A shunt from Westfield to the Port of Auckland approaches Orakei on the causeway across Orakei basin. The basin is volcanic in origin and is popular for water skiing.
Trains on 3' 6" (1.067m) track from Whangarei to Bluff with virtually heritage rebuilt EMD and GE locomotives still the mainstay power. The network was privatized in 1990's and operated by Toll until 2008 when state owned KiwiRail was established.