Dunedin Shore Excursion: Taieri Gorge Railway & City Sightseeing

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. At 8.45am the coach departs the Dunedin Port and takes you to the Dunedin Railway Station. Please be there at 8.30am for a 8.45am departure.

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2. At 9.30am, depart Dunedin by train on the Taieri Gorge Railway. You will travel through the spectacular Taieri Gorge to Pukerangi, across wrought iron viaducts and through tunnels carved by hand more than 100 years ago. This is one of the great train journeys of a bygone era. Throughout this round trip journey, there will be numerous stops to afford you some magnificent photo opportunities. You will return to Dunedin Railway Station around 2.00 pm

   4 hAdmission included

3. 2.30 pm Returning from your 4.5 Taieri Gorge Rail experience you will rejoin your coach at Dunedin Railway Station for your 2 hours Dunedin Highlights / Sightseeing Tour departing from the Dunedin Railway Satation.

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4. The sightseeing tour will take in the highlights of central Dunedin City, including the Octagon and several historic sites.

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5. See the St Clair beach and esplanade

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6. Check out New Zealand’s first botanical garden.

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7. Take in the ‘dress circle’ of Dunedin’s original homes of the wealthy settlers and travel up the world’s steepest street to a lookout overlooking the city, University campus and out to the Peninsula high road for some spectacular harbour, rural and ocean views.

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8. See some great views of the New Zealand famous and historic Otago University, before returning to Port Chalmers and your cruise ship around 4 / 4.30 pm

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Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 309 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 3Train Ride

  In the beginning was ok. As time went by was getting toooo long. Scenery was a lot of farmland and not so good sights.

  Bette_LMay 2026via Viator

• 4Long Journey

  The train was well prepared and a great example of equipment built many years ago. Unfortunately the trip was too long, over 5 hours. Seating had limited leg room making the journey uncomfortable. Scenery was good, however it was the same the entire journey. The city tour afterwards was useless. Too short and no opportunity to explore.

  mjw1512March 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Don't book through cruise shps

  Excellent journey and history of the rail line well worth the money,staff very efficient and tour guide for leisure tours Alberto very good even though it looked like he had just got up when he picked us up

  Journey18928223302February 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5A must do!

  This tour was well worth the time and expense. Our ship was late coming in, but the guide waited patiently for us at the wharf. We were driven to the train and took a scenic two hour ride through some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery.. There is food and beverage available for purchase on the train. Afterwards, our guide Alberto and our driver Warren brought us around the town of Dunedin and showed us some interesting sites on the way back to our ship. My partner and I would definitely recommend this tour.

  Rocco_TJanuary 2026via Viator

• 1Why are you asking you canceled

  Vicator canceled the tour. I rebooted with the railroad and it was great. Now to see if I get my money back.

  Ron_VJanuary 2026via Viator

• 1Only experienced a return trip

  This should be a round-trip train tour. However we only experienced a single trip due to the late arrival of the tour guide and the driver.

  Jeffrey_CNovember 2025via Viator

Know before you go

How it compares in Dunedin

• Its from-price is close to the median of the 15 city tours we list in Dunedin.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• By number of reviews it ranks 1 of 15.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Dunedin

Dunedin is a Scottish-founded university city on New Zealand's South Island, beside the Otago Peninsula and its albatrosses, penguins and seals.

Dunedin was founded in 1848 by Scottish settlers, and its name is the Gaelic form of Edinburgh. The Octagon, an eight-sided plaza at the centre, is ringed by St Paul's Cathedral and the town hall and holds a statue of Robert Burns. Victorian and Edwardian buildings of dark stone fill the streets, among them the Flemish-style railway station and the Gothic First Church. The University of Otago, the country's oldest, gives the city a student character.

Top-ranked sights in Dunedin: Dunedin Railway Station , Baldwin Street, Larnach Castle.

See all 95 experiences in Dunedin