Mini Explorers on the Taieri Gorge
5 hours | Destination: Pukerangi (in the Taieri Gorge)
School Holiday Adventures
Adventure · Creative · Family-Fun
This September, all aboard the Taieri Gorge train for our brand-new school holiday experience. Dunedin Railways’ new Mini Explorers brings the magic of themed adventures to families, with a different theme every trip. From superheroes to dragons, detectives to fairies – every train is a new adventure.
- $30+fees per seat (adult or child).
- Strictly limited seats per trip
- 8 themed trains across the school holidays
Schedule
20 September – 5 October 2025
Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays
Each day features a unique theme – Superhero Academy, Mythical Quest, Train Detectives, Fairy School, and more.
Highlights
- Affordable, family-friendly – just $30 per seat.
- Creative, exciting themes designed especially for kids.
- Safe, comfortable environment for families to travel together.
- Exclusive, limited-capacity carriages for a more personalised experience.
Mini Explorers is brought to you from Dunedin Railways and Official Events Partner Lemonpie Caravan.
| Saturday, 20 September | Kiwi Classics Game Train (All ages) |
| Sunday 21 September | Princesses & Pirates (5-7 years old) |
| Friday, 26 September | Galaxy Express (All ages) |
| Saturday, 27 September | Fairy School (5-7 years old) |
| Sunday, 28 September | Mythical Quest (All ages) |
| Friday, 3 October | Train Detectives (8-10 years old) |
| Saturday, 4 October | Superhero Academy (5-7 years old) |
| Sunday, 5 October | The Era Express (All ages) |
Seating and Group Bookings
- Seats for the School Holiday Programme are pre-allocated in our dedicated Mini Explorers carriages – requests for specific seats are not available.
- If you are in a group, we recommend booking together so you can be seated together.
Food and Beverage
- Local, seasonal food available from our onboard café including hot and cold drinks. A menu is available from the Info drop down tab.
Additional information
- All tickets are return fare, GST inclusive and subject to Terms & Conditions.
- We have limited space onboard.
- Child Supervision: All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult for the duration of the journey.
- Tickets purchased cannot be exchanged or refunded
- Activities are curated for children aged 5–10 years. We will provide recommendations for each theme to indicate which age groups (5–7 years and 8–10 years) they are best suited for. All ages are welcome.
- Tickets for the School Holiday promotion are available only to families booking with primary-aged children (5–10 years old).
- For more information about this train excursion please see our Frequently Asked Questions.