Driving Creek Railway, Mountain railway in Coromandel, New Zealand.

Driving Creek Railway is a 381 mm narrow-gauge mountain railway climbing from Barry Brickell's pottery near Coromandel to the Eyefull Tower, a wooden viewing building modelled on Auckland's Bean Rock Lighthouse. The 2.7 km line zigzags up the hillside through five reversing points, three tunnels and ten bridges, including a double-deck viaduct used twice at different levels.

Potter Barry Brickell began building the 15-inch gauge line in 1975 to bring clay and firewood down to his kiln, after buying the land in 1961. The route was extended over 25 years with three tunnels, ten bridges and inclines up to 1 in 14. Passenger services were officially approved in 1990, and the line reached its final terminus at Eyefull Tower in 2004.

Art pieces and pottery works are displayed throughout the journey, created by local artists and reflecting the connection between craft and nature. These installations become part of how visitors experience the passing landscape.

The return trip, including a stop at the Eyefull Tower terminus, takes about one hour. The line climbs 110 metres through five reversing points, three tunnels and five larger bridges, so seats on the upper level of the double-deck viaduct section are worth watching for. Booking ahead is advised when visitor numbers are high.

The railway uses multiple reversing points where trains switch direction to climb the steep mountain slopes. This zigzag technique lets it gain elevation that would be impossible on a direct route.