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Taieri Gorge Railway Larnach Castle
Dunedin, NZ 10/22/08
We pulled into Port Chalmers in Otago Harbor. The population of Dunedin is 122,000. Dunedin pronounced Dun(like Bun) Edin(like the Garden of Eden). Dunedin is rated the world’s third largest city. But it’s not based on population instead it’s on square miles. We traveled two hours one way by train and we were still in the city limits.
We rode the Taieri Gorge Railway. The train picked us up on the dock. The refurbished vintage carriages (passenger cars) were built in 1920. The Otago Excursion Train Trust operates the excursions and the 60KM Taieri Gorge Railway is New Zealand’s longest private railway. The historical society provides volunteers to staff the train. We were given champagne, shortbread butter cookies, and a box lunch with Cadbury chocolate for dessert. We crossed the Wingatui Viaduct; it is a wood structure bridge on a curve. It’s an impressive sight as you look down to the valley below. The tunnels were narrow and the slopes were covered with boulders that were shoved over the side as the tracks were built. At Pukerangi, 250 meters above sea level, we stopped to change the two engines to the back for the return trip. We had a few minutes to wait outside the train and the locals set up tables with locally made crafts for us to purchase.
After completing the train ride, we boarded the motorcoach and rode through the city on our way to Larnach Castle. We traveled high above the bay and got beautiful photos. Larnach Castle was built starting in 1871. Larnach was involved in politics and was weathly and also married into additional wealth. Since he was originally from Australia he built a home with a wraparound veranda. The weather is much harsher in New Zealand and he eventually enclosed the porch. The most impressive part of the house is the carved ceilings. Larnach brought carvers from England and plasterers from Italy. One of the carved ceilings took 6 years to complete. His wife Margaret started a garden. When the house and garden were restored the garden was replanted. It is now ranked as a world class quality garden. The castle sits on a mountain top overlooking the harbor and Pacific Ocean.
We pulled into Port Chalmers in Otago Harbor. The population of Dunedin is 122,000. Dunedin pronounced Dun(like Bun) Edin(like the Garden of Eden). Dunedin is rated the world’s third largest city. But it’s not based on population instead it’s on square miles. We traveled two hours one way by train and we were still in the city limits.
We rode the Taieri Gorge Railway. The train picked us up on the dock. The refurbished vintage carriages (passenger cars) were built in 1920. The Otago Excursion Train Trust operates the excursions and the 60KM Taieri Gorge Railway is New Zealand’s longest private railway. The historical society provides volunteers to staff the train. We were given champagne, shortbread butter cookies, and a box lunch with Cadbury chocolate for dessert. We crossed the Wingatui Viaduct; it is a wood structure bridge on a curve. It’s an impressive sight as you look down to the valley below. The tunnels were narrow and the slopes were covered with boulders that were shoved over the side as the tracks were built. At Pukerangi, 250 meters above sea level, we stopped to change the two engines to the back for the return trip. We had a few minutes to wait outside the train and the locals set up tables with locally made crafts for us to purchase.
After completing the train ride, we boarded the motorcoach and rode through the city on our way to Larnach Castle. We traveled high above the bay and got beautiful photos. Larnach Castle was built starting in 1871. Larnach was involved in politics and was weathly and also married into additional wealth. Since he was originally from Australia he built a home with a wraparound veranda. The weather is much harsher in New Zealand and he eventually enclosed the porch. The most impressive part of the house is the carved ceilings. Larnach brought carvers from England and plasterers from Italy. One of the carved ceilings took 6 years to complete. His wife Margaret started a garden. When the house and garden were restored the garden was replanted. It is now ranked as a world class quality garden. The castle sits on a mountain top overlooking the harbor and Pacific Ocean.
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