1 / 3McLeans Island Miniature Trains (CLS)
📍 McLeans Island, Canterbury
McLeans Island Miniature Trains (CLS) runs steam and miniature train rides on selected weekends. Entry to the grounds is free. A children's playground, railway museum, and refreshment stand are on site.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Volunteer-run with real working steam engines - the combination of rides, museum, and playground makes it feel like much more than just a train day for families with young children.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →75 Google reviews
G Reviews from Google
Susan Smith
4 months ago
“Our family of 5 adults and 2 preschoolers had a very enjoyable time riding the miniature train 2x and the bigger train. There's a museum and a playground to add to the experience. If you enjoy engineering, trains,and history, there's lots to do and see here. It's refreshingly affordable to ride on the trains - $2 per person and group concessions. Queueing for the trains is a surprisingly short wait. The people who run the whole place are friendly and helpful, creating a relaxed experience. Will definately return.”
Victor Gch
2 months ago
“Absolutely loved this place! Riding the miniature train made it feel like time slowed down, almost like stepping back into a simpler, more relaxed era. Our son loves trains and had such a great time here, and we really enjoyed it too. It’s a lovely place for adults to unwind while the kids have fun. At only $2 per person, it’s fantastic value. Highly recommended!”
Angie Rowland
4 months ago
“Amazing place! We are so lucky to have volunteers allow us a ride on their trains and take the time to create an environment like this for everyone to visit.”
📊 Commonly mentioned in Google reviews
Based on Google review tagsFriendly staff
8 reviews
Miniature train
7 reviews
Trains
7 reviews
Value for money
3 reviews
Fun for all ages
3 reviews
Overview
The Canterbury Locomotive Society runs miniature and full-sized steam train rides at McLeans Island on selected weekends. Riders can board both a large steam train and a smaller ride-on version. A children's playground, a railway museum with historic rolling stock, and a refreshment stand are all on site. Entry to the grounds is free; rides are charged per person. Parking available. Reviewers describe the combination of rides, museum, and playground as a full half-day out.
