For those with a hunger for the extraordinary, few places surprise quite like Gisborne Airport. Tucked along New Zealand’s eastern coastline, this airport breaks the mold — welcoming not just planes, but trains onto its runway. Yes, a railway track slices right through its airstrip, offering an experience so surreal it feels like a movie set.
Where Vintage Steam Meets Modern Sky: The Marvel of Gisborne Airport
For the thrill-seeking traveller and the culturally curious, Gisborne Airport in New Zealand offers more than just a boarding gate — it’s a stage where the past and present elegantly collide. Nestled in the Elgin neighbour hood and occupying 160 hectares, this unassuming airport hosts a phenomenon that feels straight out of a travel fantasy.
The Railway Runway Riddle
What sets Gisborne apart? A railway track bisects its main runway — not just any railway, but the charming Gisborne City Vintage Railway, where nostalgic steam locomotives journey between Muriwai and Gisborne. These graceful machines make about 15 crossings a year, mostly timed with cruise ship arrivals in the warmer months, turning each passage into a whimsical tourist moment.
Masterful Coordination
Behind the scenes, airport staff execute a delicate waltz. With over 1.5 lakh passengers annually and more than 60 domestic flights per week, the team choreographs a seamless ballet of air and rail traffic. Signals are controlled by the airport itself — pausing trains for planes and vice versa, with meticulous precision to avoid overlap.
A Symphony of Space and Speed
Beyond the main runway, Gisborne Airport boasts three additional subsidiary runways, adding flexibility to its operations and amplifying its status as one of New Zealand’s 62 airports. It’s not just an infrastructure feat — it’s a tribute to harmony between engineering and heritage.