About Driving Creek Railway
The railway disappears into a wall of green, winding deeper into the Coromandel hills as ferns brush close to the carriages and native birds call from the surrounding forest. Bridges lift the train above the regenerating bush, tunnels carry it through the hillside, and every turn reveals another ingenious piece of the route. At EyeFull Tower, the trees finally part to reveal sweeping views across the Coromandel landscape.
The Story of This Place
Driving Creek Railway began with the vision of New Zealand artist, engineer and conservationist Barry Brickell. Originally built to transport clay, firewood and other materials from the hillside to his pottery studio and kilns, the railway gradually developed into an extraordinary feat of hand-built engineering. Alongside the tracks, Brickell and his team restored the once-degraded land with native forest and created a place where conservation, creativity and support for the arts could flourish together.
The Experience of Visiting
Climb aboard New Zealand’s only mountain railway for a journey through regenerating native forest towards EyeFull Tower. The train crosses ten bridges and passes through three tunnels as it follows the hand-built route up the hillside, while the onboard guide shares the story of how art, engineering and conservation shaped Driving Creek. At the top, panoramic views provide a memorable reward before the railway makes its return journey through the forest.
Natural Features
The railway winds through a flourishing native forest of kauri, rimu, tānekaha and pūriri, all planted as part of the hillside’s remarkable restoration. Tūī, kererū, pīwakawaka and riroriro bring movement and birdsong to the canopy, while kiwi also live within the protected forest. As the train climbs towards EyeFull Tower, the dense greenery opens to panoramic views across the Coromandel landscape.
Good to Know
- Driving Creek Railway is a 1-hour 15-minute journey on New Zealand’s only mountain railway.
- The hand-built route crosses ten bridges and passes through three tunnels as it climbs through regenerating native forest to EyeFull Tower.
- Driving Creek has welcomed more than one million railway passengers.
Stories Shared Along the Way
The railway guide shares the story of Barry Brickell and explains how art, engineering and conservation came together to create Driving Creek Railway. The commentary adds meaning to the bridges, tunnels and forest surrounding the track, revealing that the journey is not simply a scenic train ride but part of an ongoing not-for-profit mission to support native biodiversity and creative endeavour.
Little-Known Facts
Driving Creek is a not-for-profit destination, with every visit helping to protect native biodiversity and nurture artistic talent. Its free Artist in Residence programme welcomes artists from a wide range of disciplines, offering them a supportive forest setting in which to experiment, develop their work and learn alongside other creatives.
The name Driving Creek predates the railway. During the kauri timber-milling era, logs were released from driving dams in the hills and carried down the watercourse towards the sea, giving the creek its name long before Barry Brickell began building his railway.
One Thing to Know
Driving Creek Railway is proof that one person’s imagination can reshape a hillside, creating an extraordinary journey where engineering, art and conservation travel together.