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Rotorua & Taupo Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!tune
Rotorua Rail Cruising - Ngongotaha Ultimate Journey
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 26 km 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 and surrounding farmland
- 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 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 Ngongotaha Railway Station. You can listen to the audio tour as you make your way through the beautiful Dansey Scenic Reserve and surrounding farmland on your 26 km return trip to Mamaku 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 ReviewsAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 44 authenticated Bookme reviews
From Rotorua Rail Cruising - Ngongotaha Ultimate Journey
Thank you for your lovely message! We are very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your ride on the rail trail and even more so that our staff left a great impression! We will be sure to pass on your message to them. We also appreciate your suggestion of having memorabilia. We love the idea and we will definitely consider offering items like fridge magnets or other keepsakes. Thank you very much again for your support. *Rail Cruising *
Frank Durant from New Zealand wrote on 24 July 2025
Rail Cruising
A fantastic experience..great staff, very helpful and easy going. More should be made of the log cabin (Yogi Bear)..a beautiful unique building.
anns13 from New Zealand wrote on 24 June 2025
Novel experience
Friendly team running the ride, a novel experience on something a bit different for all ages. Some good scenery, a nice short commentary. Amazing how the track was built and has stood the test of time.
alland7 from New Zealand wrote on 18 July 2025
Repairs
The experience was cold and the caridge old in need of doing up.Also the track needs clearing. Invite us again when repairs are done and l will review again. Cheers Allan Dower
Lynne Winter from New Zealand wrote on 16 April 2025
What Rail Trail??
We arrived at 8.30 for 9am trail. No one was there at the depot, no previous contact to say it was not running, my sister had travelled from Sydney to join me as we had grown up in this area. We were very disappointed. This company is doomed to fail. They have our money and now want it back. We have tried many times to make contact but all has failed. Maybe you can organise a refund for us?
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Karen Waitere from New Zealand wrote on 31 May 2025
Great experience!
We four had a very enjoyable ride on this rail trail. The two staff were very personable and we enjoyed their interactions! On our return we were a little disappointed that there was no memorabilia available to buy. Something you might like to look into - even a fridge magnet or similar would have been great!