What makes it 69% Baby-Friendly: Babies ride free on a lap and can watch trains from a stroller, yet no baby-change table, no nursing room and closed-toe shoe rule mean parents must bring extra gear and plan changes outdoors.
Why 1–2 hours visit duration is ideal for with baby: Enough time for a couple of train laps, a lakeside picnic and a stroll without tiring the baby.
Baby-on-lap train ride:
Hold your baby while you ride a 1/8-scale steam or electric train.
Tip: Wear closed-toe shoes and arrive early for best seats.
Watch model boats:
See volunteers sail scale yachts and tugboats on the pond.
Tip: Go soon after 1 pm to catch the first boat session.
Lakeside picnic:
Spread a blanket on the flat lawn under a shady tree by the lake.
Tip: Bring a portable mat and shade-friendly snacks.
Playground exploration:
Use a baby carrier to access the toddler playground and open lawn.
Tip: Carry a small toy for the baby and choose the lower-roofed play area.

Marty Moon
Great fun for the whole family and only $2 for a ride?! Doesn’t get any better! I strongly recommend to take your 5-8 year olds! There’s a park and big playground next to the venue so lunch can be eaten anywhere!
Nanda Amor
Good experience for your kids and even my family enjoyed the ride. It was a nice ride with scenic views and views of fun activities for families to do after all around the Halswell miniature trains. 😍It Was a great experience well worth the visit. We stopped for a quick snack/ potty break at a rest station and were back off about 10 minutes later. We will be going back and will bring some fri...
Royce
I was incredibly impressed with such a smooth operation. Purchasing a ticket, lining up, taking the train, and enjoying the ride itself was a pleasure, not only for me but also for my daughter. I initially thought it would be a one-off experience, but collectively, we've decided to come back here again and have a picnic at some point during the summer. The drivers have so much enthusiasm towards t...
s s
CASH ONLY!! Awesome Reserve with miniature trains runs every week by volunteers. This is heaven for kids. Huge outdoor space to run around. $2 per train ride for all ages, big train small train even steam train runs by coal! Pedestrian crossing with train lights. A small lake that has ducks and geese (feeding not allowed) also in the lake there are volunteering miniature cruiseships and jet boat o...
Darryn Johnston
This an awesome and really fun place to be. so many trains to Look at and ride on everything from miniature diesel-electric to miniature steam trains with genuine coal powered engines. The trains are so much fun, there's tonnes of track...and even both a tunnel and an overbridge. There's also a level crossing with flashing lights for pedestrians. What's also fun is a lake for radio controlled ...
Trains run most Sundays 1 pm–4 pm, weather permitting. In summer bring sunhat, sunscreen and water. Paths get muddy after rain—use a sturdy stroller. Check csmee.org.nz or Facebook for cancellations.
Explore These Activities
| Item | Cost (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| 2 adult train rides | NZD 4 |
| 6-ride concession book | NZD 10 |
| Food truck snack | NZD 6 |
| Total Estimated | NZD 20 |
Note: All prices are indicative and may vary. Please check directly with the venue for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
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Address: 38 William Brittan Avenue, Halswell, Christchurch 8025, New Zealand
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