Set in the hills over Coromandel town, Driving Creek is much more than just a mountain railway. It’s an escape into the artistic world of Barry Brickell, surrounded by the beautiful landscapes that define New Zealand. Depending on your choices, Driving Creek is a place to explore, relax, create, or get an adrenaline rush.
Driving Creek is probably best known to visitors as New Zealand’s only mountain railroad. However, the lush, hand-planted native forest can be enjoyed on foot, flying over the canopy, or on the train.
To the artist community, Driving Creek is a place for pottery, both creation and sharing. And, regardless of which activities you choose, you’ll want to pay special attention to the mass number of impressive ceramic artwork hidden in plain sight throughout the complex.
What will you do when you visit Driving Creek?
- Enjoy the lush forest and history from New Zealand’s steepest mountain train
- Fly over the canopy on the zipline
- Take a pottery class
- Explore the native wildlife sanctuary
- Check out an old gold mine
Let the Coromandel peninsula inspire you …
Driving Creek Railway
Family-friendly, the famous Driving Creed Railroad is as much for adults as it is for kids. In fact, we visited as a couple and believe we enjoyed it even more than the young boy sitting in front of us donning a Thomas the Tank Engine shirt.
While the scenery was fantastic, it was the stories told by our guide that really made this a trip to remember. We learned about Barry Brickell, the inspiration and creator of much of what is there.
Everyone walks away with something different. For me, it was nature. For Jeff, I think it was the engineering that went into hand-building much of this 3km narrow-gauge track that was the most impressive.
The rough landscape resulted in a track that includes ten bridges, three tunnels, two spirals, and five switchbacks (reversing points). It’s these reversing points that makes every seat a good choice, as the front becomes back at each switch.
Wine bottle retaining wall One of the many stops A view of the train as we went around a bend
We stopped at the upper end of the line and walked up a small ramp on what they call the Eyefull Tower. Go on, say it out loud, and you will understand why no one knew exactly what to expect before we saw it.
To be honest, the tower itself wasn’t the feature, but rather the view over the Hauraki Gulf and its islands.
Coromandel zipline tours
Adrenaline junkies only take the train to the first exit and then fly over native forest, gullies, and streams on a series of eight ziplines. Not feeling exceedingly adventurous on the day, we opted to skip the zip, but we spoke with several people who really enjoyed it.
I have no real excuse. After all, this zipline has been enjoyed by people from age 6 to 82. (Note: there is a minimum age of 6 and children under 17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.)
The guides are experts at helping everyone from natural thrill-seekers to those who feel a bit intimidated by either height or speed. Along the way, they share the story of Driving Creek’s conversion to a lush native forest from what was once kauri logging, gold mining, and farming.
If you are ready to give it a go, you might want to book your zipline tour now.
Pottery at Driving Creek Railway
Barry Brickell, the man behind Driving Creek Railway and Potteries, is New Zealand’s first kiwi born full-time handcraft-potter. Whether or not you indulge in a pottery class, you will want to check out some of the twelve kilns on the property, five of which are still in use today.
Kiln not currently in use Brick and pug machine A working kiln First 1300ºC kiln in NZ
In addition to the kilns, they still make their own clay.
Take a pottery class
If you have ever wanted to try your hand at pottery, either through slab building or throw down on a wheel, Driving Creek is the place to do it. The small group (maximum 5) allows for lots of personalization, and the teachers are visiting potters or skilled locals. Either way, you’re learning from someone who practices what they teach.
Although we didn’t take a pottery class ourselves, we had lunch alongside the two women in the photo, and they raved about the class. More than just fun, the instructor was there every step of the way, and super helpful without ever taking over or changing their project.
Check availability and book your class here.
For a nominal additional fee, you can have your artwork fired, glazed, and fired again by a professional artist before it is shipped to you.
Driving Creek also offers studios and accommodation for resident and visiting potters from all over the world, including other parts of New Zealand.
Conservation efforts at Driving Creek Railway
Before leaving Driving Creek, we followed a short trail to a native wildlife sanctuary surrounded by a predator-proof fence, like the one in Shakespear Park. Inside, we enjoyed the native birdlife as well as some fascinating lizards in protective enclosures.
An old goldmine
A turnoff from the native wildlife sanctuary path brought us to an old goldmine entrance. Had I read the sign before entering, I would have been prepared for what I found at the other end.
Unfortunately for me, not only had I not read the large sign, I also looked at the ground as I walked into the shaft. So, once at the other end, the cave weta gave me quite the fright.
If you’re wondering, the sign at the entrance talked all about the NZ weta that live in the mine, explaining that wētā (Māori spelling) evolved into more than 100 different species, all of them endemic to New Zealand. Wētā are giant flightless crickets, and cave wētā have extra long antennae and long, slender legs.
Entering the gold mine Wētā in gold mine
Where is Driving Creek Railway?
You will find Driving Creek Railway just outside the town of Coromandel at 380 Driving Creek Road, which is located on the northwestern coast of the Coromandel Peninsula on the North Island of New Zealand.
Be sure to allocate time for some of the other fascinating things to do in the Coromandel.
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What will you do when you visit Driving Creek Railway and Potteries?
For more on New Zealand, start here: New Zealand Road Trips: Itineraries for North or South Island Adventures, or you might like …
Disclaimer: We were guests of Driving Creek Railway and Potteries and also provided general assistance by Destination Coromandel, the local tourism board, to assist in the writing of this article. Importantly, the opinions expressed here are strictly our own.
Carpediemeire
Looks like a really great place. I wouldn’t miss the zip line or pottery, but I’d steer clear of the giant grasshoppers.
Nancy
Looks like this would be a fun trip – lots to see and do!
Josy A
This sounds fantastic! Art, gorgeous scenery, nature aaaaand ziplines!? This is my kind if trainline! 😀
Krista
I would love to go on a train ride here. It looks like you passed by some beautiful scenery.
Sunetra
You make me wanna revisit Coromandel .. definitely missed this place as my time in this region was short last year! Would love to return soon!
kmf
Driving Creek Railway sounds and looks like so much fun! Love all the art and nature and ould love to take a pottery class.
Marina
The Coromandel peninsula is just so amazing! Despite spending 2 weeks there a few months ago, we didn’t visit Driving Creek but now I want to go back *w*
Deb
Those Weta would have given me shivers, they look like interesting crickets tho! Ziplines and train rides are always fun!
Erica
We’d love to explore Driving Creek Railway! The train ride looks fun and I’d like to see the retaining wall in person. I used to raise crickets when I was a kid, but I think those weta would have been too much! Thanks for the great tips!
Rob + Ann
We love train rides, and that sounds like a really fun one. Have to say, though – even if we did read the big sign, the Weta would have probably freaked us out. We don’t do well with the creepy crawlies. 😉 But everything else sounds fantastic! We’d have to make a few visits, though – train ride, zip line, pottery classes – enough to keep us busy for days!
Paul Pietrangelo
I enjoy any type of train Rhonda. This place is fantastic, my type of location except of gold mine. I don’t like dark place when you are in tight places. Not for me. Have a wonderful Easter Sunday my friend.
Cruisin Paul
Venaugh
This looks so amazing! The zipline must be such an adrenaline rush. I might run out of that cave though with the crickets!
Jen Nilsson
The Eyefull Tower. That’s adorable! I just love creative places like this. When artists come together make that creative energy that you can almost touch. Thank you for this beautiful post!
Jen Nilsson
The Eyefull Tower. that’s adorable! I just love creative places like this. When artists come together and make that energy that you can almost touch. Thank you for this beautiful post!
Sandee
I’d be all over that train. What a fun place to explore. I’ll pass on that mine though. That would be more than a fright to me. Yikes.
Have a fabulous day, Rhonda. ♥
Jade
Wow I would love to do a zipline tour in New Zealand!! I hope it looks as fun as it does in real life.
Shafinah
wow how old is that kiln – looks like a real spectacular relic!
Anda
What a scenic train ride! It reminds me a lot about a similar one we took a few years ago, in the northern part of Romania. We rode aboard the last narrow gauge steam train in Europe. It’s just that we didn’t get to make our own pottery there.
Megan
That wine bottle retaining wall is so awesome! And the kids would definitely enjoy going through an old gold mine 🙂