explore the Unknown

Begin your day in New Plymouth with an early departure south, watching Mount Taranaki emerge in the morning light as you travel to Stratford, where the adventure truly begins. From here, you join the tour operated by Forgotten World Adventures, transporting you into the heart of the Forgotten World to the start of the historic Stratford–Okahukura Line. Settling into your self-driven rail cart, you spend the late morning and early afternoon travelling around 60 kilometres along this long-abandoned railway, rolling gently through tunnels, across bridges, and past remote bush, farmland and forgotten settlements, with regular stops to soak up the scenery and hear stories of the line’s construction and the communities it once served. A relaxed lunch at the halfway point, at Whangamomona provides a welcome pause amid the isolation and scale of the landscape before the journey continues back toward Stratford. By mid-afternoon, you return your rail cart and and arrive back in Stratford with time to stretch your legs before heading north again. As the day winds down, you make the scenic drive back to New Plymouth, arriving in the early evening with a full appreciation of one of the most unique and immersive rail corridor experiences in the country.

Monday 1st March - Homeward Bound

The final day! We invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the view as we take you all the way from New Plymouth into the nation’s capital city of Wellington. Having loaded your luggage on the coach, you will soon board your diesel hauled train for the leisurely run south. The journey continues through the rugged King Country, where deep gorges and native bush dominate the view. Curving southward, the track traverses viaducts and tunnels carved into the hill country, offering glimpses of remote settlements and river valleys. As we ege toward civilisation, the landscape opens into wide plains dotted with sheep and dairy farms. Beyond Palmerston North, the line parallels the Kapiti Coast, where the sea once again glimmers beside the track. As we roll into Wellington, nestled between harbour and hills, reflect on a special journey with those whom have accompanied you, concluding a special 12 days away.

Bookings

Per Person Twin Share - $7990

Per Person Single Supplement - $1590

For the full tour itinerary and list of inclusions, please download the brochure by clicking here!

Email us or call 0800 783 264 to chat to our reservations team!

Prior booking is essential. All seating is reserved, and accommodation is limited.