1 / 3Whakatane Miniature Railway and Skatepark
📍 Whakatāne, Bay of Plenty
Volunteer-run miniature steam railway in Whakatane with real smoke, steam and whistles. Runs on the first Sunday of each month and during school holidays. Adjacent playground makes it a natural double destination.
Miniature steam railway in Whakatane. They open up on the first sunday of every month and have several different engines running to give rides which the kids will love - real steam, smoke and whistles. One ride is $2 but you can buy multi-ticket passes for a discount, tickets are cash only. They run every sunday during the school holidays. You are required to wear shoes on the train but they have a selection of used footwear you can put on if you are not wearing anything suitable.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
A heartwarming Sunday morning activity that children and adults both enjoy. The retired volunteers running the engines bring genuine warmth to the experience, and the adjacent playground extends the visit naturally.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →33 Google reviews
Benjamin Millar
7 years ago
“Miniature steam railway in Whakatane. They open up on the first sunday of every month and have several different engines running to give rides which the kids will love - real steam, smoke and whistles. One ride is $2 but you can buy multi-ticket passes for a discount, tickets are cash only. They run every sunday during the school holidays. You are required to wear shoes on the train but they have a selection of used footwear you can put on if you are not wearing anything suitable.”
da zby
4 years ago
“Such a cute little thing to do on a Sunday morning! I’m 100% sure the kids will love it through and through! Because even big kids like myself do!! It was quite heartwarming to see a bunch of retired gents working hard together to keep this going and to bring joy to families and little ones. Thank you x ❤️”
Nina
a year ago
“What a cool little train ride!! Didn’t even know this place existed… we just stumbled upon it this morning! Kids absolutely loved it and with the super amazing playground next door too it makes it such a great activity 🥰😍❤️🙌”
Roman Gordon
a year ago
“What a great little railway. Definitely a place to go if they’re open the weekend you’re in the area. $2 a ride makes it really cheap too. So much fun to do!”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Whakatane Miniature Railway is operated by a group of retired volunteers who run several different steam engines on a dedicated track circuit. Rides feature real steam, smoke and whistles — functional miniature railways rather than scaled-down novelty trains. The railway opens on the first Sunday of each month and during school holidays. Tickets are cash only. A full-size playground sits directly adjacent. Pram access on site.