The Epic

Our rail carts are cleverly adapted golf carts which have been re-engineered to run on the railway. They run on petrol and travel at 21/22km an hour.

Whilst your experience with us will be guided, you won’t be accompanied by a guide in the rail cart itself and you will be in full control of the vehicle. You will be seated with others from your booking – we don’t seat you with people you don’t know. Guests receive a full safety briefing and are asked to respect our health and safety guidelines throughout their experience. You must hold a current Driver Licence to drive the cart.

This doesn’t have to be a NZ issued licence. A valid Driver’s Licence from your home country, provided it is more advanced than a learner’s permit, will be fine. We have

2, 4 and 6 seater rail carts available. We will seat the guests on your booking
accordingly.

Yes. Our tours are a fun and safe adventure with plenty of scheduled stops, stories and sights to enjoy together. Infants under 3 yrs travel free and we offer a reduced rate for children aged 3-15 yrs on our 3 single day tours. Under 3s aren’t permitted on the jet boat rides due to safety reasons but there are no other restrictions as such.

Our 3 day tours – the half-day Tokirima Taster, three-quarter-day Rail River Combo and full-day Republic experiences are an ideal length for younger children; they have the chance to get a taste for the rail carts and enjoy going through the tunnels and stopping along the way.

Younger children may find some elements of the multi-day tours a little long and parents/guardians should be mindful that you can’t stop at will along the line. Our multi-day options probably lend themselves more towards slightly older children, but it’s really up to you. Younger children or babies will need a car or booster seat to travel in on the rail cart for extra security.

Please bring your own car seat with you. Babies can also be carried comfortably in baby slings. Our team will make sure it goes on the shuttle bus and assist you at the carts.

We shuttle you from the check-in point to the start of your experience in our
complimentary shuttle bus on all tours (day tours and multi-day tours) and take you back via shuttle bus to where you started at the end of the day on our day tours (Tokirima Taster, Rail River Combo, The Republic).

On The Epic and Expedition, you end up where you started so no transfer required.

Our Ultimate tour has an option to have either a vehicle shift ($195 per vehicle, includes motorhomes and most rental cars) so you join your car at your final destination (either Taumarunui or Stratford) if this helps with your onward journey, or a shuttle bus back to your starting point, either Taumarunui or Stratford ($75 per person).

Vehicle shifts are also available on The Republic. We offer free onsite parking at the Forgotten World Motel for those wishing to leave their car with us for the duration of their experience.

We operate our experiences from mid-October to mid-May. We are closed between mid-May and mid-October in order to carry out works and essential maintenance on the railway line and rail carts but you are able to book with us for the upcoming season during this time. 

Every season in the Forgotten World is spectacular in its own right, but exactly what you’ll find depends on when you visit. Check out our planning page on the website to find out what to expect if you visit in Spring, Summer or Autumn. 

We often experience 4 seasons in one day, and the tunnels can be chilly, so we always advise you to bring warm clothing and layers. The scenery is seasonally stunning and there’s always plenty of opportunity to take photos of incredible landscapes as you travel through the various terrains.

Our carts are designed for comfort and protection from the elements. They have clear windscreens and are fitted with roll-down plastic rain curtains which can be pulled down on either side of the cart to keep you dry. 

Each rail cart comes equipped with a blanket that can be put over your knees for additional warmth and there is space for you to stow a small backpack with additional clothing on the cart. 

We advise guests to dress wearing layers (you can experience four seasons in one day and it can be chilly in the tunnels, especially in the cooler months), plus sensible closed-toe shoes or boots. 

A waterproof jacket can be useful for the scheduled stops. Waterproof trousers are optional for the jet boat experiences.