This Airport In New Zealand Boasts A Unique Feature That Seems Dangerous At First Glance

It's not often that planes and trains operate in the same place at the same time, but there's an airport in Aotearoa New Zealand where the unexpected transportation mash-up is a routine occurrence. Often listed among the world's scariest airports, Gisborne Airport (GIS) in New Zealand (one of Samantha Brown's top destinations for escaping the winter cold) is the only active airport in the world where a commercial rail line runs right across a runway. It wasn't an intentional design. 

We can't pinpoint the exact timeline, but we do know Gisborne Airport is the successor to Darton Field, an aerodrome that opened at the site in the early 1930s. In its original configuration, the main runway dead-ended at the railroad tracks, but subsequent expansion, including runway extension, led to the current — and highly uncommon — intersection. The configuration is so unique that it's become a sort of bucket-list checkpoint for aviation enthusiasts who visit the site to witness a crossing. 

While the layout looks intimidating — and even potentially dangerous — these days the train only crosses the runway about 15 times a year, and air traffic always takes precedence. Air traffic controllers receive advance notice about scheduled crossings and, as airport manager Murray Bell told Stuff in 2024, "The train pulls up to a certain point, the tower knows they're coming, everything is pre-arranged ... The tower talks to them and says 'clear to cross,' or 'hold fire.'"  For a while, Burnie Wynyard Airport (BWT) in Tasmania, Australia — the most memorable destination in the world, according to Gordon Ramsay — shared a similar air-rail intersection, but that rail line ceased operations in 2005.

Despite its unnerving reputation, Gisborne Airport has a stellar safety record and no reported incidents involving an approaching plane colliding with a moving train. The small airport on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island is a major gateway to Tairāwhiti, the Māori name for this region that translates to "the coast upon which the sun shines across the water." The railroad played a key role in the development of Tairāwhiti, transporting freight to the once remote part of the country. Today, the Gisborne City Vintage Railway operates scenic tours between Gisborne and Muriwai, about 15 miles south (not to be confused with Muriwai Beach on Auckland's west coast) during the New Zealand summer when cruise ships are in port.

These days, Gisborne Airport welcomes approximately 150,000 visitors annually who arrive via domestic flights intent on experiencing Tairāwhiti's gorgeous beaches and world-class surf. Located about 10 miles north of Gisborne, Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve is a 6,000-plus-acre nature preserve, home to myriad species including penguins and migrating pods of dolphins and whales. Other ways to celebrate nature in Tairāwhiti include frolicking at Rere Rockslide, a naturally formed water slide dating back millions of years, and cycling or hiking Motu Trails. This network of routes — suitable for all levels of experience — winds through some of the region's most scenic landscapes. Tairāwhiti is also considered a top stargazing destination with tours led by guides well-versed in astronomy, and the region known for producing world-class chardonnay is home to several wineries, some of which offer vineyard stays. Here's what to know about this breathtaking island's increased tourist tax before you go.