Awhitu Heritage & Steam Train Escape.

Itinerary

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DAY ONE                                                                L ,D 

Let’s escape for a night of indulgence as we meander to the Franklin Region, stopping for morning tea before boarding the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. Settle into beautifully restored heritage carriages and enjoy a nostalgic steam-train journey through peaceful countryside, complete with a hearty high-tea lunch served onboard as the locomotive chuffs past rolling farmland and pockets of native bush. By mid-afternoon, we arrive at the luxurious Castaways Hotel, perched above the rugged west coast with sweeping ocean views. Enjoy free time to wander the beach, take a gentle coastal walk, or simply relax and admire the serene vistas from your room or the on-site restaurant. As evening settles in, we gather for a friendly social hour followed by a delectable dinner—an ideal finale to a day filled with charm, comfort, and coastal beauty.

DAY TWO                                                               B, L  

After a hearty hotel breakfast, we travel across the scenic Āwhitu Peninsula to Manukau Heads Lighthouse, where a guided talk shares its rich maritime history — including the original 1874 timber structure built after the tragic sinking of HMS Orpheus. We climb to the lantern room to admire the rare third-order dioptric lens and take in sweeping coastal views. Next, we visit Puriri Lane @ Addenbrooke, set within four acres of elegant gardens surrounding a beautifully restored early-1900s villa. We enjoy a leisurely lunch among rhododendrons, magnolias, azaleas, and weeping cherries, then explore the themed garden rooms on a guided tour. From a secret garden featuring an old telephone box to a pergola crafted from Meremere power-station beams, each space offers its own charm. By mid-afternoon, we continue through peaceful countryside, homeward bound, enriched by history, nature, and garden beauty.