Country Park Express Miniature Train Rides operates at Matakana Country Park on Leigh Road, Matakana, and holds a 4.5-star Google rating from visitors.
Miniature railways are a quiet staple of country parks: small locomotives hauling carriages around a gentle loop, at a pace that suits toddlers and grandparents alike. Rides tend to be short — a few minutes per lap — so the smart move is to fold them into a longer day at the park rather than build the whole outing around them. Most operations pause in wet weather, so it pays to check conditions on rainy days, and weekends and school holidays draw the biggest crowds. For many children it is a first taste of train travel, which is half the charm.
Tucked into Matakana Country Park on the Leigh Road, it makes an easy, family-friendly stop for anyone exploring Matakana and the Rodney coast.