Comments on: A trip ‘across the ditch’ to New Zealand https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/ Marcus Wong. Gunzel. Engineering geek. History nerd. Thu, 15 Aug 2024 12:56:06 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 By: Marcus Wong https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/#comment-946252 Thu, 15 Aug 2024 12:56:06 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22219#comment-946252 In reply to jw.

I reckon I’ve enough things I missed over in NZ to fill a few more weeks over there.

]]> By: jw https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/#comment-934144 Tue, 04 Jun 2024 11:24:34 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22219#comment-934144 You’re correct when you say there’s a long list Marcus, but the “Forgotten Railway” and the “Kingston Flyer” are someway off the “usual” tourist itinerary, and I’d say you would have to be something of an enthusiast or specialist to know about them and to make the time to give them the attention they deserve.
When I travelled by myself it was easy to spend a day on a heritage steam railway, but, just like I have a limited tolerance for cathedrals and botanical gardens, SWMBO has a limited tolerance for trains!

]]> By: Marcus Wong https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/#comment-934133 Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:43:22 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22219#comment-934133 In reply to Markie Linhart.

Unfortunately I didn’t have time to head any further south than Christchurch – and my original plans were only to cover the North Island!

]]> By: Marcus Wong https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/#comment-934131 Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:36:25 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22219#comment-934131 In reply to jw.

To be honest New Zealand actually has a massive list of heritage railways all over the country, and I only got to see a handful of them – it was surprising given how small their population is.

https://www.fronz.org.nz/railway-tramway-attractions

There are also the three long distance trains journeys run by KiwiRail – I was intending to ride on the Coastal Pacific, but it doesn’t run over winter.

https://www.greatjourneysnz.com/scenic-trains/

]]> By: Marcus Wong https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/#comment-934128 Tue, 04 Jun 2024 09:26:35 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22219#comment-934128 In reply to Darcy.

I actually stumbled upon it by accident – the abandoned bridge I found over the Ongarue River is where the Stratford-Okahukura line (aka Forgotten Railway) connected to the NIMT, and their rail cart depot was nearby. But unfortunately I didn’t have time to go on one of their tours.

]]> By: Markie Linhart https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/#comment-934092 Tue, 04 Jun 2024 03:28:32 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22219#comment-934092 ]]> Great stuff.
But no Kingston Flyer go you then? One of the best steam rides in Australasia!
Keep on keeping on mate, love your Melbs stuff✌️

]]> By: jw https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/#comment-934087 Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:32:06 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22219#comment-934087 Interesting commentary there Marcus. Thank you. We’re heading to NZ in November but it doesn’t look like there’s much in actual operating railways any more. Just another country where regional lines were ripped out – or at least let fall into disrepair – only to find that it was a longer-term mistake.
However, I’ll try to persuade she-who-must-be obeyed to ride the Christchurch Tram as we have a spare half-day there. If for nothing else to support something which IMO is valuable in many ways.

]]> By: Darcy https://wongm.com/2024/06/short-trip-to-new-zealand-photo-essay/#comment-934067 Mon, 03 Jun 2024 23:08:42 +0000 https://wongm.com/?p=22219#comment-934067 What a great post! Its a shame that you didn’t go to see the Forgotten Railway on the North Island.

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