Two Steam Hauled Trains from Palmerston North to Woodville & Return! Morning & Afternoon Departures!

Bring the family up and experience the landscaping in the heart of the Manawatu Gorge!

Travel behind WW1 Memorial Steam Locomotive Ab 608 as we traverse the Manawatū Gorge, taking in the sights of the rarely seen river, now inaccessible by road. ‘The Gorge’ is an interesting geographical location, linking the Manawatū and Hawkes Bay regions, and dividing the Ruahine and Tararua Ranges.

The railway line through here was completed in 1891 and has since held itself as a vital transport link through the area. The road through here, once forming part of State Highway 3, has a chequered history of closures due to land subsidence. The most recent of which was in 2017, when authorities decided to close the scenic road for good. Fast forward to 2025 and work is complete and traffic operating over the huge infrastructure project to rejoin the two ends of the gorge with a purpose-built highway - Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatū Tararua Highway.

Travel through to Woodville where our train will be turned and serviced, before coming back for a second glimpse at Te Āpiti - you might catch a glimpse of Meridian’s wind farm, producing enough sustainable energy to power 45,000 kiwi homes. Upon disembarking at Palmerston North, reflect on an experience like no other, a steam experience for the whole family.