Children of all ages can enjoy a free ride on the Peace Train in Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
The Peace Train is free to ride and runs every Sunday from September to April, between 10am and 1pm, weather permitting.
All aboard
The Peace Train is free to ride, wheelchair accessible and runs every Sunday from September to April, between 10am and 1pm.
Each trip takes approximately eight minutes. The last ride of the day will leave at approximately 12.45pm.
The train can’t operate in wet weather so will be cancelled if it’s raining. Keep an eye on our Facebook page(external link) for cancellations.
The Peace Train leaves from behind the kiosk in Christchurch Botanic Gardens and follows the loop pathway around the playground following the Ōtākaro-Avon River.
The train
The train is a Wattman mini express ACS train, made in Canada.
There is a wheelchair-accessible carriage.
Taking the bus
There are a number of bus stops within walking distance of the Botanic Gardens.
Metroinfo(external link) has up-to-date bus information.
Parking
The Botanic Gardens has three-hour parking at Armagh Street and Riccarton Avenue.
In early 2021, the Yusaf Islam Foundation offered to donate a model, ride-on train, to the people of Christchurch, in recognition of the extraordinary response of support and compassion that followed the terror attacks on March 15, 2019.
Yusuf’s gift (his “little chugger”) came because he saw the New Zealand response to the mosque attacks as a beautiful lesson, an example of the best side of humanity. Watch Yusuf's message to Christchurch.(external link)
This gift was conditional on the train being free to ride for the citizens of Ōtautahi Christchurch and run in a central location.
- Riding the train can earn you Te Mātāpuna Mātātahi Children’s University credits.
- Take a five-minute walk through the Botanic Gardens to visit the World Peace Bell(external link).
- Find out more about Christchurch the City of Peace(external link).
Volunteer to help run the Peace Train
Register your interest in helping create lifelong memories and experiences as a Station-Master and Driver of the Peace Train.
Volunteers need to have a current driver's licence and undertake a short training programme before driving the train.
Training will occur in August each year, to bring on new volunteers and as a refresher for our existing volunteers.
