Driving Creek Railway
Coromandel, Coromandel Peninsula
EyeFull Tower Rail Tour
Climb aboard for a captivating one-hour railway journey and be inspired by the story of one man’s lifetime passion to bring Art, Conservation and Engineering together to create Driving Creek.
Your train driver will entertain you with the story of Barry Brickell and how this amazing place came to be, as your tram winds its way up to the EyeFull Tower lookout, traveling through a native forest of regenerating Kauri, Rimu and Ferns.
Hear how pottery has played an important role in creating Driving Creek and of our work to return the Driving Creek property to pre-European times as we travel over large viaducts, through tunnels and reversing points, on this narrow-gauged mountain railway.
Spy hidden gems along the way, unique pottery sculptures and artworks.
Barry purchased the Driving Creek property upon which the railway and pottery sit in 1973. The property was attractive to Barry for its ‘yellow plastic clay’, derived from the weathering of the old volcanic rocks. There was a scattering of pine trees amongst scrub, self-sown from original pines planted by the early Californian gold diggers of late 1800 century.
The property was a mix of scrub and farmland, poor quality pastures that Barry quickly started reverting to native forest with the aim to return the property back to its pre-European state
Thousands of young Kauri, Totara and Rimu have been planted. As a keen conservationist Barry built a 1.6-hectare predator free fenced wildlife sanctuary and sculpture park
Most of the raw materials for the making of terracotta pottery garden wares, tiles and sculpture come from the upper slopes of the property and transported by railway back down to the pottery.
This is much more than a railway journey.
Suitable for all ages. An all-weather activity
Departure Times
Summer - 01 October to 30th April:
9:00am, 10:15am, 11:30am, 12:45pm, 2:00pm, 3:15pm, 4:30pm and 5:45pm
Winter - 01 May to 30th September:
10:15am, 11:30am, 12:45pm, 2:00pm, 3:15pm and 4:30pm
Open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day and Anzac Day morning.
Wheelchair access available, please advise when booking.
Bookings advisable. Trains depart on time - you must arrive at the Driving Creek Railway ticket counter 20 minutes before train departure to book in and undertake the safety briefing. Reservations expire 10 minutes before departure time.
Prices
Adults - 16 years plus: $35 per adult
Seniors - 65 years plus: $32 per senior
Students - with valid tertiary student ID: $32 per student
Children - 4 to 16 years: $13 per child
Children 4 years & under: Free (special seating conditions apply)
Family - 2 adults & 2 children (4-16 years): $83 per family.
Extra child $7 per child
Please book in advance to reserve your seats, especially over the busy summer period.
Glow Worm Barbeque Tour
EyeFull at Sunset!
Each evening through summer we provide an exciting 7.00pm departure Barbeque Tour to EyeFull Tower where you can watch the sunset and enjoy your own barbeque dinner.
We will return back to Base Station once it gets dark so we can view the glow-worms on the banks lining the track.
For the BBQ at the EyeFull Tower we provide, BBQ, tongs, tables and chairs. You bring your own plates, utensils, food and beverages (bring a torch).
Departure Times:
26 December to 28 February only: 7:00pm
Wheelchair access available, please advise when booking.
Please book in advance to reserve your seats.
Duration: 2.5 hours
Bookings advisable. Trains depart on time - you must arrive at the Driving Creek Railway ticket counter 20 minutes before train departure to book in and undertake the safety briefing. Reservations expire 10 minutes before departure time.
Prices
Adults - 16 years plus: $50 per adult
Seniors - 65 years plus: $47 per senior
Students - with valid tertiary student ID: $47 per student
Children - 4 to 16 years: $13 per child
Children 4 years & under: Free (special seating conditions apply)
Family - 2 adults & 2 children (4-16 years): $113 per family.
Extra child $7 per child
Two trains on the double decker bridge
Eyefull Tower lookout
Train in Number 3 tunnel
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