Santa in Seddon — Steam Incorporated

Steam Incorporated, a registered charity, offers Santa in Seddon as a family Christmas excursion by heritage train through Marlborough. Passengers board at Blenheim Railway Station, in the same parking area as the Blenheim i-SITE, and travel in the operator's restored heritage carriages, which have balconies at both ends.

The train heads south through the hills and vineyards of Marlborough, winds through the Dashwood Pass and emerges into the Awatere Valley, then crosses the Awatere River on the historic Awatere Road Rail Bridge. The operator names Di 1102, a diesel electric locomotive rebuilt by the Diesel Traction Group, as the locomotive leading the train; its terms of travel reserve the right to substitute motive power.

At Seddon Station, Santa waits in his own Christmas Grotto and families can take photos. The Seddon Community Markets are held nearby. The operator says there are no onboard refreshments on these services.

Allow about three hours. Three trips run from Blenheim on the day. The journey is a return heritage train ride through Marlborough countryside with a festive stop at Seddon, where Santa is waiting in his grotto, and time to explore the community markets. All seats are reserved and allocated. Infants must stay on an adult's knee.

Boards at Blenheim Railway Station, in the same parking area as the Blenheim i-SITE. All seats are allocated the week of the trip and ticket information is emailed at the latest two days before; the first confirmation is not your ticket. Fares cover return heritage train travel and are non-refundable; booking protection is offered during booking. General admission is for ages 3 and over, a Family Pass covers four people, and infants aged 0 to 2 travel free. Groups of 10 or more can book by email or phone (0800 783 264). The heritage carriages are not suitable for passengers with limited mobility; the operator asks passengers with concerns to call its bookings team.