Heritage Steam & Diesel Journeys Through New Zealand

Scenic train excursions from Paekākāriki across the North Island — Manawatū Gorge, Whanganui, Napier and special festival services.

Featured Trips

A curated selection of heritage train journeys, market day services and Art Deco festival trips.

About Steam Incorporated

Steam Incorporated, based in Paekākāriki, Wellington, operates scheduled heritage train excursions across New Zealand’s North Island. The organisation runs a range of steam and diesel-hauled journeys that showcase regional scenery, restored rolling stock and historic locomotives, including the WW1 Memorial Steam Locomotive Ab 608. Trips include The Ashhurst Flyer, River City Express, The Heartland Flyer, The Napier Escape, The Mad Hatters Market Express, Steam in the Bay – Art Deco Heritage Trains, Whanganui Vintage Weekend and the Woodville Steam Express.

Each excursion pairs rail travel with local experiences: scenic views through the Manawatū Gorge, access to Whanganui with options for paddle steamer cruises on the Waimarie, visits to Napier during Art Deco events, market day activities in Woodville, and special vintage celebrations. Many services use restored carriages and period stations to enhance heritage presentation.

Steam Incorporated schedules special-event services tied to community festivals and seasonal celebrations, such as Art Deco and Vintage Weekend events, and publishes dates for departures and returns. Safety and preservation are central to operations, with trains maintained to heritage standards and staffed by trained crews and volunteers familiar with historic equipment. Tickets, timetable and accessibility information are provided for each trip, and passengers can choose guided options, dining or independent exploration where listed. Booking details and service updates are available for each scheduled departure, ensuring clear information for passengers planning travel arrangements ahead.

Base Location

Paekākāriki, Wellington

Based in Paekākāriki, Wellington

Tours Offered

Diverse steam and diesel excursions

Heritage Locomotive

Ab 608

Steam Incorporated - Heritage Train Tours in New Zealand

Steam Incorporated operates heritage steam and diesel-hauled train excursions from Paekākāriki, Wellington, across New Zealand’s North Island. The organisation specialises in scenic rail journeys that highlight regional landscapes, restored rolling stock and historic locomotives. Popular search terms that align with these services include heritage train, steam train, diesel-hauled, Manawatū Gorge scenic rail, Whanganui excursions and Art Deco rail travel.

Popular Trips

The Ashhurst Flyer - A heritage train journey through the Manawatū Gorge between Ashhurst and Woodville, showcasing the Manawatū Gorge and the Te Ahu a Turanga Highway.
River City Express - Service to Whanganui combining steam and diesel haulage, with options for a paddle steamer cruise on the historic Waimarie or independent exploration of Whanganui.
The Heartland Flyer - Steam-hauled travel from Kapiti to Woodville via the Manawatū Gorge, with views of the Manawatu landscape and Te Apiti wind farm.
The Napier Escape - Diesel-hauled excursion to Napier that ties into the city’s Art Deco attractions, with optional tours and wine tastings.
The Mad Hatters Market Express - Family-friendly steam service to Woodville for market day, live music, a children’s tea party and a Crazy Hat Competition.
Steam in the Bay - Art Deco Heritage Trains - Special Art Deco Festival trips scheduled February 19–23, 2026, featuring themed heritage train services.
Whanganui Vintage Weekend - Vintage celebrations on January 17–18, 2026, featuring Ab 608 steam locomotive rides and retro events.
Woodville Steam Express - Steam journey on January 10, 2026, behind WW1 Memorial Steam Locomotive Ab 608 through the Manawatū Gorge.

What to Expect

Passengers can expect restored carriages, period stations and heritage presentation on many services. Selected trips offer onboard dining, evening meals or connections to local attractions. Routes highlight significant landscapes such as the Manawatū Gorge, river valleys and wind farm views. Special-event services link trains with community festivals, market days and the Art Deco Festival.

Practical Information

Schedules, ticketing and accessibility details are published for each trip. Services operate with trained crews and volunteers experienced with historic equipment. Special-event dates include the Woodville Steam Express on January 10, 2026, Whanganui Vintage Weekend on January 17–18, 2026 and Steam in the Bay during the Art Deco Festival February 19–23, 2026.

Heritage and Preservation

Steam Incorporated presents heritage rail travel that connects passengers with regional communities and rail preservation efforts. The roster includes the WW1 Memorial Steam Locomotive Ab 608 and restored rolling stock used across multiple excursions.

Scenic Highlights and Connections

Scenic highlights include the dramatic Manawatū Gorge corridor, river vistas along the Manawatū River, and engineered landmarks such as the Te Ahu a Turanga Highway visible from selected routes. Passengers on The Heartland Flyer and The Ashhurst Flyer cross terrain that provides views of the Te Apiti wind farm and monumental slips within the gorge. River City Express connections to Whanganui enable combined river and rail experiences, with the historic paddle steamer Waimarie offering an optional cruise on the Whanganui River. Napier services arrive into the city known for its Art Deco architecture, allowing passengers to combine rail travel with guided tours, wine tastings or independent exploration when these options are listed for particular departures.

Timetables and specific inclusions vary by departure, date and location details.

Reserve a Heritage Rail Experience

Choose a scenic steam or diesel-hauled excursion and connect with North Island landscapes, festivals and rail history.