The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway is unique as it is the only working railway in New Zealand where the trains travel down a State Highway and right through the middle of a busy town. The historic rail track, trains and coaches are being restored and the vintage trains run through Kawakawa along the main street and out into the countryside as far as Whangae Tunnel Platform (approx 5km).  Vintage trains departs from the railway station at one end of the town and runs down the middle of the main street.