Coromandel Things to Do

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Driving Creek Railway is a unique one hour journey, narrow-gauge bush railway that takes you to lookout over amazing views of the Hauraki Gulf towards Waiheke Island. Situated on the edge of Coromandel town, on the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsular.
The site was initially developed by one man, Barry Brickell, who came here to forge his life as an artistic potter. Barry built the early stages of the railway to extract clay from the hills, to use in his pottery. He also planted thousands of native trees and plants which have grown to provide a stunning bush cover. Eventually the idea came to him to further develop the railway in order to allow people to share his tiny piece of paradise, see the views and experience his love of the bush. Naturally this railway eventually became the money earner to help pay for the land and development.
The whole enterprise is a credit to Barry Brickell, who now has a wonderful band of merry helpers.
As well, Barry hosts potters from all over the world, who come and learn, and experience this amazing place and what it has to offer.
The railway trip is fun, exhilirating and enlightening what one man can do if he has a dream. He and his team have designed and built the trains and carriages, and Barry himself planned and laid all the railway tracks.
Once at the top, you get to view the amazing scenery from the Eyefull tower, before returning to base.
The journey takes you through a few tunnels, all lined with pottery bricks, and over some viaducts, one being double decked! In order to negotiate the steep incline, Barry has incorporated three reversing platforms, in a zigzag way . These are very interesting, see photos.
Totally interesting and amazing place to visit for a few hours, I thoroughly recommend Driving Creek Railway.