Gisborne's Vintage Steam Locomotive to Muriwai

 

A beautiful but remote region with a treasure trove of untouched gems, Gisborne is first city in the world to see the sun rise. Its Māori name, "Tairāwhiti," beautifully captures this, meaning "The coast upon which the sun shines across the water." Famous for its beautiful coastline, densely forested mountain parks, surfing and fishing, it's also a centre for wine and agriculture, however a deeper look reveals some of the country's most important historical sites, a place where you can enjoy a relaxed coastal lifestyle while standing on ground that shaped New Zealand's history. The Tairawhiti Museum has exhibits on indigenous and colonial history, with Wyllie Cottage, an early European house, and Māori artefacts. Titirangi Reserve has lookouts and a monument to explorer James Cook arrived in 1769. Nearby, Te Poho-o-Rawiri is a Māori meeting house with carvings of ancestral figures, while Tairāwhiti attracts surfers from around the world, who come here for the variety of breaks, consistent swells, and uncrowded waters. 

Having kayaked New Zealand's waterways the day before, we decided take a leisurely travel on the Gisborne City Vintage Railway, that boasts the only remaining WA-class steam locomotive in the world. Built in New Zealand in 1897, the engine has been fully restored, and together with a 1936 passenger carriage that was also reconditioned, plus 3 specially converted carriages, they form the current steam train, where it runs again in all its Victorian glory. Reliving the golden age of steam rail travel on a scenic vintage train journey through fertile farmland home to hundreds of cattle and sheep, we boarded the steam train from Gisborne (known as 'Gizzy' by locals) down the scenic Poverty Bay coastline and famous Young Nick's Headland (Te Kurī-a-Pāoa) to the rural Maori settlement of Muriwai, where we were hosted to a charming Maori cultural performance at the turnaround point. A highpoint was being asked into the steam engine by Engineer Dave and given an up close personal tour of the coal fired steam engine.

Built in New Zealand in 1897, the Gisborne City Vintage Railway is the only remaining 

WA-class steam locomotive in the world

The polished brass coal fired furnace of the steam engine that Dave 

invited me into for a closer look

Coal is fed from an enormous bin that feeds the steam locamotive, 

that Dave feeds continuously over our 40 minute journey

Engineer Dave (R) who invited me into his inner sanctum, and his assistants beside the Gisborne Vintage Railway coal fired engine

Maori settlement of Muriwai, where we were hosted to a charming Maori cultural performance, 

before steaming back to Gisborne Station