Glenbrook Vintage Railway

The basics

Round-trip journeys depart Glenbrook Station, arriving at Victoria Avenue 20-30 minutes later, where they pause before beginning the return trip. You can also visit the railway workshop or try classic motorized or hand jiggers, which are rare, vintage trolleys that were once used by railway staff traveling the line. Now, they make regular 2.4-mile (4-kilometer) outings from Morley Road Level Crossing. You’ll need a Glenbrook Vintage Railway ticket to use the jiggers.

Things to know before you go

• Free parking is available at Glenbrook Station.

• Jigger rides might be unavailable on rainy days.

• Railway staff welcomes children of all ages, making this a great outing for families.

How to get there

Glenbrook Station is on Glenbrook Station Road, a 35-mile (57-kilometer) drive from downtown Auckland. It’s also possible to come from Auckland via public transit: First travel by train or bus to Pukekohe Train Station, then continue by bus to the town of Waiuku, where the railroad’s Victoria Avenue Station is located.

When to get there

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway generally closes for maintenance during the winter months, typically ending service in June and reopening in late October. To celebrate the Christmas season, special night trains travel through a landscape decked in holiday lights. Other highlights of the holiday season typically include Santa Claus photos, a Christmas market, and food trucks.

The best New Zealand train trips

New Zealand’s railway network travels spectacular landscapes, from the soaring Southern Alps to the South Island coast. The Northern Explorer makes day trips between Auckland and Wellington, with gorgeous views across a volcanic plateau. Traveling through the mountain scenery between Christchurch and Greymouth is the TranzAlpine train, a one-way journey that takes 5 hours. Or you can board the Coastal Pacific, a day-long journey along the Kaikoura Coastline from Christchurch to Picton.