FOR TICKET PRICES – see “VISITOR INFO” – “Ticket Prices”.  For safety reasons, we are not allowed to carry unaccompanied children on our trains

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BOIVR operating days:

***Summer seven-day schedule starts 8th December 2023***

We currently run trains every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. From the 8th December we will be running trains every day through until the 11th February 2024. 

All trains are scheduled to depart from Kawakawa at 10am, 12 noon, 2pm for a 90-minute return trip. There is no need to book, however with summer visitors if you have a particular day/date in mind it is a preference. Our new booking system will be online early December.

Our timetable includes a cycle-train as a temporary link to join the Twin Coast Cycleway (Pou Herenga Tai) between Taumarere and Te Akeake. This is a koha gold coin ‘Cycle-Train’ service (operating through until 01 April 2024).  If you are in a group of 10+ cyclists or with a cycle operator (hiring bikes, transport etc) it is recommended that you book this connection in advance. It is suggested that cyclists check Cycle Trail information for the latest news on the trail condition following the recent weather events.

Trains depart from Kawakawa at 10am, 12 noon, 2pm.  They stop at Taumarere Station (to pick up bikers/walkers) and finish at Te Akeake located at the halfway point between Kawakawa to Opua. The returning train will also stop at Taumarere before completing the trip at Kawakawa. It will take about 1½ hours for the full return trip to Kawakawa. 

Please see “Fares”, and “What’s Happening” for latest information about the days we are operating. 

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Times of departure – on operating days: 

Outward journey – leaving Kawakawa:

Kawakawa Departs	Taumarere Arrives	Taumarare Departs	Te Akeake Arrives
10.00 am	10.15am	10.25am	10.40am
12 noon	12.15pm	12.25pm	12.40pm
2.00pm	2.15pm	2.25pm	2.40pm

 

Inward journey – returning to Kawakawa:

Te Akeake Departs	Taumarere Arrives
10.50 am	11.05am
12.50 pm	1.05pm
2.50pm	3.05pm

The Return trip takes about hour 90 minutes.

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* Special train trips (those outside the operational day/times above) can be run by arrangement. Special Charters can be booked for group events, school or educational trips, large cycle groups and cruise ship tours.  Also birthday parties or special events can be arranged if we have staff available. It makes for a great excursion and can be teamed up with local catering or musical acts and performance to make an extra special occasion.

To book: phone either 09-404-0684  or email: admin@bayofislandsvintagerailway.org.nz

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See “What’s Happening” for the current situation:

Long Bridge  – for their safety, cyclists and walkers are not permitted to cross this railway bridge nor use the trackbed between Taumarere to Te Akeake as the embankments are narrow and steep, so there is no room to escape from the path of a train. However you may use our picnic tables at Taumarere Railway station.

Engines to be seen

Gabriel the Steam Engine – is scheduled to run the last Sunday of each month, and also available for special charters, weekends or holidays as Special Train Day trips – see advertisements which will be posted for these occasions.

Our vintage diesel engines are taking turns to haul carriages. You may see Timmy, Ruby, Charlie, DSA225, Esmae and our newest addition – Kauri. But which one will be on duty?!

Kauri is our new red loco – DSA273 – which has been kindly donated to BOIVR from Fonterra.