The Track & Trail tour is a unique train and coach journey that links enchanting Dunedin with the exciting outdoor adventure town of Queenstown. By train you will cross over twelve stone and iron viaducts spanning the river below and squeeze through ten tunnels carved into the rock-face on your two-hour rail journey. The train and coach meet at Pukerangi, 'the hill of heaven' to transfer passengers. By coach you will follow the historic 19th century gold trail of the pioneers, in a journey of contrasts over this real Kiwi back-country.

The History of the Taieri Gorge Rail Track

This rail track was an amazing engineering feat by the hardy pioneers who, between 1879 & 1891, lived in harsh conditions in this remote and rugged land, transporting the materials and building the track by pick, shovel and dynamite. It was built to connect Dunedin city with farming hinterland of Central Otago. The track originally continued through to Cromwell by 1921, but in 1980 the building of the Clyde Dam required the Cromwell to Clyde sector to be closed. Then in 1990, NZ Railways officially closed the Central Otago line.

The Dunedin City Council bought and preserved the Taieri Gorge sector of the rail track, which is within its city boundary, to ensure continued access to this remarkable piece of Dunedin's history.

Highlights:

• Beautiful Kawarau Gorge
• Cromwell Fruit & Wine Region
• Clyde Dam
• High Country Farming District
• Two hour spectacular train journey between Pukerangi and Dunedin