West Coast Wilderness Railway

The West Coast Wilderness Railway is a rack railway stretching about 35 kilometers through rainforest between the mining town of Queenstown and the coastal port of Strahan. Passengers choose between Heritage carriages with basic seating or Wilderness carriages offering dining service and open-air viewing decks.

This line was built in the late 1800s to move copper ore from Queenstown mines to the port for export. After decades of abandonment, restoration efforts brought the route back to life using original locomotives from that mining era.

This railway represents how local communities have transformed an abandoned industrial route into a living connection with their past. Today, the operation provides meaningful employment while allowing visitors to experience the working methods of an earlier era.

The journey takes several hours and winds through steep terrain with tunnels and tight curves, so wear comfortable shoes and layers for changeable weather. Plan your visit ahead and check conditions, as mountain weather can shift quickly.

The Swiss-designed rack system allows this railway to climb extraordinarily steep slopes, especially at Rinadeena Saddle where inclines approach one-in-sixteen. This 1800s engineering innovation enables the line to navigate terrain that would be impossible for ordinary trains.