Rotorua Branch

Rotorua Branch
Rotorua about 1896
Overview
StatusMothballed
OwnerKiwiRail — Leased to Rotorua – Ngongotaha Rail Trust
LocaleWaikato and Bay of Plenty
Coordinates38°08′25″S 176°15′05″E / 38.140347°S 176.251432°E / -38.140347; 176.251432 (Rotorua Branch, Rotorua terminus)
Termini
Service
Rolling stockNone
History
Opened24 November 1893
Closed7 August 1989 (Rotorua city centre – Koutu)
7 October 2001 (entire line mothballed)
Technical
Line length50.5 km (31.4 mi)
Number of tracksSingle
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Route map

Kinleith Branch
Kinleith MillWaharoa
Putāruru
SH1
Domain Road
Oraka Stream
Pinedale
Railway Road
Ngātira Road
Ngātira
Galaxy Road
Arahiwi
Torlea Road
Bayley Road
Achilles Road
Mamaku
Kaponga Street
SH5
Tarukenga
Ngongotahā
SH36
Ngongotahā
railway park
Taui Road
Ngongotaha Stream
Beaumont Road
Waiowhiro Stream Bridge
Kawaha Point Road
Russell Road
Koutu
Lake Road
Utuhina Stream
SH30A
Ranolf Street
Rotorua

The Rotorua Branch is a railway line from Putāruru to Rotorua, in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions of the North Island of New Zealand. Construction of the line was commenced by the Thames Valley and Rotorua Railway Company and finished by the Public Works Department (PWD). The complete line, 50.5 kilometres (31.4 mi) in length, opened in two sections; on 24 November 1893 to Tārukenga and the final 8 mi 43 ch (13.7 km) to Rotorua on 8 December 1894.