Train #4 - Taieri Gorge Train

The Dunedin Railway Station is one of the classic old beauties from the heyday of grand railway stations.

Inside there is a great hall and railway themed floor mosaics.

We take the Taieri Gorge train on a round trip from Dunedin through the Taieri Gorge. We pass on the Taieri Gorge Railway train for our group's private charter of the Dunedin Railways train.

Today's ride is a long trip to the Taieri Gorge and back.

After departing industrial Dunedin and passing through their champion horse country, we settle into a ride through rural New Zealand. One of the highlights of the trip is the Wingatui Viaduct.

The views of the gorge for the next hour are amazing.

We pass several more viaducts. The fall folliage is beautiful. Without the reds of the maples it isn't quite fall in the US but its gorgeous nonetheless.

We continue along the ridges high above the gorge.

End of the line. It is raining. There is barely a station and it is not impressive.

On the return trip, we see the striations caused by the glaciers when they dug this gorge.

The route is retraced. We travel back on the opposite side of the train and in a different carraige.

This is the rare home along the route. The occupants are outdoors waving to us as we pass; in both directions. There is no road to this place. The nearest road is on the other side of a tunnel. The railroad has given them a small hand powered rail cart and a radio to ensure the line is clear to get to and from this home through the tunnel. Could you live like that?

Dinner is on our own this evening. We select a restaurant we can walk to. We pass by a wine shop. We try another bottle of Pinot Noir from Central Otago. This one is very good.

On our own for dinner, CJ selects a Chinese restaurant with Szechuan items on the menu. Carol has dumplings, CJ a Szechuan dish. 

With the number of chili peppers in this dish, we pray CJ survives.

Even after eating the chicken and chili peppers, CJ sifts through the soup and this remains.

On the return walk we take this picture of the cathedral.