Celebrity Eclipse in Port Chalmers, Dunedin today - 26th October 2022

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Celebrity Eclipse made her maiden visit to Port Chalmers, Dunedin today:

[cruiser3775]

Is the Taeri Gorge Railway running for cruise ship passengers at Dunedin?

[Kiwi_cruiser]

44 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said:

Is the Taeri Gorge Railway running for cruise ship passengers at Dunedin?

 

I think so 🙂

[cruiser3775]

Thanks.  I've booked on it for my cruise next year, but some people are saying that it has closed down.

[Aus Traveller]

10 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said:

Thanks.  I've booked on it for my cruise next year, but some people are saying that it has closed down.

The Taeri Gorge railway was mothballed during COVID, but may have re-opened. If you cruise is offering it as a shore excursion, then it is probably operating again. None of us can tell you from first-hand experience because the last cruises to NZ were in Feb-March 2020.

[possum52]

15 hours ago, cruiser3775 said:

Is the Taeri Gorge Railway running for cruise ship passengers at Dunedin?

The Taieri Gorge train is only running for cruise ship passengers and can only be booked through the ship's excursions. Taieri Gorge Train Overview

 

Taieri Gorge Train Schedule

 

It appears the same route is available one Saturday and four Sundays (one day a month) from November through to March. It is called the Inlander and not the Taieri Gorge train.

[Kiwi_cruiser]

On 10/27/2022 at 11:35 AM, cruiser3775 said:

Thanks.  I've booked on it for my cruise next year, but some people are saying that it has closed down.

 

I got a facebook message from them saying they are operating this cruise ship season. 🙂

[buchhalm]

I received this yesterday....

 

 

 

Hello xxxxxxx

 

Thank you for your enquiry.

 

We are delighted to advise that The Taieri Gorge Train Tour is definitely going ahead this season. This is now a 5 hour tour from Port Chalmers into the Taieri Gorge (Hindon Station).

 

(sample itinerary, see below, differs according to ship arrival time)

 

Board	Port Chalmers	09:30am
Depart	Port Chalmers	10:00am
Arrive	Dunedin Railway Station	10:45am
Depart	Dunedin Railway Station	11:00am
Arrive	Hindon Railway Station	12:10pm
Depart	Hindon Railway Station	13:10pm
Arrive	Dunedin Railway Station	14:20pm
Depart	Dunedin Railway Station	14:35pm
Arrive	Port Chalmers	15:00pm

 

Taieri Gorge Train Tour  

 

An iconic rail journey through the remote mountain scenery of the world-famous Taieri Gorge.

Inspired by the famous Central Otago gold rush of the 1860’s, plans were drawn up for an Otago Central railway line to Cromwell from Dunedin - the largest and richest city in New Zealand at the time.

Experience an epic rail journey over white water rapids, towering viaducts and historic tunnels along the remote Taieri Gorge.

Your 5 hour journey begins at Port Chalmers in Dunedin. Travel in the comfort of contemporary carriages, fully enclosed with air conditioning, table seating and panoramic windows. The trains are hauled by powerful 1960s DJ diesel electric locomotives.

Detour via Dunedin Railway Station, which is one of the country's most prominent architectural landmarks, taking pride of place in the central city.

Continue to the Taieri Gorge, all the way through to Hindon Station, along the way taking in the magnificent stone and wrought iron viaducts and bridges, with sheer drops plunging down to the river gorge far below.

Weave your way through no less than eight tunnels carved into the mountain rock, including the famous Caversham Tunnel which is 1,407 metres long, making it the 3rd longest in the South Island. Traverse the historic Wingatui Viaduct, a marvel of 1880s construction that remains the largest wrought iron structure in New Zealand.

Absorb the history, stories and culture of the region with our onboard commentary.   All of this and much, much more in between.                                                                                                            

 

https://www.taierigorgeshoreexcursion.com/

 

All bookings are available for purchase direct with your Cruise Line.

 

If you are visiting Picton, The Marlborough Flyer is also recommended https://www.marlboroughflyer.co.nz/ (also available direct with your Cruise Line).

 

If, closer to the time, you still cannot access bookings direct with your cruise line then please let us know and we will follow this up for you.

 

Kind regards

Paul

 

 

 

From: mailer@multiscreensite.com <mailer@multiscreensite.com> On Behalf Of form-processor
Sent: Thursday, 27 October 2022 9:50 PM
To: info@pounamutourismgroup.com
Subject: Taieri Gorge Train 

Message: Hi there.
Is that Taieri Gorge train operating or not?
We will be in town on a cruise ship on January 8th and would like do see something lovely. And your train comes highly recommend by Kiwi friends
 

 

 

Thank you for your reply,  Paul.

 

Are tix available directly from you guys?

From experience, booking through the CRUISE LINE, doubles the prices. 

 

I'd like to forward all the info to a blog on "Cruise Critic". Many people would be interested to know.

🙂

Show quoted text

 

 

[Jean C]

So the cruise ship is hogging all the available bookings 🙁 Had a similar experience in Christchurch re the Tranz Alpine train journey. A Cunard ship was in port the same day and they'd booked the trip out. It wasn't even an option from our ship. We flew direct to Christchurch on another occasion to do the trip (pre-booked) and were treated to a decent snowfall overnight, making the scenery even more magical 🤗

[cruiser3775]

When you were able to book directly, the price was much cheaper.  I only booked with the cruise line because I was able to get it through OBC.   It is a shame they cannot take bookings directly, but I guess you could say the railway line was rescued from closure by cruise ship bookings.

[possum52]

1 hour ago, cruiser3775 said:

When you were able to book directly, the price was much cheaper.  I only booked with the cruise line because I was able to get it through OBC.   It is a shame they cannot take bookings directly, but I guess you could say the railway line was rescued from closure by cruise ship bookings.

When we were in Dunedin, we did the Taieri Gorge train excursion privately. We caught the train from Dunedin Station after being taken there by coach. This was a completely separate train to the one which went from Port Chalmers with the cruise ship excursion passengers. I read that during Covid, that as the train was mothballed that the rolling stock was sent to the North Island. Taieri Gorge Train

 

Perhaps there isn't enough rolling stock to cover the number of train trips prior to Covid. 

[cruiser3775]

Sad story in your link. Now I'm glad I have booked it for my March cruise, even though the price was much higher than the days when you could book it independently, not just through the ship.