Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Midas Tümülüsü (Tumulus MM)
The Devil's Column
Weightlifting Hall of Fame
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.
Rung Rueang
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All New Zealand Driving Creek Railway
AO Edited

Driving Creek Railway

This incredible narrow-gauge mountain railway was created by a ceramic artist.

Coromandel, New Zealand

Added By
Stuart C
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Driving Creek Railway   stuey20520 / Atlas Obscura User
One of several kilns at base station.   stuey20520 / Atlas Obscura User
Fern covered viaduct.   stuey20520 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

This delightfully constructed forest mountain railway was originally built by Barry Brickell to collect clay and wood for his pottery art business.

Track laying commenced in 1975 and it took around 32 years to complete the 1.6 miles (2.7 kilometers) line to the top scenic station, the brilliantly-titled EyeFull Tower.

This is New Zealand's steepest and arguably most spectacular narrow-gauge railway. It has it all, from big drop viaducts to several small tunnels covered in ceramic artwork from Brickell's collection. 

Related Tags

Railroads Trains Art

Know Before You Go

To enjoy the railway fully visitors need at least three hours. This is a great hidden gem family attraction, there is also a zipline, wildlife sanctuary conservation tours, and a pottery school. 

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Wild New Zealand: Exploring the North & South Islands

Stunning landscapes, unique wildlife, and rich Māori culture.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

stuey20520

Published

November 11, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://drivingcreek.nz/our-story/about-the-railway/
Driving Creek Railway
380 Driving Creek Rd
Coromandel, 3506
New Zealand
-36.737046, 175.504015
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Waterworks

Waiau, New Zealand

miles away

Stony Batter Historic Reserve

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Hot Water Beach

Hot Water Beach, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Zealand

New Zealand

Oceania

Places 141
Stories 44

Nearby Places

The Waterworks

Waiau, New Zealand

miles away

Stony Batter Historic Reserve

Auckland, New Zealand

miles away

Hot Water Beach

Hot Water Beach, New Zealand

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of New Zealand

New Zealand

Oceania

Places 141
Stories 44

Related Places

  • The bridge at night.

    Shorewood, Wisconsin

    Shorewood Ghost Train

    A circus of light and sound forms a sensory ode to an iconic train that will never pass through town again.

  • The Brick Train of Darlington.

    Darlington, England

    Brick Train

    A locomotive made from 185,000 bricks celebrates the town's pioneering railway history.

  • Vișeu de Sus, Romania

    Vaser Valley Forestry Railway

    The last active narrow-gauge forest railway in Europe.

  • Interior of the historic roundhouse.

    Baltimore, Maryland

    The B&O Railroad Museum

    At the birthplace of American railroading, a world-class collection of historic trains.

    Sponsored by Visit Maryland
  • Looking up at the Highball Signal.

    Delmar, Delaware

    Highball Signal

    This relic is one of the last survivors of the earliest eras of the American railroad.

  • Riga, Latvia

    Latvian Railway History Museum

    A collection of historical engines and rolling stock from throughout Riga's rich railway history.

  • TY 51 locomotive.

    Krakow, Poland

    Kraków-Płaszów Train Graveyard

    This cemetery of rusting Soviet-era steam locomotives and train cars offers an apocalyptic glimpse into a bygone era.

  • The Sky Railway in Santa Fe.

    Santa Fe, New Mexico

    Sky Railway

    The railroad turning train travel into a cinematic, highly immersive experience has a fascinating connection to Game of Thrones.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.