Raurimu Spiral

If ever there is a perfect way to climb to the summit of a national park, this is it: a winding train track that runs right through the park. For more than 50km south of Taumarunui, the North Island Main Trunk Railway climbs steadily towards National Park, a station on the edge of the great Waimarino Plateau. The total ascent is 636m, but the amazing feat of engineering known as the Raurimu Spiral winds upwards mainly in the final 10km.

Laid out in the form of an ascending spiral, incorporating a complete circle, three horseshoe curves, and two short tunnels, the Raurimu Spiral takes more than twice the direct distance of 5km to climb to the summit. You can ride the Raurimu Spiral either on scheduled services or on regular vintage steam train excursions.