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Rotorua & Taupo Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!tune
Rotorua Rail Cruising - Mamaku Scenic Rail Tour
Hop aboard your own self-drive railway car and enjoy epic 360-degree views of Lake Rotorua and rolling farmland...
Highlights
- Step aboard and captain your very own rail car! on a 19km return trip!
- The Rail Cruiser V3000 is an innovative world first vehicle like no other
- Enjoy views of Lake Rotorua, stunning bush scenery and scenery extending as far as Mount Tarawera
- Listen to an audio tour as you make your way through the beautiful Dansey Scenic Reserve
- A magical railway experience not to be missed!
Rail Cruising is a fun, innovative and totally new way for people to explore the stunning Dansey Scenic Reserve. This is a magical railway experience with a difference.
In this awesome travel experience you get to step aboard and captain your very own rail car!
The Rail Cruiser is a self drive heated 4 seater hybrid rail car with unobstructed viewing windows. The RailCruiser V3000 is an innovative world first vehicle like no other!
Travel along the Rotorua Railway in your comfortable RailCruiser at 20km/hr departing from Mamaku Railway Station. You can listen to the audio tour as you make your way through the beautiful Dansey Scenic Reserve on your 19km return trip to Tarukenga Railway Station.
The historic railway provides gentle curves and steep climbs with views of Lake Rotorua, stunning bush scenery and views extending as far as Mount Tarawera.
So, for a totally unique, relaxed, comfortable and independent travel experience hop aboard a Rail Cruiser - this is a magical railway experience not to be missed!
Authenticated Reviews & Photos All of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 761 authenticated Bookme reviews
Osceola Adams from New Zealand wrote on 06 January 2023
A unique and enjoyable experience
We were the first ones to arrive. The gate was locked and we weren't sure it was going to open. Five minutes later, the gate was opened. We received a safety briefing and were asked if we wanted coffee or tea. After the other group arrived, we went to the self-driving cars. You are told to pull the handbrake lever smoothly when asked. It is the only thing you actively do on the trip. The staff car goes first, then 20 seconds later our car went. It was quite cold on our trip, but blankets are provided, and the sides can be closed. It's about 19 kilometres and takes about 30 minutes each way. There is a turntable at the end where the car is rotated for the return trip. You travel through bush and pass a few farms. Lake Rotorua can also be seen. There is commentary on the trip, but can be difficult to hear on the return trip, because the petrol motor is running to assist with the climb on the way back. Kudos to the staff; they are professional and kind. It takes a lot of work to keep this running. The ride was a fun and unique. experience!
Amy McCarthy from New Zealand wrote on 17 November 2021
Great wholesome fun!
Great views, interesting commentary, unique way to see the country!! Especially lovely seeing wildlife along the way. Roxy really looked after us, thanks Roxy!!!
rachelr10 from New Zealand wrote on 14 May 2022
Great time
It was a different and nice thing to do with great information inside the rail car thanks 😊
Alicia Stacey from New Zealand wrote on 28 June 2021
Very noisy
Booked in advance for this and told them that i have a 5month old baby that will be coming along with us. When we arrived they didn't think to mention or let us know that the sound of the little train on the tracks were going to be extremely noisy, not only for a baby but for the elderly group as well going on before us, and plus then they had to start up a mini generator in the back of the cabs (as these trains are battery powered) to get back to the station. Would not recommend for ones with younger babys or even the elderly unless they may want to wear some type of hearing protection. They may want to invest in some & have at the office for the ones that want to wear them . Otherwise it was okay .
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HUI-CHEN from Taiwan wrote on 19 February 2020
有趣的鐵道之旅
預訂了中午1:00的班次，本以為會比較熱，實際上還蠻涼爽的，搭起來很舒服，風景也不錯，值得推薦!