Daffodil Express

Our popular annual train trip to the Carterton's annual Daffodil Festival!

Sunday 14th September 2025

Carterton’s Daffodil Festival in the early Spring creates a great day out for the whole family. Why not travel there in style by a heritage train, let Steam Incorporated take the stress out of travel as you take the train to the Wairarapa. This year, our train has reduced capacity, so be sure to book in quickly!

Hauled by our heritage locomotives, take a glimpse into the bygone era of train travel as we clear the rush of Wellington, racing through the suburbs of Petone, Lower Hutt & Upper Hutt. After picking up the last of our passengers at Upper Hutt, we will race through the 8.8km long Rimutaka tunnel. This tunnel remains the longest in New Zealand with scheduled passenger trains, and has just been subjected to a full track relay for the first time since it was opened in 1955.

Passing through Featherston, we head east and navigate the rolling hills towards Carterton.

Arriving into Carterton, you'll have a few hours to disembark and go and explore Carterton's annual Daffodil Festival , before jumping on the train for the return journey home.

The Daffodil Fields and Festival

Located in the heart of the Wairarapa, Carterton’s popular Daffodil Festival offers an abundance of activities ranging from the famous Daffodil picking at Middlerun Farm, markets along High and Holloway Streets, the Big Wai Art sale in the events Centre, live music, and loads more family fun.

Shuttle buses will run from the town centre to the daffodil fields. There will be a lot of people for these buses, so please be patient. The bus transfer is free.

Here you can pick your own daffodils for $5 (Cash Preferred) that is a fundraiser for Wellington Free Ambulance and Whānau Āwhina Plunket, Wairarapa region. While stocks last!

The fields are not suitable for walkers or wheelchairs due to uneven grounds.

Prior booking is essential, this is an annual sell out event!

All tickets and seating allocations are sent via email, 48 hours prior to the departure of this excursion.

Please see below a provisional timetable for the day:

Please be at your boarding station minimum 10 minutes prior ready to roll, with your tickets, carriage number and seating allocations at the ready.

Fares
Adult (13+) - $125
Child (2-12yrs) - $90
Infant - Free

Please note that if booking online, our booking system does add on a 5% booking fee to the above fares. Steam Incorporated does not see this revenue.

Book online here or call us on 0800 783 264!

Limited Mobility Disclaimer
Due to the age, design and nature of our heritage carriages, these are not suitable for passengers with limited mobility. If you have any concerns, please contact us on 0800 783 264 to discuss options with our bookings team!

If you have any questions or need a hand with your booking, please contact us on 0800 783 264 or email admin@steaminc.org.nz.

Related information

Book our heritage train travel - Get tickets on one of our steam or diesel hauled train trips or check out future rail journeys that are coming up.