Nau mai, haere mai | Welcome to Tour Wellington
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.
The evening opens with a glass of bubbles as you settle in. From there, fresh crisp-skinned salmon — marinated in lime, chilli, ginger and garlic, then baked in butter and olive oil — arrives on a bed of seasonal salad alongside homemade potato salad and creamy coleslaw. Dinner closes with a silky Crème Brûlée and traditional shortbread. Paired throughout: a glass of crisp Sauvignon Blanc from Ohau Vineyard’s Gravels range, grown just up the coast.
Dietary requirements? Just let us know when you book — we cater for most needs with notice.
Paraparaumu Station is well signposted also we offer free on-site parking across from the Blue Train.
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. Weather, supplier availability, or other circumstances beyond our control may occasionally require small adjustments to the evening. We’ll always let you know in advance — and we’re happy to answer any questions before you book.
The Northern Explorer is one of the world's great train journeys — and our tours are designed to make it even better. Both the Tui 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 Tui 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.
