Kiwi_cruiser Posted October 25, 2022 #1 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Celebrity Eclipse made her maiden visit to Port Chalmers, Dunedin today: 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser3775 Posted October 26, 2022 #2 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Is the Taeri Gorge Railway running for cruise ship passengers at Dunedin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi_cruiser Posted October 26, 2022 Author #3 Share Posted October 26, 2022 44 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said: Is the Taeri Gorge Railway running for cruise ship passengers at Dunedin? I think so 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser3775 Posted October 26, 2022 #4 Share Posted October 26, 2022 Thanks. I've booked on it for my cruise next year, but some people are saying that it has closed down. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus Traveller Posted October 26, 2022 #5 Share Posted October 26, 2022 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
possum52 Posted October 26, 2022 #6 Share Posted October 26, 2022 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi_cruiser Posted October 28, 2022 Author #7 Share Posted October 28, 2022 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. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buchhalm Posted October 28, 2022 #8 Share Posted October 28, 2022 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-processorSent: Thursday, 27 October 2022 9:50 PMTo: info@pounamutourismgroup.comSubject: 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jean C Posted October 28, 2022 #9 Share Posted October 28, 2022 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 🤗 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser3775 Posted October 28, 2022 #10 Share Posted October 28, 2022 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
possum52 Posted October 28, 2022 #11 Share Posted October 28, 2022 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruiser3775 Posted October 28, 2022 #12 Share Posted October 28, 2022 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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