- Birthday parties
- Work or social club outings
- End of year or other special functions
- Wedding parties and wedding photos
- Filming and photo shoots
Whether it’s a special day out for a small group of people, a work or social club outing, or a special end of year function, the Weka Pass Railway can provide for all your needs.
Almost everyone enjoys traveling by vintage train, and the Weka Pass Railway can provide that experience with a charter personalised for your needs. Your ride may provoke some golden memories from times past, or perhaps create some new ones. Each trip, undertaken with sedate leisure, is an experience to be remembered, and can include a special stop to photograph your engine at work up the line for posterity. The line traverses past rolling hills and trough scenic limestone country, best enjoyed from our open-air viewing carriages. A round trip on the Weka Pass Railway generally takes around 2-1⁄2 hours, but this time can be shortened or extended to meet your needs. Train hire allows for up to 3 hours from the booked time of departure.
Waikari station, perched above the village, is an easy walking distance from the Star and Garter Hotel and Tavern. The Star and Garter is the quintessential country pub, with a friendly, homely atmosphere. Relax by the open fire or in the dining room with a quality meal, or endure golden summer evenings in their beer garden.
For shorter stopovers, Pam’s Café and the Waikari Kitchen are attractive destinations, providing tea, coffee, pies, snacks along with great service. These outlets are also located just a short walk away from Waikari Station.
Please contact these outlets to ensure they are open and ready to cater your guests.
Trains can be arranged to run at any time of the day and to your own timetable. Our station complexes are also available for use if you wish, with electricity, potable water, and water heating capability available at Glenmark.
Why not tie in your train trip with a meal or wine tasting at one of Waipara’s vineyards before or after your train charter? Best known for its exquisitely rich Pinot Noirs and Rieslings, the Waipara valley has a well established international reputation for fine wines. Several vineyards have restaurants where your guests can enjoy quality meals paired expertly with local wines – what better way to spend an afternoon?
Our train is available for hire on any day with the exception of our notified Public Train running days (click here), Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Hire Rates:
| Diesel Train
1 Carriage + 1 Open car (37 Seats) – Diesel $1,700 + GST
2 Carriage + 1 Open car (74 Seats)- Diesel $2,200 + GST
3 Carriage + 1 Open car (114 Seats)- Diesel $2,700 + GST |
- These rates entitle the hiring party up to 3 hours of travel on the Weka Pass Railway from the scheduled time of departure from the Glenmark Station in Waipara.
- Our train is available for hire on any day, subject to volunteer crew availability and operational requirements, and with the exception of our notified Public Train running days, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Want to hire your own train?
Please fill in this form to give us some details and we will get in touch;