Dargaville Rail Tours

New Zealand's roads are notoriously full of twists and turns, not always suited to the casual tourist or Sunday driver. Dargaville and Kaipara have some such highways, especially once the Waipoua Forest comes into view. But, for the most part, it's a pretty thrill-less ride between Auckland and Dargaville.

Drivers tired of looking at the back end of a truck should book a tour with Port Dargaville Cruises, which offers rail-cart tours through the region. Hosts and guides Dave and John share tales about the area and its kauri-covered history while letting guests see it from a slightly different perspective. OK, it may not offer high-speed thrills but exploring the Kaipara from a cart is a heck of a lot of fun. The tracks follow the old forestry lines from Dargaville to Tangowahine (2.5 hours) or Waiotira (7.5 hours). The Waiotira trail covers 21 bridges and two tunnels and is New Zealand's second-longest private rail journey. Dargaville Station. 021 238 7869, portdargavillecruises.co.nz