Raurimu Spiral

The Raurimu Spiral is a single-track railway line in the Ruapehu District that winds around a steep slope with two tunnels, a complete circle, and three hairpin bends. The structure climbs 139 meters (456 feet) through a carefully designed series of curves.

Engineers completed the spiral in 1908 as part of the North Island Main Trunk railway connecting Wellington and Auckland. It solved a critical transportation challenge by enabling trains to cross difficult terrain without expensive alternative routes.

The spiral shows how engineers solved a difficult problem with creativity instead of brute force. Visitors walking or riding through it can sense how much thought went into working with the landscape rather than against it.

The best way to experience it is by taking a train through the spiral or walking the route to see the curves and tunnels up close. The steep gradient makes walking take considerable time, so plan accordingly for a full exploration.

The train actually passes over itself on the same route without colliding, creating a three-dimensional puzzle on the mountainside. This clever solution became a model for railway engineers facing similar challenges elsewhere.