raurimu spiral tours

Raurimu Spiral

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RAURIMU SPIRAL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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Raurimu Spiral Excursion with High Voltage Locomotive

At Raurimu our electric locomotive is brought to the back of the train to climb the Raurimu Spiral where our train will point to all four corners of the compass as it makes its way up and through the hillsides that make the Raurimu Spiral.

Raurimu – Photo taken by Jenny Scott

As a special treat we will stop our train and allow passengers to disembark and the train will back down the spiral, then it will climb past allowing a very rare chance that is seldom seen or heard, giving you images or video to show off to friends.  Once the train has gone past the train will come back and pick you up so you can take your seat and enjoy the view up the spiral.

We then set forth for Ohakune and an optional late lunch at the Powder Horn Restaurant.

Glazed champagne ham with mustard Crumbed fish with tartare sauce

Mixed lettuce salad with walnut dressing Classic coleslaw

Chunky roast potatoes Honey glazed roast kumara

For additional information Phone  06 3235444  or Email [email protected]

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The Northern Explorer

Duration: 1 Day

Price: from NZ$199 One-Way

Departure From: Wellington or Auckland

Departure Date: Departs Auckland on Mon, Thurs & Sat / Departs Wellington on Wens, Fri & Sun

Tour Type: Day Tour

Tour Operator: Kiwi Rail

Physical Grading: 1

The Northern Explorer, New Zealand’s longest running passenger service is waiting for your booking! Explore the heart of the North Island on an epic journey that covers 680 km’s through a land of stunning changing landscapes from farmlands, river viaducts, the volcanic Central Plateau to the sparkling sea of the Kapiti coast.

Travelling between Auckland, our city of sails, and Wellington, a vibrant and cultural city nestled on the hills surrounding the harbour, the Northern Explorer takes you the length of the historic North Island Main Trunk Railway.

The railway was completed in 1908 and features great feats of engineering such as the Raurimu Spiral, Turangarere Horseshoe and Makatote Viaduct, the tallest of the viaducts at 79 metres and spanning 262 metres.

The journey passes through the Waikato Plains, the King Country, before ascending onto the Central Plateau. Tongariro National Park, with its three spectacular volcanic mountains – Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe and Ruapehu – is a highlight, a place of extremes and surprises, where snow-blanketed fields, ancient lava flows and dense beech forests can be seen side by side. Here the train meets a series of steepling viaducts that bridge deep ravines carved by rivers forming on the slopes of Ruapehu. 

On the south-eastern edge of the Central Plateau the train crosses the dramatic barren landscape of the Rangipo Desert. The Desert Road is a notoriously dangerous stretch to travel by car, especially in winter, when travelling through the Central Plateau by train its a fascinating expanse of tussock land that gives magnificent unobstructed views of the imposing Mount Ruapehu.

Rumbling into the Rangitikei District and the view of the Rangitikei River carving a path through sandstone cliffs is another of the highlights of the Northern Explorer train trip .

As early evening approaches the train wends its way along the Kapiti Coast arriving into Wellington in time to explore the city’s nightlife and taste some gourmet delights at one of its many renowned eateries.

Contact LOCO for pre/post travel arrangements. Wellington is the gateway to the South Island  so why not continue your journey by taking the iconic three-and-a-half hour Interislander cruise through the Marlborough Sounds. The Interislander brings you to Picton, where the equally enjoyable Coastal Pacific  train will take you on to Christchurch.

Northern Explorer Train Highlights

• Northern Explorer One-Way Journey
• Reserved Seating
• Panoramic Windows
• Licensed Cafe for snacks, hot drinks and meals
• Terrific audio commentary telling the stories of what you can see
• Air Conditioning and heating for those cooler days
• Disability Accessible
• Enjoy the open-air viewing carriage for that photo opportunity

Northern Explorer Booking Classes

The Northern Explorer has two distinct service levels to their train journey. Both classes are worthy of what you pay, and both a thoroughly enjoyable way to make the most of your Coastal Pacific train experience.

Scenic Class

Glide through the heart of New Zealand’s beautiful scenery in Scenic Class carriages, with epic landscape views filling your window while you relax in your seat.

In Scenic Class you’ll experience spacious reclined seats with generous amounts of legroom and comfort, panoramic windows, glass shelves and skylights. And to heighten your comfort, state-of-the-art airbag suspension has been used to guarantee a smooth ride across our rugged New Zealand terrain.

While onboard, you might like a stroll to the Scenic Cafe carriage where you’ll find a great selection of hot and cold snacks, drinks and ice creams. Indulge in a freshly brewed specialty tea or barista coffee married with a sumptuous cake? Or perhaps toast your special journey with a bottle of bubbles?

The Scenic Cafe opens for coffee and breakfast before the train departs and continues serving throughout the day. You can take a seat in the Scenic Cafe carriage and feast upon the views whilst eating. But you are also welcome to return to your seat to dine and drink if you would prefer. The day is yours to do as you choose! 

During the hot summer months, the Open-air Viewing Carriage is a great place to get some fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors while on the move. You can whittle away the hours chatting and gazing out upon spectacular scenery and wildlife. It is also that perfect place for capturing those magical views on camera.

Learn the stories of our land while you travel by plugging into the Scenic Class Audio Commentary at your seat. The commentary provides a seamless stream of stories, narratives and facts about the places outside your window and is available on all three Scenic Class services, including the  Northern Explorer , Coastal Pacific  and  TranzAlpine .

Scenic Plus Experience

Inside the refined Scenic Plus Class carriages, it’s more than just a journey. You’ll be treated to fresh food, captivating commentary, great hosting and spectacular views, all delivered to your seat while you ease back and enjoy the journey. There really is no better way to discover New Zealand. 

At the heart of the Scenic Plus experience is the refined Scenic Plus Class carriage, with huge panoramic windows, glass shelves and skylights, bathing you in those gorgeous coastal and mountain landscapes. 

With freshly prepared food inspired by the fields that glide past your window and regional wines to match, you’ll be immersed in the flavours of our land. As you admire the views our Scenic Plus hosts will recount the stories and histories of the passing landscapes and landmarks. 

When you step off the train, you will have experienced some of the best New Zealand has to offer. 

Northern Explorer Station Stops

There are nine official station stops on the Northern Explorer rail trip:

• Auckland – start or finish your overland journey in the City of Sales
• Papakura – by request only
• Hamilton – city living by the Waikato river. Visit Hamilton Gardens.
• Otorohonga – access the underground world of Waitomo
• National Park -for world class hiking adventures and views of volcanoes
• Ohakune – popular for ski trips in winter and tramping in summer
• Palmerston North – a central city and a gateway to outdoor activities
• Paraparaumu – by request only
• Wellington – depart or arrive into New Zealand’s ‘Cool little Capital’

Northern Explorer Packages

New Zealand’s Northern Explorer stops at a terrific variety of locations and we’d encourage every traveller to consider taking the time to break your journey. National Park is a popular stop to be able to enjoy the delights and experiences of the central North Island and also world class tramping on the one-day Tongariro Crossing Great Walk. Otorogonga is another favourite stop to access the delights of Waitomo Caves.

LOCO Journeys can tailor-make your holiday with independent itineraries including Northern Explorer train, accommodation, car-hire, activities or inclusions of your choice.

• North Island Highlights from Wellington – 5 days
• North Island Highlights from Auckland – 5 days
• Northern Explorer and the Tongariro Crossing – 4 days

Click here for more inspiration.

Further Northern Explorer Information

For more detail on the following points, please continue below;

Northern Explorer Timetable & Departure Dates Northern Explorer Discounts & Deals Northern Explorer Bookings Your Northern Explorer Journey Itinerary

Departure Dates & Timetable

• There is one Northern Explorer departure on operating days
• Northern Explorer Auckland to Wellington trains depart southbound on Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
• Northern Explorer Wellington to Auckland trains depart northbound on Friday, Sunday, and Wednesday.
• The Northern Explorer departs Auckland at 07.45 arriving into Wellington at 18.25 on Monday, Thursday and Saturday
• The Northern Explorer departs Wellington at 07.55 arriving in Auckland at 19.00 on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
• You must be at the station at least 30 minutes prior to departure.

Pricing Notes

• The Northern Explorer for a one-way journey between Auckland and Wellington
• Advertised Price is per person from $199 one-way based on a winter departure.
• You can stop at selected stations and re-board at a later date free of charge, providing we are advised 3 days prior to travel.
• All changes to departure date and route are free up to 24 hours before travel. Upgrade fees may apply
• All cancellations are free up to 24 hours before travel.
• No changes can be made within 24 hours of travel.
• Child fare is available for 2-17 years. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Infants under 2 are free when sitting on an adults lap.
• Please Contact LOCO for pricing if you would like to connect with the Interislander Ferry, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine

Scenic Class Includes

• Ever-changing views through panoramic windows
• Comfortable reclined seats
• Open air carriage – perfect for photography
• Hot and cold food and drinks available for purchase from our Scenic Café
• Location-triggered headphone audio-commentary
• One item of luggage (up to 23kg)
• One small bag* (up to 7kg)

Tour Itinerary

Your northern explorer itinerary.

For more information about this tour, price queries and updates on specials, please Enquire Now .

Raurimu Spiral

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Raurimu Spiral - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Raurimu Spiral

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Raurimu Spiral - All You MUST Know Before You Go (2024)

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Discover Ruapehu Rail Tours - The Journey

Enjoy the relaxing experience of travelling by exclusive heritage train...

To see more details about Discover Ruapehu Rail Tours, click here

Discover the natural beauty of the North Island Main Trunk railway line onboard your very own exclusive heritage train with our Discover Ruapehu Rail Tours. Your weekend away starts when our friendly staff welcome you onboard our lovingly restored carriages which have travelled these lines for over 80 years. Travelling behind our very own heritage diesel locomotive, your journey will take you over undoubtedly one of New Zealand's most spectacular railway lines. From towering viaducts like the mighty Makatote, to the world famous Raurimu spiral, your journey takes you over some impressive engineering and through some amazing scenery.

The North Island Main Trunk is steeped in local and Maori history. Opened completely between Auckland and Wellington in 1908 after over 30 years of construction, the 'Main Trunk' passes through many rural settlements and towns which were connected up to the major cities by the coming of the railway. The section we travel over covers the main centres of Pukekohe and Hamilton, followed by rural towns like Otorohanga, Te Kuiti, Taumarunui, National Park and Ohakune. The railway geography is diverse, from rolling hills to the steepest sustained climbs up the extreme gradients south of Taumarunui. Our journey passes through the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tongariro National Park, as well as conservation land, farms and forests.

Selected Highlights Include:

• Travel over the North Island Main Trunk line on an exclusive heritage train
• Traverse the world famous Raurimu Spiral
• Cross over the spectacular Waiteti, Makatote and Hapuawhenua Viaducts
• Track our path along the Ongarue and Whakapapa river valleys
• Pass through the Porootarao and Raurimu tunnels
• Stunning Mountain views and spectacular scenery

The carriages date from 1939/1940 and would have made thousands of journeys up and down the main trunk. The carriages retain key features including the iconic flip-over seats, though have been tastefully redecorated for enhanced passenger comfort. The guard's van that travels with these carriages provides an open viewing area for an uninterrupted view of the amazing countryside.

Your heritage train will be taking you to one of our spectacular destinations; Taumarunui, National Park or Ohakune. Here, you will embark on your selected tour option, and enjoy two nights away in one of these amazing locations.

Discover Ruapehu in style on one of our unique heritage rail tours.

Timetable (subject to variation required by kiwirail prior to departure), departure locations.

Pukekohe Station - CLOSED FROM SEPTEMBER 2022 Access is via Custom Street (off Manukau Road). Free parking is available at the Pukekohe Station Park and Ride. You can connect via AT Metro train services. Please see https://at.govt.nz/ for timetable information. Pukekohe Station is closing after our August Discover Ruapehu Rail Tour due to major redevelopment works by KiwiRail and Auckland Transport. From September, our Auckland terminus will be Glenbrook Station - an additional 5 minutes from the motorway at Drury.

Glenbrook Station Access is via Glenbrook Station Road. Free parking is available on site.

Frankton Station Access is off Fraser Street (off Queens Ave). Free parking is available.

COVID-19 Information

My Vaccine Pass GVR no longer requires that My Vaccine Passes are presented. Masks As this is a pre-booked allocated-seating tour, face coverings are strongly encouraged except when eating or drinking. Contact Tracing NZ COVID Tracer QR codes are on display in each carriage for you to scan. As all passengers are pre-booked on this tour we have your name, contact details, and seating location for use in Contact Tracing. Cancellation Policy This tour has been planned to be able to operate under all COVID-19 Traffic Light Settings - subject to regional travel being permitted. In the event that the NZ Government or its agencies prevent the operation of this tour taking place due to COVID-19, refunds of fares paid (net of outgoings made from those fares) may be made by GVR upon written application being received from booked passengers.

Onboard Information

A good variety of hot and cold drinks, as well as snack and hot meals are available for purchase onboard. Toilets are available in each carriage. A viewing balcony is included on these trains. Due to the heritage nature of our carriages, access for people with limited mobility is restricted - please email us at [email protected] to discuss your requirements.

See Terms and Conditions here

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Make a donation.

Thank you for your generosity! Every dollar donated helps us undertake essential maintenance and continue our restoration work. Donations of $5 and over are Tax Deductible.

145-203 Top Mill Road, Raurimu , Ruapehu

Raurimu Spiral - An engineering masterpiece

The small town of Raurimu almost exactly halfway between Wellington and Auckland, on State Highway 4 , is now a tourist settlement, serving the ski-fields a bit further south. It was once a frontier town, with an extensive timber milling industry, and an important minor railway town in the days before centralisation of signalling and maintenance.

But it is the railway itself that the town is most known for. Immediately to the east is the Raurimu Spiral , a significant late 19th century engineering accomplishment, that enabled the North Island Main Trunk railway line to descend from the high plateau at National Park to the valley of the Piopiotea Stream, and thence to the Wanganui River.

Between National Park and Raurimu is only 3.5 km in a direct line, but Raurimu is over 200 m lower. John Rochfort, who made a “flying” (overview) survey of the route of the line in the 1880s, showed the line going in an more or less straight line down from National Park, about where the State Highway is now. However, grades that may be acceptable on a road create severe problems for a railway. The direct line would have resulted in a gradient of as steep as 1 in 20 (or 5%), which would have needed something like the Fell system on the Rimutaka Incline to make it work. The actual grade of the railway is 1 in 50 (2%), and this was achieved by making the railway twice as long as the direct distance. 1 in 50 is still a serious grade.

The powerful ‘Ka’ steam locomotive could pull 1000 tons on level ground, but only 350 up the spiral. Modern 3MW electric locomotives still only manage 900 tonnes. To get the extra length and the acceptable 1 in 50 grade, a more detailed survey was carried out by R W Holmes. This resulted in the line being laid out and built in the form of a spiral.

The first train over the spiral ran in late 1907, less than a year before the whole Auckland-Wellington route was completed. Travelling south from the Raurimu station site (now only a crossing loop), the line doubles back on itself through a tight horseshoe curve, and heads north. It then curves east then south through a 384m tunnel, followed by a full 360 degree circle back over itself, across the top of the tunnel. A second, short,tunnel is located on the circular section. From the end of the circle the line continues south on the same grade to National Park.

Just north of the junction of the State Highway and the access road to Raurimu is a viewpoint for the spiral,and a model of it. From this point three levels of the spiral can be seen (today vegetation obscures the actual bench of the railway formation, but the route of the line can be traced through the line of electrification masts).

The first level is the site of Raurimu station, the second follows the horseshoe curve heading northwards back past the station, and the third is on the full curve, where southbound trains again head north, out of the shorter tunnel. A fourth level may be discernible to the south east, at the top of the spiral, where the line runs on a high shelf above the Piopiotea Stream.

Getting there : Raurimu is 42 km south of Taumarunui, and 7 km north of National Park, on State Highway 4. This highway runs from just south of Te Kuiti to Wanganui, with convenient connections to Auckland and Wellington. It passes to the west of the central volcanoes, and offers a scenic alternative to the conventional route between Wellington and Auckland on State Highway 1 to the east. From Taupo and Turangi the best route is via State Highway 47 to National Park.

FULL DAY WELLINGTON TO AUCKLAND SCENIC TRAIN RIDE

NORTHERN EXPLORER AUCKLAND TO WELLINGTON BY TRAIN

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

The Raurimu Spiral

Last updated: August 15, 2021 . Written by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

I will take a rough stab in the dark, and assume that you did not think of the Raurimu Spiral. Or maybe you did, given that it is the title of the post. If you did, well done. If not, no worries, I’d never heard of it before. However, as it is billed as one of the world’s engineering masterpieces, and it happens to be only about thirty kilometres from where I am living, I doffed my engineering appreciation cap, and headed out to see what it was all about.

First, though, of course, I needed some sustenance. One cannot expect to appreciate engineering excellence if one’s stomach is set to rumble. We stopped off, therefore, in the small town of National Park, brilliantly named for the National Park which it sits next to, to see what was on offer.

We wandered the streets, admiring the many ski hire shops, sleeping options and giant wooden Kiwi sculpture, before arriving at a rather lovely little cafe, which adjoined the town train station – National Park being one of the stop points on the mainline between Auckland and Wellington. Here we dined in style on excellent lamb pie and chips, followed by even more excellent chocolate cake and carrot cake. We were, we concluded, ready to take in this engineering masterpiece.

So, what’s it all about then? Well, as I’ve mentioned, there is a train line that runs from Auckland to Wellington, passing through the town of National Park on the way. National Park sits up on the North island’s volcanic plateau, at a height of around 850m. And trains, even with my basic train knowledge, are not great at going up steep hills.

After much head scratching, pondering, and climbing up trees to view the surrounding scenery (aerial surveys not being available) an idea was struck upon by a clever chap called Robert Holmes. He concluded that by looping the line around itself a number of times, and passing it through a series of tunnels, whilst minimising effort through the handy topography of a nearby hill, the line could be made to go up a sufficient height to solve the issue, with a gradient of only 1 in 52 instead of the impossible to climb 1 in 24. By stuffing 6.8km of track into this section of line – covering a straight line distance of 2km – the problem could be solved. Expensive and costly yes, but still less effort than the viaducts option.

After a bit of effort by around 1500 workers and their families, the spiral was completed in 1908, and the whole line entered into service on the 9th of November, 1908, 23 years after work commenced.

Today, the spiral is still working as intended, carrying trains up to the plateau and onwards. There is a plaque and a viewing platform, although to be fair there isn’t a great deal to see – much of the line is hidden behind the hills on in tunnels. There is a handy model though, which gives you an idea of what you are supposed to be looking at.

It was something different to see, and although I am not a great appreciator of railway based things, it certainly reminded me of my Granddad, who would no doubt have loved the whole thing. So this post is for him, sadly no longer with us. I hope it gave you something interesting to think about. Next on the trip, I hope to be telling you about the mud pits and geysers of Rotorua, a couple of hours drive North from here. Until then, keep smiling!

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Tom Russell says

26th July 2018 at 3:02 am

I am old enough to have had a grandfather who drove the Flying Scotsman when it was steam. I also love the Raurimu Spiral, having been up and down it several times when I lived in NZ in the 60s. One of the wonders of the Industrial Revolution and like many of them, totally amazing for the time it was made.

Laurence Norah says

28th July 2018 at 4:21 pm

Oh wow, that’s wonderful! It is a really impressive bit of engineering 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah Wu says

20th November 2010 at 7:09 am

wow 1500 workers.. all the hardwork they put in..

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Raurimu Spiral

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

RAURIMU SPIRAL: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Raurimu Spiral

Waikato & the Coromandel Peninsula

The Raurimu Spiral, 30km south of town, is a unique feat of railway engineering that was completed in 1908 after 10 years of work. Rail buffs can experience the spiral by catching the Northern Explorer train linking Auckland and Wellington to National Park township. Unfortunately, this train no longer stops in Taumarunui.

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• The Northern Explorer
• Train Services
• The Coastal Pacific
• The Tranz Alpine
• National Train Timetable
• Major Railway Stations
• Regional Train Services
• Local Trains

About the journey

The Northern Explorer train service is a scenic rail journey through the five unique geographical regions of the North Island - travelling between Auckland, New Zealand's largest city - home of the Sky Tower, through the central heartland of the North Island to Wellington - New Zealand's harbour capital and arts and culture centre.

Along the way, you will see fantastic views of New Zealand farmland, rugged bush landscapes before ascending up the world famous Raurimu Spiral to the volcanic plateau passing the majestic volcanoes of Mt Tongariro, Mt Ngauruhoe and Mt Ruapehu - the home of the North Island skifields and descending through stunning river gorges to the farming landscapes and rocky sea scapes of the lower North Island - all from large panoramic windows and the open air viewing deck of the Northern Explorer train.

The Northern Explorer carriages have an advanced air bag suspension system for quieter and smoother travel, un-tinted, non-reflective, panoramic side and roof windows to capture the dramatic coastal and mountain views of the magnificent North Island. GPS triggered journey commentary in five languages at your seat via headphones, plus information displays and overhead HD video and are centrally heated/air conditioned for passenger comfort.

Scenic Plus Experience

Scenic Plus will be available on the Northern Explorer train from 25 September 2024. When you take your Scenic Plus seat, in the exclusive carriage, you'll enjoy an enhanced dining experience where both hot and cold dishes are freshly made in the custom built kitchen carriage. The locally inspired, seasonal dishes are served at your seat, while you sit back and enjoy the sensational scenery. The complimentary drinks menu is carefully selected to match the sumptuous lunch and afternoon tea. Enjoy New Zealand's world famous Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir wines or sit back with a cold beer or freshly made coffee and tea.  Scenic Plus dedicated hosts are on hand to answer questions, add local knowledge and ensure you have the best journey possible.

The Carriages

Each carriage has onboard washroom/toilet facilities, with '2 Seat-Aisle-2 Seat' seating either as reclining forward facing seats with head and foot rests or 'Table Group' (4 people around a table) seating allowing you to experience the amazing views of the magnificent North Island, through panoramic side and roof windows, while enjoying the company of other passengers.

The Northern Explorer train has a café carriage offering a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and light meals and a viewing carriage for sweeping views of the North Island.

For mobility-impaired passengers, there are spaces for wheel chairs and a disabled public toilet. Wheelchair hoists provide access to the café carriage from track level.

Disabilities

For hearing-impaired passengers - a hearing loop covers all of the café carriage saloon and serving area. The Northern Explorer train is a reserved seating 'One Class' non-smoking service.

Operating Days

Northbound Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Southbound Monday, Thursday & Saturday

Operating days are confirmed to 30 June 2025.

Scheduled Track Maintenance

• 29 March–01 April 2024 FULL CANCELLATION No bus replacements
• 25-28 April 2024 FULL CANCELLATION No bus replacements
• 31 May–03 June 2024 FULL CANCELLATION No bus replacements
• 28 June–01 July 2024 FULL CANCELLATION No bus replacements
• 25–28 October 2024 FULL CANCELLATION No bus replacements
• 25 December 2024-12 January 2025* FULL CANCELLATION No bus replacements

Stops along the way include Papakura, Hamilton, Otorohanga (Waitomo), Taumarunui, National Park, Ohakune, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu.

More details.

The Northern Explorer train connects with various bus and coach services at Hamilton from Rotorua and Tauranga and at Palmerston North and Wellington to and from other North Island destinations.

So, sit back and enjoy a genuine kiwi rail experience on the Northern Explorer train travelling through 5 unique regions of the North Island with its spectacular scenic beauty.

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The Spiral Spectacular - Expired

A day adventure by train to the Central Plateau!

Travel behind one of KiwiRail's refurbished EF class electric locomotives this coming Sunday! Join Steam Inc's heritage train at Ohakune, departing at 1pm, and navigate the Main Trunk Line as far as Raurimu. On our return, take part in a photo opportunity on the famed Raurimu Spiral and watch as the EF locomotive powers the train up the hill through a pair of tunnels! Highly regarded as one of the most significant engineering feats of the southern hemisphere. The train arrives back into Ohakune just after 4pm. $50pp! Tickets are limited!

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Raurimu Spiral

The raurimu spiral is considered an engineering masterpiece. in 1898, its design cemented the route of the north island main trunk (nimt) railway through the central plateau. engineer robert west holmes’ (1856-1936) design for the raurimu spiral provided an inspired solution to the steep descent from just above raurimu township..

Wf class tank engine climbing the Raurimu spiral [circa January 1909]. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.

In 1870 plans were put forward to connect Auckland to Wellington via railway. This plan included traversing the Central Plateau. In the 1880s and 1890s surveys were completed to find possible routes through the central North Island where a steep drop in the landscape at the edge of the Central Plateau proved particularly problematic. Holmes was eventually given the task of plotting the NIMT route between National Park and Raurimu because the most recent solution to navigating the descent was too costly.

However, Holmes’ subsequent design for the Raurimu Spiral would allow the sudden drop in altitude to take place while maintaining a manageable 1 in 50 gradient (two per cent), and comparatively cheaply. In its descent from the Central Plateau, the Raurimu Spiral consists of two tunnels (385 metres (m) and 96 m each), which allow the track to overlap and wind around in a circle, before exiting through two quarter turns and a horseshoe bend just south of Raurimu Station. Up-and-coming Public Works Department (PWD) engineer, Peter Keller (1880-1961), refined Holmes’ design slightly using the newly instigated PWD policy of transition curves.

Raurimu Spiral [24 January 1957], Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.

Upon completion the NIMT became important to New Zealand’s economic development, and was also socially significant. The Raurimu Spiral is considered a feat of engineering ingenuity and the success of this solution contributed to the on-going effectiveness of the NIMT. Despite advances in technology and materials in the century since its completion, no feasible alternative to the Spiral has been found. Therefore, the Raurimu Spiral is a lasting tribute to Holmes’ engineering achievements and is of considerable engineering heritage importance.

Heritage recognition

The Raurimu Spiral was added to the IPENZ Engineering Heritage Register on 24 April 2012. 

Read the heritage assessment   |  590.7 KB

IPENZ recognised the engineering heritage value of the Raurimu Spiral with a plaque unveiled February 2009.

This place has been recognised by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 1 historic place (List no. 7588) and it is also part of the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) Historic Area (List no.7793):

Raurimu Spiral: New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero information

North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) Historic Area: New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero information .

More information

Close to Raurimu village, 7 kilometres north of National Park on State Highway 4, King Country.

At Raurimu village just off State Highway 4 there is a viewing platform.

R S Fletcher,  Single Track, The Construction of the North Island Main Trunk Railway , Collins, Auckland, 1978.

Bill Pierre,  North Island Main Trunk, An Illustrated History , Reed, Wellington, 1981.

F K Roberts,  A Compendium of Railway Construction, Part II, North Island Main Trunk , New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society, Wellington, 1990.

A L R Merrifield, 'New Zealand’s North Island Main Trunk Railway: 1870-1908,'  Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers , Vol 162, Issue EH4, November 2009.

A L R Merrifield, ' A Centennial Review of the North Island Main Trunk Railway: Geology of the West-Central North Island and its Influence on Transport Development, '  Proceedings of 3rd Australasian Engineering Heritage Conference , 2009.

Additional image gallery details

Wf class tank engine climbing the Raurimu spiral [circa January 1909]

http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22513976

Raurimu Spiral [24 January 1957]

http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22707381

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand, must be obtained before any re-use of these images.

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Raurimu Spiral

Explore near Raurimu Spiral: Where to Stay, Eat, and Visit

Raurimu spiral reviews: insider insights and visitor experiences.

Good place to use your imagination!

Not much to see here, but thanks to Tripadvisor we were prepared to be disappointed ;). The kids had fun imagining this great feat of engineering that was somewhere up on the hill.

Not worth stopping

The turn off from State Highway 4, "Raurimu Spiral Lookout" suggested that there might be a view of the spiral. However, it was disappointing, that even from the look out tower, we were not really abl...

Ok stop as a leg stretcher

Quite disappointing - can’t see the train track at all. If you are super lucky and a train is coming then probably quite cool to see. Good spit for picnic or let the kids run around but no more. Othe...

Ghost town with history

Heading north is a short stop on roadside.This feature is dedicated to the construction workers camp which occupied 1500 workers who worked on the railway. They built a horseshoe curve 139 metres in h...

A small town with an interesting history

The history of the Raurimu Spiral is a great engineering feat that allowed the railway line to pass through here. There's a carpark, then a short walk to an information panel and viewing platform. The...

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World of Wearable Arts - WOW3

Fly auckland to wellington. wow platinum seats (best seats in the house). wellington sighseeing. drive around miramar peninsula. northern explorer train to hamilton., tour itinerary:.

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• 3 nights Twin Share Accommodation
• Two Dinners One Lunch Three Breakfasts
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Fiji 4-Night Cruise plus Luxury Resort Tour

Features Four-Night Yasawa Island Cruise. Three-Night Luxury Denarau Island Resort. Fiji Sightseeing. Auckland International Airport Terminal Hotel

Great Barrier Island #2 – 4 Days Tour

Features Sightseeing and Port FitzRoy Cruise. Amazing cafes and restaurants. Glenfern Sanctuary. Orama Community. Fly to/from the island.

Great Barrier Island #1 – 5 Days Tour

Features Beachfront Resort. Sightseeing. Port Fitzroy Cruise. Amazing Cafes and Restaurants. Glenfern Sanctuary. Orama Community. Fly to/from the island.

Hobbiton ‘Second Breakfast’ Tour

Features Luxury Lakeside Hotel. Seabird Coast Fish 'n Chips. Tour through the 12 acre Hobbiton movie set, finishing with a Millhouse breakfast spread fit for a hobbit.

2025 TASMANIA incl. ‘The Australian Wooden Boat Festival’ Tour

Features Melbourne Sights and River Cruise. Overnight Ferry to Tasmania. Cradle Mountain. Grindelwald Swiss Village. Cataract Gorge Chairlift. Legerwood Tree Carvings. Bay of Fires. Tasmania Devils. Port Arthur Tour. 5-night Grand Chancellor Hotel. Australian Wooden Boat Festival. Hobart 48hrs Double Decker Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour. Full Day Bruny Island tour, incl. Fast Adventure Boat Explorer Cruise.

Why have concert ticket prices gone crazy? Here's what's behind the spiral

Is it artist greed? Ticketing website fees? UK tax rules? Are concert goers also paying a part? Sky News looks into what's going on...

Live news reporter @katiejnwilliams

Sunday 2 June 2024 09:56, UK

Spending a fair chunk on going to see your favourite big artist is not new - but it certainly feels like concert prices have entered a new stratosphere.

Fans of Bruce Springsteen have paid upwards of £120 for "rear pitch" standing tickets for his May 2024 tour, while some expressed disappointment recently over the £145 price tag of standing tickets for Billie Eilish's 2025 UK leg.

And while you could have nabbed Beyonce or Taylor Swift tickets in the UK for £50 (before fees) if you took a "nosebleed" seat, these had limited availability and quickly sold out. General admission standing tickets for Swift's Eras tour - which comes to the UK next week - started at £110.40 and those at the front had to shell out £172.25. It didn't stop there - by the time many fans got to the front of the online ticket queue, the only tickets left cost upwards of £300.

So what's behind rising ticket costs? The Money blog investigates some of the reasons...

Fans willing to pay for big spectacles

Simply put, ticket prices would come down if people voted with their feet.

Matt Hanner, booking agent and operations director at Runway, said prices at the top level had "risen considerably" - but the increase was partly being driven by demand.

"We're seeing a lot more stadium shows, greenfield, outdoor festival-type shows which are now a staple of towns around the country," he said.

"There's a growing number of people that are happy to spend a large chunk of their disposable income on going to a major music event."

Read more: 'Heartsick' Jennifer Lopez cancels tour Mike Tyson v Jake Paul bout postponed Model sues Cannes Film Festival over alleged red carpet assault

Jon Collins, chief executive of LIVE, the trade body representing the UK's live music industry, had a similar view.

He said there were more large-scale shows and tours now than ever, and there was "massive appetite" among music lovers for "bigger spectacles".

Fancy shows mean higher costs - with staffing, the price of the venue, transport, artists' needs, insurance and loads more to factor in.

Of course, all these things are affected by inflation. Collins said ticket prices also factored in the rising costs that had hit every venue from the grassroots scene to major arenas.

"You've got a couple of different factors - you've got the spectacle of the show and the production cost and everything that goes into the ticket price. But then you've also got the fundamentals," he said.

The cost of venue hire has increased "significantly" in the past couple of years due to electricity and gas price rises, he added.

"You've got the increase in the cost of people… very justifiable costs like increases in minimum wage and living wage. At every stage of the process we've got these cost increases that will all push through the pressure on the ticket price."

Are artists being greedy?

How much money artists really earn off live touring is of interest to many - but the music industry is generally reluctant to release details.

The people we spoke to suggested it was not as simple as artist greed because, as we mentioned earlier, there's a lot to pay for before anything reaches their bank accounts.

The Guardian spoke to anonymous insiders about this topic in 2017. Its report suggested that between 50-70% of gross earnings were left for promoters and artists. The piece also cited a commonly quoted figure that the promoter takes 15% of what is left and the act will get 85%.

It all depends on the calibre of the artist and how much work the promoter has had to put in - they could end up with a bigger share if it was a hard push to get the show sold.

The people we spoke to said music acts and their teams would discuss the ticket price, and the bigger the act, the more sway they have - but it's ultimately set by the promoter.

Taylor Swift - arguably the biggest popstar on the planet right now - is personally earning between $10m and $13m (£8m - £10.5m) on every stop of her Eras Tour, according to Forbes. She is reported to take home a whopping 85% of all revenue from the tour.

But it's worth pointing out, too, that she's been known to be generous with her cash, having given $100,000 bonuses to the dozens of lorry drivers working on the tour.

What have other artists said?

Some artists have been critical of the high ticket prices being demanded by others.

Tom Grennan told ITV two years ago that he had seen "loads of artists putting tickets out that are way too expensive for the times that we are in", adding that he wanted people to enjoy shows without worrying if they could pay their bills.

Singer-songwriter Paul Heaton was also praised for capping ticket prices for his tour with Jacqui Heaton at £30 in a bid to tackle music industry "greed" and help people during the cost of living.

British star Yungblud recently announced his own music festival , Bludfest - saying the industry was too expensive and needed to be "shaken up".

"I believe that gigs are too expensive, festivals are too expensive, and I just wanted to work to create something that has been completely done by me," he told Sky News.

Read more: Think twice before buying your holiday clothes from Zara Can my mortgage lender end my two-year fix if I haven't been in the house for two years?

Meanwhile, frequent Swift collaborator Jack Antonoff has said "dynamic pricing" by ticket sale sites such as Ticketmaster was also an issue when it came to cost.

He told Stereogum that he wanted artists to be able to opt out of the system - which basically means ticket prices increase when a show is in demand - and be able to sell them at the price they choose.

On its website, Ticketmaster describes its "Platinum" tickets as those that have their price adjusted according to supply and demand.

It says the goal of the dynamic pricing system is to "give fans fair and safe access to the tickets, while enabling artists and other people involved in staging live events to price tickets closer to their true market value".

The company claims it is artists, their teams and promoters who set pricing and choose whether dynamic pricing is used for their shows.

Ticketing website fees

As well as dynamic pricing, "sneaky" fees by online ticket sites are also causing issues for live music lovers, according to the consumer champion Which?.

A report from the group last month said an array of fees that isn't seen until checkout can add around 20% to the cost of concert and festival tickets.

Which? has urged a crackdown on the "bewildering" extra charges, which include booking, "delivery" and "transaction" fees, venue charges and sometimes charges for e-tickets.

The Cure lead singer Robert Smith tweeted that he was "sickened" after fans complained last year about processing fees on Ticketmaster that wound up costing more than the ticket itself in some cases.

Responding to the Which? findings, Ticketmaster (which was far from the only company named) said: "Fees are typically set by and shared with our clients… who all invest their skill, resource and capital into getting an event off the ground. Ticketmaster supports legislation that requires all-in pricing across the industry."

I AM AS SICKENED AS YOU ALL ARE BY TODAY'S TICKETMASTER 'FEES' DEBACLE. TO BE VERY CLEAR: THE ARTIST HAS NO WAY TO LIMIT THEM. I HAVE BEEN ASKING HOW THEY ARE JUSTIFIED. IF I GET ANYTHING COHERENT BY WAY OF AN ANSWER I WILL LET YOU ALL KNOW. X — ROBERT SMITH (@RobertSmith) March 16, 2023

Live Nation and Ticketmaster sued over 'dominance'

The US government is suing Ticketmaster owner Live Nation over allegations the company is "monopolising" the live events industry.

Justice department officials said it was unfair for the firm to control around 70% of primary ticketing for concerts in America.

Live Nation has been accused of using lengthy contracts to prevent venues from choosing rival ticket companies, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money and support if Ticketmaster wasn't the chosen seller.

Live Nation said the lawsuit reflected a White House that had turned over competition enforcement "to a populist urge that simply rejects how antitrust law works".

"Some call this 'anti-monopoly', but in reality it is just anti-business," it said.

And it said its share of the market had been shrinking and its profit margin of 1.4% was the "opposite of monopoly power".

The lawsuit "won't solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees and access to in-demand shows", the company said.

"We will defend against these baseless allegations, use this opportunity to shed light on the industry and continue to push for reforms that truly protect consumers and artists."

As well as reportedly controlling most of the ticketing market, Live Nation also owns and represents some acts and venues.

Canadian artist Dan Mangan told Moneywise this was enabling the company to take "more and more of the pie".

He said when venue rent, equipment and other costs were taken into account, lesser known artists could take as little as 20% of ticket sales.

Another major cost on tickets in the UK is VAT (value added tax).

At 20%, it's pretty hefty. It was brought down to 5% and then 12.5% as the live music industry was hampered by COVID, but returned to the pre-pandemic level in April 2022.

The charge puts the UK "out of step" with other countries, Collins said.

"In competitive major markets like France, it's 5%. Germany it's 7%, Italy it's 10%. Sales tax in the US is typically 6% or 7%. So we are significantly out of step with other markets when it comes to how much VAT we charge on tickets," he said.

Touring now bigger source of income for major stars

With the decline of physical products and the rise of subscription listening, artists are earning less from making music - and income from live shows has become more important for the biggest stars.

Writer and broadcaster Paul Stokes said major stars who would have toured infrequently in the past were now willing to put on more shows as it becomes increasingly profitable.

Some artists will even pencil in multiple nights at huge venues like Wembley Arena, he said - something that wouldn't have been considered two decades ago.

"When Wembley was built and they said 'we'll be doing regular shows' you'd think 'are there acts big enough to fill this massive stadium?'

"It's become absolutely part of the live calendar that artists will come and play not just one night at Wembley, but two or three every every summer."

Stokes said this demand has also prompted the scale of shows that we've become used to seeing, featuring expensive production and pyrotechnics.

Not being felt evenly

While a night out seeing a platinum-selling artist is likely to be an expensive affair, industry figures are also keen to point out that the escalation in ticket prices isn't necessarily happening at a lower level.

Collins said that while major stars were putting on arena shows, there would be plenty of other live music taking place at the same time, "from the free pub gig to the £10 ticket at the grassroots venue, to the £30 mid-cap".

"There's an absolute range of opportunities for people to experience live music, from free through to experiencing the biggest stars on the planet," he said.

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But concertgoers choosing to save their cash for artists they're more familiar with may have led to a "suppression" of prices for lesser-known acts, Hanner noted.

"Everyone's short of disposable income because there's a cost of living crisis. [Artists' and promoters'] core costs are going up as well, so it's more expensive for everyone. That fear of pricing people out is just being compounded," he said.

"I think [that] has definitely led to prices being suppressed [at the lower level], when really they should have been going up."

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