Aboard Driving Creek Railway

Who loves a ride on a little train through the NZ bush? I do!

Started by Barry Brickell in 1973 Driving Creek railway in Coromandel Town grew to 3 km of narrow gauge railway track over 22ha of hilly scrubby land. Barry was also NZs first NZ-born fulltime potter. Driving Creek Railway opened to the public in 1990.

This railway has quite an inspring and impressive history. The land had to be surveyed to create a route through very rough country. What can be seen today was done by hand by Barry with local contactors called in to assist with major earthworks.. There are bridges and viaducts, tunnels and spirals plus five reversing points required to reach the elevation at Eyeful Tower. Switchbacks added to the original tracks meant that trains could 'turn around' for public tours and an income stream could be added to that of the pottery.

This tourist attraction shows just what one person with vision and determination can do. Barry started with the creation of his pottery. A wood-fired stoneware kiln was built. Clay used for potting was and is sourced from this property. He then started the railway, while at the same time putting in incredible efforts to restore the land to native bush. He has certainly succeeded with that. It's a wonderful fresh experience being in the little train as you wind through giant native trees and so many tree ferns. All planted by Barry. The environment has responded to Barry's care by completely regenerating for visitors' delight. I am grateful to see that with the right care, nature can come back within 30 years. Brickell said: "I wanted to demonstrate that you can have engineering in a rugged landscape and it could be good. Engineering doesn't have to be ugly."

The significant forest restoration includes a native wildlife sanctuary and a predator-proof fence. Possum trapping is on-going. I let out a cheer as we rattled past a possum hanging by its neck from a steel bar on a tree. Ecosystem 1, Aussie terrorist 0.

 Trees easily identifiable include Kauri, Rimu, Rewarewa, thousands of tree ferns including our NZ Silver Fern, all planted since 1973.

Potters visit from all over the world as studios and accommodation are available. While I was there a potting class was in progress. I watched in amazement as the most awesone teacher explained what and why he wanted them to do certain things. Concentrating on the 'feel' of what was happening inside their hands, the two students succeeded in turning the clay without unfortunate incidents. He was really awesome and I told him and his class so. You can see them in action. Barry Brickell was good at building kilns. There are several on site, many of them working.

Another feature of note during the train trip is the bottle retainer walls on the hilly sides. They look rather smart in the rain with the glass glistening. There are thousands used for these walls and the precision of placement is remarkable. Our driver told us that barry had put an ad out offering a free train ride to anyone with at least two dozen clean wine bottles to donate. This worked a treat and even today the train drivers are adding to the bottle walls with great pride. In fact, all along the train track passengers can see all sorts of whimsical pottery tucked in amongst ferns and streams. Tunnels are decorated with ceramics too. Each turn seems to have something fun to see, for the sharp-eyed.

Barry died in 2016 leaving the railway and its bush protected by a QE2 covenant. An additional activity onsite is a zipline canopy tour. it goes very fast and I think it's maybe too fast for tourists to get the feel of the bush while whizzing past it.

There's some really great further information here.. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/294797/artist-barry-brickell-dies-aged-80

Driving Creek is now a fully charitable organisation and continues to deliver on Barry’s vision, as detailed in theTrust Charter. Driving Creek operates two charitable purpose programmes that stem from goals to:

• Protect and enhance our natural environment, be a leader and centre for understanding and contribution to conservation initiatives, and share our conservation values with our community and visitors.
• Be a leading centre for pottery and ceramic crafts where emerging potters are actively fostered and visitors share in a unique craft and creative experience.