North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) Technical Tiki Tour

Departs: Wellington, 8.00am, Thursday 16 September
Returns: Wellington/Auckland, 6.00pm, Friday 17 September
Cost: NZ$575 per person or NZ$1,050 per couple/twin share (includes transport, accommodation and all meals except lunch on the second day)

The rejuvenation and renaissance of New Zealand’s longest passenger line can be experienced on this special overnight trip that will encompass the technical ingenuity of Kiwi engineers whilst witnessing the scenic wonders and continuing geological challenges of the North Island.

On board the luxury Silver Fern rail car you will get to stop off at technical hotspots that are off limits to the general public and receive first hand experience from some of the engineers that have taken part in the different challenges encountered.

These locations will include:

• Raurimu Spiral
• The award winning Makatote Viaduct
• Hapuawhenua viaduct
• South Rangitikei Viaduct

Starting at Wellington’s recently refurbished Railway Station you will board the Silver Fern rail car and set off up the 101 year North Island Main Trunk.

Stopping off for morning tea at (Marton TBC) will coincide with one of the many Milk trains that pass through the Palmerston North intersection between Oringi in the east and Whareroa in the west.

A slowed passage across the impressive 78m high South Rangitikei Viaduct that spans New Zealand’s 5^th longest river of the same name will be followed by lunch on board, before stopping at Taihape briefly for passengers to enjoy the local culture of this town that grew around the railway.

After the restart the Silver Fern will be passing through the Taupo Volcanic Zone on the way to the next stop, the 414m long Hapuawhenua Viaduct where passengers will be able to disembark and walk across the recently reopened walkway and watch the train pass across the new viaduct for a close up one off experience.

The award winning Makatote Viaduct is next, where passengers will be able to disembark and receive first hand information from the engineers that were involved with the installation of a 38m steel and concrete cross beam to underpin a vulnerable pier whilst observing the rules set by the Department of Conservation regarding rare blue duck and brown trout.

The final technical stop on the tour is the one of New Zealand’s engineering masterpieces, the Raurimu Spiral. The train will make a brief stop at the top of the spiral for a look down at the 132m rise before carrying on to the bottom and stopping for a look back up the spiral.

The train will then return back up the Spiral to National Park where the day’s activities will end and a night at the luxurious Tongariro Chateau in National Park will begin.

After a short coach trip and passengers are checked in, the guided part of the tour will be over but not the activities, as the Tongariro Chateau boasts its very own 9 hole golf course, plunge pool, sauna, tennis courts and cinema onsite. A formal three course set menu dinner and fully cooked breakfast buffet are provided to ensure you are fed from start to finish.

Passengers will also have the next morning with which to take advantage of the Tongariro Chateau facilities, or venture into National Park itself for one of the many walks on offer or with Whakapapa Ski field a mere 16km away you may be tempted to get out in the snow.

The trip concludes on Friday with the inclusive option of a return trip on the Silver Fern to Wellington or continuing North to Auckland on another of New Zealand’s long haul passenger services, the Overlander. Alternatively passengers make choose their own travel arrangement from here. The Silver Fern will depart around 12.30pm and the Overlander at 1.45pm.

Tour participants are advised to bring appropriate warm clothing, raincoat and walking shoes.  

Minimum and maximum numbers apply to this tour. Register early to ensure your place on this tour which is a unique opportunity for all rail engineers and operators. Partners are welcome on this tour.

To visit our Registration website, click here.