A Special Fathers' Day in New Zealand on the Dunedin Railway

Guess where! Our train made a stop at Hindon for sightseeing

Unlike Singapore, where Fathers' Day falls on the third Sunday of June (just like in the US and UK), here in New Zealand we celebrate dads on the first Sunday of September. What better way to mark the occasion than taking our adventurous dad on a road trip aboard the famous Dunedin Railway?

It took us a while to decide which route to take. Since we had already tried the Coastal Express when we first arrived, this time we challenged ourselves with something longer: a five-hour return trip through the Taieri Gorge. As mysterious as it sounds, the Gorge is actually a deep canyon carved by the Taieri River on its way from Central Otago to the Pacific Ocean, nestled between the Maniototo high plateau and the Taieri Plains.

We had read and seen plenty about the Wingatui Viaduct, the tallest wrought-iron structure in Australasia, but riding across it ourselves was a whole different thrill. Especially on a windy, rainy day, it made the experience extra memorable.

Wingatui Viaduct: the tallest wrought iron structure in Australasia made in the 1880s (picture taken from the train)

The train pulled out from Dunedin Station, and almost immediately we were greeted by farm animals along the way: horses, cows, sheep, and most adorably, countless baby lambs. Spring here is lambing season, when ewes welcome their little ones, and it was heartwarming to see so much life and energy as winter waved its frosty goodbye.

Sitting on the train felt like watching a never-ending documentary, with each blink revealing a new scene. At Hindon station we had the chance to hop off, stretch our legs, and take in the breathtaking view. The mountains looked like giant blocks sliced by a sharp butter knife, solid rock sculpted into shapes that reminded me of shadow theatre back in China. Only this time, the figures were nature-made giants standing guard over the ever-flowing Taieri, New Zealand’s fourth-longest river.

When we finally reached Pukerangi, the wind nearly carried us away. If you are carrying a big tote bag, it might just turn into a kite. Snow-covered mountains and rolling clouds explained the sudden chill in the air, though the sheep here seemed completely unfazed, happily grazing under their fluffy wool coats.

Our final stop - Pukerangi (Do you see the snow mountains far away?)

On the way back, the two older ones in our group dozed off, as if the whole journey was just a dream. Waking up to Dunedin’s historic buildings and cultural landscape again almost felt surreal after the dramatic views of the Gorge.

The dad of the day looked truly content, and so were we. It was a special chance to discover another side of the beautiful city we now call home. The tickets were not cheap, since we had been saving up for the day, but the memories made it completely worth it!