Syrian refugees sang and danced in the aisles of a train on an "awesome'' trip through Otago countryside yesterday.
Red Cross volunteer team leader Leisa de Klerk said Dunedin Railways offered the 87 Syrian refugees who arrived in Dunedin this year a free return trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway between Dunedin and Middlemarch.
At Middlemarch, Red Cross volunteers and Strath Taieri Lions Club members put on a barbecue for the 70 refugees, aged between 2 months and 88 years.
"It's all a part of welcoming the former refugees to Dunedin,'' Mrs de Klerk said.
Manhala Hameed (55) said it was her first trip on a train and she was "afraid'' before departing despite travelling with her daughter, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
However, the former Damascus resident was relieved to find the train had amenities on board, such as a toilet.
Dunedin Railways chief executive Murray Bond said the trip was free for the refugees.
"It's all complimentary from us as a big welcome to Dunedin,'' he said.
After returning from his first train trip yesterday, Ahmad Allimuri said he and his friends danced in the aisle of the train carriage and sang Arabic tunes on the way to Middlemarch.
At Middlemarch, the singing and dancing continued and he rode a pony in the town.
"It was awesome.''
