Glenbrook Vintage Railway

05/06/2026

🚂 Thank You for a Fantastic FRONZ Conference 2026! 🚂

What a fantastic few days it was, hosting delegates from across New Zealand's heritage rail and tramway sector here in Auckland for the 2026 Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand (FRONZ) Conference over King's Birthday Weekend.

On behalf of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, thank you to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered, exhibited, sponsored, supported and contributed to making the conference such a success. It was wonderful to see representatives from so many organisations come together to share ideas, celebrate achievements, discuss challenges and strengthen the relationships that help our sector thrive.

Over the conference weekend delegates enjoyed presentations, networking opportunities and visits to a diverse range of Auckland and Waikato heritage attractions, showcasing the incredible work being undertaken by preservation groups throughout the region.

A special thank you must go to our sponsors and supporters whose generosity helped make the event possible. We are incredibly grateful for your contribution to both the conference and the wider heritage rail sector.

We would also like to acknowledge the many volunteers from Glenbrook Vintage Railway and our partner organisations who worked behind the scenes for many months planning, organising and delivering the event. Events like this simply do not happen without your dedication and commitment.

Most importantly, thank you to every delegate who travelled from near and far to be part of the conference. The enthusiasm, knowledge and passion on display throughout the weekend reminds us why New Zealand's heritage rail and tramway movement continues to achieve so much.

We wish everyone safe travels home and look forward to seeing what the next year brings for our industry.

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway Team

Platinum Sponsors
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi
Martinus Rail
Glenbrook Vintage Railway

Gold Sponsors
Pacific Tourways Auckland
KiwiRail

Silver Sponsors
Integrated Safety
Birchfield Coal Mines

Bronze Sponsors
NZ Safety Blackwoods
Scott's Steelworkz Ltd
GoGraphics

Conference Groups:
Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand - FRONZ
Rainforest Express/Waitakere Tramline Heritage Society
Helensville Railway Museum
Railway Enthusiasts Society
MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology)
Mainline Steam Heritage Trust
Huntly Museum
The Glen Afton Line - Heritage Railway

03/06/2026

🚆🐄🌾FIELDAYS, GARDENS & KING COUNTRY RAIL ADVENTURE - SKIP THE TRAFFIC, TAKE THE TRAIN 🌾🐄🚆

The Fieldays Flyer – Saturday 13 June 2026

Step aboard The Fieldays Flyer and forget the traffic queues. Travelling into the heart of rural New Zealand on our heritage train.

Whether you’re heading to National Fieldays, wanting a relaxing lunch at the beautiful Bradley’s Garden, or simply a great winter rail adventure, there’s no better way to travel.

Sit back, relax, enjoy a coffee, as the city gives way to rolling Waikato farmland and dramatic King Country scenery.

🎟 Book now: https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/fdfr


🌿BRADLEY’S GARDEN & LUNCH 🍽️

Departing from Waiuku, Glenbrook Pukekohe, Hamilton or South Waikato stations. Travel to Taumarunui for a relaxed outing at the beautiful Bradley’s Garden. Enjoy a buffet lunch in a beautiful garden setting, awarded 5-Stars by NZ Gardens Trust. After lunch, wander the gardens, or try a round of mini golf.

👉If you’re not keen on the crowds at Fieldays choose this option.

✔️Scenic rail journey to Taumarunui
✔️Garden entry included
✔️Buffet lunch
✔️Mini golf

🚜NATIONAL FIELDAYS 🐑

Travel by heritage train to Te Awamutu, then by coach to Mystery Creek with your Fieldays admission included.

Enjoy around 5 hours at New Zealand's largest farming event. Featuring event exclusive deals, the latest farming innovations, food, machinery and rural lifestyle.

✔️Return heritage train travel
✔️Transfers and Event admission
✔️No driving, no parking, no stress

🛒🛍️Please note: luggage space is limited, so grab a bargain or two, but that new tractor may need to be delivered separately.

👉If you’re going to Fieldays, this is the way to do it.


🛤️TAUMARUNUI DAY OUT

Simply enjoy the journey, with a rail adventure to the King Country.

Explore Taumarunui, visit the Taumarunui Rail Action Centre Museum, grab lunch in town, or enjoy a laid-back winter day surrounded by classic railway atmosphere.

✔️Return heritage train travel
✔️Free time in Taumarunui
✔️Rail museum entry included

🎟 Seats are limited and the Fieldays option always books fast.

👉Secure your spot now: https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/fdfr

30/05/2026

A great start to the main conference sessions this morning!
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway is hosting the 51st annual Federation of Rail Organisations of New Zealand - FRONZ conference this long weekend.
Thanks to our local councillor Andy Baker for welcoming the 80 or so attendees and speakers to Auckland.
The conference yesterday took delegates to the Rainforest Express, Helensville Railway Museum and Railway Enthusiasts Society.
Throughout the next few days we will visit MOTAT, Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Huntly Musuem and the Bush Tramway Club.

Big shout out to our Platinum Sponsors Martinus Rail and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

29/05/2026

🚂 Auckland’s Classic Train Experience – THIS KING’S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND! 👑🎉

🚨 This is our last operating weekend until we re-open in October!

https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/classic-train-experience

Be a part of Auckland’s Premier Rail Experience! 🚆✨
We’re running the Classic Train Experience all 3 days — Saturday 30, Sunday 31 May and Monday 1 June — so step aboard and enjoy a trip back in time by heritage rail. 🕰️🌿

🌟 Upgrade to FIRST CLASS
https://www.gvr.org.nz/experiences/first-class

Enjoy GVR’s First Class Experience in the Parlour Car, featuring an open-air viewing balcony and high-tea style refreshments. ☕🧁
Fares are $67 for Adults and $45 for Children.
Online booking only! 🎟️

Book First Class
🚌 Waiuku Museum – Free Shuttle Bus!

Add an extra bit of adventure to your trip! 🗺️
Waiuku Museum are running a free shuttle bus all weekend from Victoria Ave Station to the Museum.

Museum admission:
🎟️ $10 for 16+
👧 Under 16 free
🎓 Students / Gold Card $7

Visit one of Auckland’s most in-depth and unique museums, with a huge range of artifacts and stories telling the tale of Waiuku’s past. 🏛️📚
Shuttles will meet trains departing Glenbrook at 10:00, 11:30, and 1:00.

Your train is hauled by Classic V8 Diesel Locomotive DBR1295, built in 1965, take a trip back in time onboard our Classic Train with vintage wooden carriages and an exhilarating open-air carriage from Glenbrook Station to Waiuku township and return!

☕ Make sure to visit the station Refreshment Rooms for barista coffee, cold drinks, ice creams, snacks, and the best pies around. 🥧

🛍️ Visit the Souvenir Shop for railway books, souvenirs, and a great range of Thomas the Tank Engine toys and books.

⏰ Train departures from Glenbrook:

🚉 10.00am
🚉 11.30am
🚉 1.00pm
🚉 2.30pm

🎟️ Classic Train return fares:
👨 Adult – $20
🧒 Children (2–14) – $10
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) – $55
👶 Under 2s – Free

🎫 Day Passes are also available.

🕒 The return journey is around 70 minutes.

Book online now or grab tickets on the day for the Classic Train Experience:
Book the Classic Train Experience

https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/classic-train-experience

27/05/2026

🚧👷‍♂️ROAD WORKS! - Glenbrook Station Road.👷‍♂️🚧

YES!!! We are still open! YES!!! We are still running trains!🚂.

Access to our car park is permitted! Carefully drive around the "Road Closed" signs to get to the car park and enjoy your day on the rails this long weekend.

Please take care when driving through the worksite.

27/05/2026

🚂🐄🌾 FIELDAYS, GARDENS & KING COUNTRY RAIL ADVENTURE — SKIP THE TRAFFIC, TAKE THE TRAIN 🌾🍃🚂

The Fieldays Flyer – Saturday 13th June 2026

Whether you’re heading to National Fieldays, enjoying a relaxing garden lunch at the beautiful Bradley’s Garden, or simply chasing a great winter rail adventure through the King Country — there’s a better way to travel.

Step aboard The Fieldays Flyer and leave the motorway queues behind as we journey from Auckland into the heart of rural New Zealand aboard our heritage train hauled by classic diesel locomotives DC 4818 and DBR 1254.

Sit back, relax, grab a coffee from the buffet car, and watch the city skyline give way to rolling Waikato farmland and dramatic King Country scenery.

🎟️ Book now: https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/fdfr

🚜 OPTION 1 – NATIONAL FIELDAYS 🐑
Travel by heritage train to Te Awamutu, then transfer by coach direct to Mystery Creek with your Fieldays admission included.

Enjoy around 5 hours at the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event — featuring the latest farming technology, innovation, food, machinery and rural lifestyle displays.

✔️ Return heritage train travel
✔️ Coach transfers to Fieldays
✔️ Entry ticket included
✔️ No driving, no parking, no stress

🛒🛍️ Please note: luggage space is limited — so while you’re welcome to grab a bargain or two, that shiny new tractor may need to be delivered separately.

👉 If you’re going to Fieldays — this is the way to do it.

🌿 OPTION 2 – BRADLEY’S GARDEN & LUNCH 🍽️
Stay aboard as the train continues deep into the King Country to Taumarunui for a relaxed winter outing at the beautiful Bradley’s Garden.

With a 5-Star rating from the NZ Gardens Trust, enjoy a delicious buffet lunch in the Black Barn, wander the stunning gardens, and even fit in a round of mini golf.

✔️ Scenic King Country rail journey
✔️ Garden entry included
✔️ Buffet lunch
✔️ Mini golf included

🛤️ OPTION 3 – TAUMARUNUI DAY OUT
Simply enjoy the journey itself with a full-day rail adventure through the Waikato and King Country.

Spend free time exploring Taumarunui, visit the Taumarunui Rail Action Centre Museum, grab lunch in town, or just enjoy a laid-back winter day surrounded by classic railway atmosphere.

✔️ Return heritage train travel
✔️ Free time in Taumarunui
✔️ Rail museum entry included
✔️ One of the most scenic rail journeys in the North Island

Whether you're heading to Fieldays, enjoying a relaxing garden lunch, or simply travelling for the love of the journey — there’s an option for everyone aboard The Fieldays Flyer.

🎟️ Seats are limited and the Fieldays option always books fast.

👉 Secure your spot now: https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/fdfr

19/05/2026

🚂Auckland’s Classic Train Experience – ALL KING’S BIRTHDAY WEEKEND LONG!

🎟https://www.gvr.org.nz/events/book-now

Last chance till October to experience Auckland’s Premier Rail Experience! We’re running the Classic Train Experience all 3 days, Saturday 30, Sunday 31 May and Monday 1 June, so there are even more chances to step aboard and enjoy a trip back in time by heritage rail.

👑Upgrade to FIRST CLASS 👑
Enjoy GVR’s First Class Experience in the Parlour Car, featuring an open-air viewing balcony and high-tea style🧁🫖☕️🍪 refreshments. Fares are $67 for Adults and $45 for Children. Online Booking only!

https://www.gvr.org.nz/experiences/first-class

🚆 Hauled by Classic V8 Diesel Locomotive DBR1295, built in 1965, take a trip back in time onboard our Classic Train with vintage wooden carriages and exhilarating open air carriage from Glenbrook Station to Waiuku township and return!

☕🥧 Before or after your ride, visit the station Refreshment Rooms for barista coffee, cold drinks, ice creams, snacks, and some of the best pies around. Visit the Souvenir Shop for railway books, souvenirs and a great range of Thomas the Tank Engine toys and books.

🕙Trains depart Glenbrook at 10.00am, 11.30am, 1.00pm and 2.30pm.
⌛ The return journey is around 70 minutes.
💵Classic Train return fares:

Adults $20
Children (2–14) $10
Family (2 Adults + 2 Children) $55
Under 2s free
Day Passes are also available.

🎟Book online now or grab tickets on the day for the Classic Train Experience:

https://www.gvr.org.nz/experiences/classic-train

🚂✨Make the most of the long weekend gather the family, pick your departure, and come ride with us at Glenbrook!

📌 Glenbrook Station, Waiuku
https://goo.gl/maps/MD6XFrzKTSzv7R8G7

15/05/2026

🎬🚂 Lights, Camera… Action! 🚂🎬

The first teaser trailer for Netflix’s upcoming adaptation of East of Eden has just been released - and we’re incredibly proud to have played a part in bringing this major production to life here at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway.

Over several months in late 2024, GVR became home to cast and crew as locomotives, carriages and even Glenbrook Station itself were transformed for filming. One shoot day even took place right in the middle of our busiest-ever Christmas Lights event season - by night the railway sparkled with fairy lights and thousands of visitors, and by day, the cameras rolled! ✨🎥

Productions like East of Eden are just some of the film and television projects to make use of GVR in recent years, and we’re proud that the railway is beginning to earn a reputation within the film industry as a unique and versatile heritage filming location. From small local shoots to large-scale international productions, it’s fantastic to see our railway helping keep the wheels of New Zealand’s film industry rolling while showcasing our heritage assets to audiences around the world.

A huge thank you to our volunteers, staff, and everyone involved behind the scenes who helped make it happen.

Watch the official teaser trailer here:
https://youtu.be/fdBr5KyUilU?si=UZDZtkqiUkOKQ8O2

This fresh interpretation of Steinbeck’s masterpiece will explore the multigenerational saga of the Trask family, focusing new attention on its indelible ant...

12/05/2026

🚂🐄🌾 Auckland to Fieldays! Skip the Motorway, Take the Train 🌾🐄🚂

The Fieldays Flyer | Saturday 13 June 2026

Heading to Fieldays from Auckland or Franklin? There’s a smarter (and far more relaxing) way to get there!

👉 https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/fdfr

Ditch the Hamilton traffic, forget the parking stress, and climb aboard The Fieldays Flyer, departing Waiuku, Glenbrook & Pukekohe. Sit back behind classic diesel locomotives as the city fades into rolling farmland. No queues. No clutch control. Just a brilliant rail journey.

🚜 Option 1 – National Fieldays (Most Popular) 🐑
Take the train, then a connecting coach from Te Awamutu straight to Mystery Creek Coach Transfers and Fieldays admission included.

Fares Ex Auckland $139pp Adult, $99pp child.

✔️ Return heritage train journey from Auckland / Franklin
✔️ Coach transfers
✔️ Fieldays entry ticket
✔️ About 5 hours at Fieldays
✔️ No driving, no parking, no stress

🛒 Note: Luggage space is limited, picking up incredible Fieldays bargains is encouraged. Farm implements might need to be delivered separately 😉

🌿 Option 2 – Bradley’s Garden & Lunch

Stay onboard to Taumarunui for a relaxed winter escape, including a gourmet buffet lunch at award-winning Bradley’s Gardens (★★★★★ NZ Gardens Trust), plus time to explore and even a round of mini golf.

Includes coach transfer, admission to gardens and gourmet buffet lunch. Fares Ex Auckland $185pp Adult, $145pp child.

🛤️ Option 3 – Taumarunui Day Out

Enjoy the full scenic rail journey into the King Country, free time in Taumarunui pay a visit to the Rail Action Centre Museum perfect for a laid-back day trip. Explore the main street, and get something to eat.

Fares Ex Auckland $129pp Adult, $99pp Child.

🎟️ Seats are limited and the Fieldays option always books fast.

👉 https://www.gvr.org.nz/event/fdfr