Venue: Papamoa Community Centre Date: Tuesday 6th August 2024 Time:7pm $5 entry (cash only)
Our speaker was: Rob Heymell Business Development Manager for Kiwi rail passenger services. See below for a review of the presentation.
Whist being born in New Zealand, Robert (Rob) considers himself part Kiwi and part German. His United Nations parents moved extensively around Europe over the first 10 years of his childhood. Leaving him with a passion for travel and knowledge of several languages. The travel bug evolved from travelling, by train through the splendid European rail network, and experiencing a wide range of tourism adventures.
At 18yrs Rob found himself in Canada as a Canoe Tour Guide this was quite a culture shock from being in an international scenario for most of his life to a monoculture. By delving into Hostel Management, Digital marketing and a sales force member of a Tech. company, Rob broadened his experience but eventually his career experience led him back to his initial passion and study. Namely, Victoria University to study Tourism Management and ‘Further study of Developing Destinations’ at the Applied Science faculty Brenda University. Also, more importantly, finding his partner.
Finally, the attraction of wide-open spaces and work opportunities in New Zealand called to them both and they came here to settle and a brand-new position at Kiwi Rail Developing Destinations.
Creating a unique passenger experience was the foundation of this role: “feeling the wind on your face and tousling your hair” whist travelling safely and comfortably. Being able to enjoy no rushing environment as luggage is taken care of throughout the journey, using special luggage carriage, to white cloth table service of fine dining whilst seated in specialised scenic carriages. Ceiling to tabletop side windows and overhead skylights reveal stunning vistas of “our own backyard’ whilst travelling at a pace to enjoy the ever-changing scenery. The carriages themselves were originally designed by engineers who had comfort and wellbeing at their centre. The carriage designs respect ‘manaaki manuhiri’ by combining NZ sculptural features, such as albatross eyes which protect the traveller, with panoramic windows and a delightful cultural audio guide, allows everyone to surround themselves with kiwi sights and sounds as stories and scenery astound them.
Designed by Julius Vogel it took 30 years to build the original rail Norther Explorer route which opened in1908. The tracks had to traverse many geological challenges and created world renowned engineering design and build. Today there 3 train routes covering North & South Island: Northern Explorer starting at Auckland to Wellington via Hamilton; Southern Coastal starting at Wellington via Picton & Blenheim to Christchurch & Trans alpine starting at Christchurch via Arthurs Pass to Greymouth. A fourth bus route starts at Greymouth and includes Franz Joseph, Queenstown and Milford Sound.
There are spectacular sights to be seen on all routes: –
Northern Explorer – (1 day) Waikato plains, rolling hills of King country ascending to the southern tip of Central Plateau. Here the Raurimu Spiral, designed in 189, loops the track around making the 139m ascent easy. After a recent engineering it has been found that to make the track more efficient it only needs to be moved 6inches! Once a new inspector suddenly saw the red lights thinking it was another train yanked the stop chain but was quickly instructed that due to the spirals tight curves these were the taillights of his own train!
Other highlights are Tongariro National Park, peaks of Ruapahu, foothill viaducts- Manganui-o-te-Ao Viaduct (34M tall) the final construction segment and site of the grand opening, the highest (79m) Makatoe, curved viaduct Hapuawhenua (51m). An unobstructed view of Mount Rauphu across the ‘desert plains’ there is an un
The next ascent to the volcanic plateau passes through gorges of the Rangitikei valley where 5 viaducts negotiate the journey along the river. ToiToi (62m high) being the northerly and Makohine the southerly at 72 long & 229m. The largest Rangitikei viaduct is the 3rd largest being 75m tall and 339m long. Incredible photographic memories can be made. The Kapati coastline is hugged and between Pukerua Bay and Paekākāriki spectacular sunsets can be experienced whilst approaching Wellington.
Transapline Crossing (1/2 day)- This ascends from Christchurch through the Canterbury plains, over cliff-lined Waimakariri River gorge with its horse shoe bend and Broken River using 15 tunnels and 4 dramatic viaducts. Staircase Gully / Otarama Steam viaduct being 73m tall. The journey ascent goes through high mountain plains towards Mount Bisner and past Lake Sarah. Between Cass and Arthurs Pass the bridge of Waimakariri river is crossed- its braided ice fed waters gleam and white heron’s roam. At Arthurs Pass stop postcards may be posted as way of memorabilia of the trip. Following the Otira Tunnel through the Great Divide trip the journey descends through swampland and forest lakes until reaching Moana and Lake Brunner – best brown trout fishing location. A quick refreshment at Greymouth’s Monteith Brewery can herald a return journey to end the day.
Coastal Pacific –(1 day) The Canterbury Plains broad and vast highlight the Torlesse Range and heads towards the Southern Alps crossing the Waimakariri River near Kaiapoi. The first of many viaducts, tunnels and bridges of this route is hidden 975m Amuri Tunnel Okarahia Viaduct 21 metres high and 115 metres long giving tremendous views of the Pacific Ocean. 19 tunnels either side of the Kaikura’s range are needed to meet the railway’s speed requirement by keeping bends within the decreed 240m radius. Paratitahi Tunnel being barrel vaulted with ventilation slits – as the sea view will be blinking through slits travelling through gives the impression of sitting inside a life-size zoetrope. Marine life including sea birds, seals, and dolphins can be spotted at many locations like Spy Glass point. Kahautara River bridge (241m long) provides views of the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Seaward Kaikōura’s to the west. Mangamaunu’s moon-shaped bay, Ōhau Point home to hundreds of New Zealand Fur Seals, and finally Lake Grassmere are sights not experienced easily from the road. Grassmere a semi-natural salt lake turns curiously pink as algae absorb high concentrates of sulphur – it is the same effect that discolours the Red Sea. Between Grassmere and Picton are two distinct valleys where the alluvial volcanic soils provide the perfect acidity for wine, and row upon row of grape vines basking in the Marlborough sun. The journey ends at Picton where the Interislander can end the journey in Wellington.
These journeys may be experienced in many aways: station to station, 1-day trips, tours & holidays, packages and short breaks. For a large enough group (over 10 people), a train tour may be customised as a charter. Signature tours last between 5 – 25 days and can be adapted though not completely changed as flexibility has its limits. These limits often depend on the routes selected, the number of trains running and at what times.
KiwiRail is foundered on commercial freight and as such NZ Journeys must be scheduled in between the freight times. However, when booking through customer service explain you want to hop on and hop off at a location along the route, this may be accommodated but the date and days required have to be specified. Continual hop on and off is not a service offered. Stops are made for a quick cuppa e.g. Springvale on the Transalpine but no longer than 10 minutes. When stopping at the National Park lunch can be had but this depends on the timing of two trains and the return journey will be o your original destination. Overnight stays can be booked through Customer service which combine rail routes or returns. On tours and holiday packages there are more opportunities to explore, and guides travel with you and assist at certain tourist points e.g. Hamilton Gardens at Hamilton.
The use of other trains including meeting with steam trains (Glenbrook and Kingston Flyer) is also being explored. Example is being able to catch a train from Greymouth to Westport. Unfortunately, North Island i.e. beyond Auckland is not being developed. Although there are tracks there is not the same amount of flexibility as well as the guarantee of suitable stock and use of limited freight line accessibility. Customer service and bookings can be found using the website, i-stie, House of Travel but not other retail agents currently. Note: seating is assigned at check in but when in a group book together so they can be assigned together at check in. Seats are mainly forward facing especially in Scenic Carriages but generally if a couple is booking then, one will face backwards and the other will be in the opposite seat facing forwards. If you do get motion sickness, then please notify the customer service and the staff on the train. Trains are not booked to the maximum to accommodate this.
U3A Beachside - Papamoa, Mount Maunganui, Te Puke 