The Tūī Tour: a dinner experience on the Kāpiti Coast
A Saturday Evening Like No Other on the Kāpiti Coast
- Price
- $170 pp · all inclusive
- When
- Every Saturday · 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Starts
- Paraparaumu Station
- Return
- Private return coach to Wellington Railway Station
Quick details
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Tour times
- Every Saturday · 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
- Tour type
- Boutique dining experience, vintage train carriage, live music, cultural & storytelling
- Tour area
- Blue Train Kāpiti, Paraparaumu · Kāpiti Coast, New Zealand
- Capacity
- Small-group experience · limited intimate seating
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair access available
- Transport
- Private return coach to Wellington Railway Station
Bookings are essential and we recommend reserving at least a week in advance. Please arrive at Paraparaumu Station by 5:30 PM – the bus for the Blue Train departs promptly to keep the evening on its graceful pace. Northern Explorer travellers: the Tūī Tour is timed to meet the Saturday 5:30 PM arrival. Step off at Paraparaumu and we’ll meet you on the platform.
An unforgettable evening aboard the Blue Train
Step into a different era aboard Tour Wellington’s Tūī Tour – a boutique evening of fine dining, live music and coastal storytelling inside a beautifully restored 1952 English railway dining carriage. Polished timber, soft lamplight and the gentle sound of native birds drifting through the open windows.
Your host, Chris Evans, weaves local history and coastal character into the evening with the kind of warmth and wit no guidebook can offer. It’s the sort of Saturday night that’s becoming harder to find: unhurried, properly considered and genuinely New Zealand.
Tūī Tour evening highlights
- Restored 1952 English railway dining carriage, stationed in Kāpiti
- Three-course fine dining experience
- Local wine pairing – Ohau Vineyard Gravels Sauvignon Blanc
- Live music aboard the Blue Train carriage
- Storytelling from your host
- Tranquil Nikau Valley setting
- Coastal views of Paraparaumu Beach and Kāpiti Island on the journey home
- Antique fittings and intimate, small‑group seating
- Dietary requirements catered for with notice
- Private coach return to Wellington Railway Station
- Timed to connect with the Northern Explorer
Getting there
Blue Train Kāpiti Coast
31 Rimutaka Street, Paraparaumu 5032
Paraparaumu Station is well signposted, and there’s free on-site parking across from the Blue Train.
- By car from Wellington – approximately 45 minutes via SH1
- By train – Kāpiti Line services from Wellington run regularly (around 50 minutes)
- Northern Explorer guests – simply step off at Paraparaumu and we’ll meet you on the platform
Please arrive by 5:30 PM, ready for a 5:30 PM departure. Spaces are limited and Saturdays book ahead, so we recommend reserving early.
31 Rimutaka Street
Paraparaumu 5032
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Inside the Kāpiti Coast dinner experience
“A Journey Through Time and Taste”
Coming from Canada, we know a thing or two about long train rides but we’ve never had one quite like this. The Tūī Tour is something special. Chris had us laughing within ten minutes, the food and wine were outstanding, and the carriage itself is beautifully restored. Honestly the best evening of our whole trip. Bringing my parents next time.
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Northern Explorer travellers
Travelling on the Northern Explorer? Step off early.
The Northern Explorer is one of the world’s great train journeys – and our tours are designed to make it even better. Both the Tūī and Kererū Tours are timed to meet the Saturday arrival at Paraparaumu Station, around 5:30 PM.
Simply step off the train and we’ll be there on the platform – taking care of your luggage, walking you the short distance to the Blue Train, and welcoming you straight into the evening. The Tūī Tour returns you to Wellington the same night, ready for whatever’s next on your itinerary. The Kererū Tour continues into Sunday, with seaside accommodation and onward transport into Wellington included – so you arrive in the capital rested, well-fed, and with stories to tell.
It’s a seamless way to turn a great train journey into a greater one. No rebooked tickets, no lost time – just one extra evening (or weekend) of the Kāpiti Coast at its best.
See how the Northern Explorer connection works
Questions about the Tūī Tour
More answers on our FAQ page, or get in touch.
Do I need to book my tour before I travel?
Yes. Tours must be booked in advance as spaces are limited. We cannot take walk-ins from the train.
How does the timing work with the Northern Explorer?
On Saturdays, the Northern Explorer arrives at Paraparaumu Station around 5:30 PM. We’ll be waiting on the platform to meet you and start your tour.
What happens with my luggage?
Our team will collect your bags as you step off the train. They are securely stored while you enjoy your tour. If you’re on the Kererū Tour, we’ll transfer your luggage to your accommodation for the night and return it to you for your transport back into Wellington the next day.
Do I need a return ticket to Wellington?
No. Your tour booking includes transport back to Wellington. For the Tūī Tour, you’ll be returned the same evening. For the Kererū Tour, your package includes both accommodation and tickets back into Wellington the next day.
Can I join these tours if I’m not on the Northern Explorer?
Yes. While designed to connect with the Northern Explorer, both tours are open to all guests. You can simply meet us at Paraparaumu Station at the tour start time.
What if my train is delayed?
We monitor the Northern Explorer’s arrival closely. If there are minor delays, we’ll adjust accordingly so you don’t miss the start of your experience.
What if I have dietary requirements?
We cater for most dietary needs with advance notice. Please let us know when booking, and we’ll make sure your meal is prepared accordingly.
More ways to explore the Kāpiti Coast
See all our Kāpiti Coast tours · About the Blue Train venue · Northern Explorer connections
-
$595 pp all inclusive
Overnight Escape, Every Saturday
Kererū Tour
Two days of curated delight – the elegance of the Tūī Tour, a seaside sleep, and a full day exploring vintage trams, classic cars, and local wines along the coast.
- Start 5:30 PM Saturday · Ends Sunday afternoon
- Northern Explorer’s Saturday arrival
- Everything from the Tūī Tour
- Sunday lunch & wine tasting
- Boutique seaside accommodation
- Southward Car Museum & Fiducia tram ride
- Private return coach to Wellington Railway Station
-
Every Thursday with Mik Peryer
Waikanae Estuary Bird Tours
Three ways to spend a Thursday with Mik Peryer, the Birdman of Waikanae: a guided estuary bird walk, birds and High Tea aboard the Blue Train, or a full day with WWII heritage.
- Every Thursday · from 9:30 AM
- Small-group experience · minimum 10 guests for High Tea options
-
$375 pp all inclusive
Groups of 100+ · by enquiry
Haast Eagle Tour
A gourmet evening aboard the Blue Train, then a grand vintage steam journey down the Kāpiti coastline to Wellington Railway Station.
- Saturday evening · arrives Wellington 8:00 PM
- The full Tūī Tour dining experience
- Heritage steam journey aboard Steam Locomotive 1271
- Minimum 100 guests for steam · 48 for the R31 Railcar
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