Queenstown to Dunedin with Taieri Gorge Train One-Way Tour

This full-day journey links Queenstown and Dunedin through the gold rush landscapes of Central Otago, combining road travel with a rail trip on the Taieri Gorge Train.

After hotel pickup in Queenstown, travel east through the Gibbston wine region and the Kawarau Gorge, where the route follows a landscape shaped by rugged terrain and gold mining history. Continue alongside Lake Dunstan to Cromwell, set at the meeting point of the Clutha and Kawarau Rivers, then stop in Clyde for morning tea, available to purchase at a local cafe. Clyde’s preserved gold rush architecture gives this break a strong sense of place.

The journey continues with a photo stop at the 1880 suspension bridge spanning the Manuherikia River, then on to St Bathans, an old mining settlement where you can walk among preserved buildings and see the Blue Lake, created by earlier mining activity. These stops give a clear view of how Central Otago’s past still sits within the landscape.

At Pukerangi, board the Taieri Gorge Train and continue independently by rail. The line passes through deep canyons, river valleys, tunnels, and viaducts before arriving at Dunedin Railway Station, known for its ornate Edwardian design and strong Scottish heritage.