The Weka Pass Railway is Waipara's most distinctive non-wine attraction: a volunteer-run heritage line using part of the old Waiau branch railway. Trains run between Glenmark Station in Waipara and Waikari, crossing dry North Canterbury country that feels much bigger than the short distance suggests.
Steam services are the prize, usually hauled on special running days rather than daily. If the timetable lines up, it turns Waipara from a quick cellar-door stop into a proper half-day outing.