The Ultimate New Zealand Train Journey

Thursday 01 May

Board the popular ‘Northern Explorer’ train at The Strand in Parnell, Auckland. Among today’s highlights are the circular climb up the famous engineering feat – the Raurimu Spiral to the Central Plateau and Tongariro National Park with spectacular views of Mt Ruapehu. Continue on to Ohakune, Waiouru and alongside the Rangitikei River to Wellington for a one-night stay.

Enjoy a welcome dinner at our centrally located hotel.

Friday 02 May

After breakfast, enjoy a Wellington city tour including the Botanical Gardens and Mt Victoria before crossing Cook Strait by ferry to Picton. On arrival, travel by coach and check into our centrally-located hotel in Blenheim.

Saturday 03 May

After breakfast, we include the Omaka Aviation Museum before a local vineyard lunch. We join our privately chartered Coastal Pacific Train for a leisurely journey to Christchurch. This special section of picturesque coastline railway will pass through Kaikoura and continue inland through the hill country of North Canterbury to Christchurch, arriving at our inner-city hotel in the evening for a three-night stay. 

Coastal Pacific and Tranz Alpine train journeys. These two world-renowned train routes travel through some of the most spectacular scenery in New Zealand. Rocky coastlines, picturesque sea views, agricultural farmland, the rugged Southern Alps and historical towns all make the journey a wonderful experience.

Sunday 04 May

Depart by coach for a tour of the Banks Peninsula. The drive has spectacular views overlooking bays and beaches before arriving in Akaroa with time to enjoy the history, harbour and French character. We return to Christchurch and the afternoon is free for you to enjoy the city.

Monday 05 May

Today board the Tranz Alpine train to traverse the spectacular Southern Alps to the West Coast. Cross the Canterbury Plains through Darfield and climb the mountain range including a stop at Arthurs Pass. Our descent takes us through Otira and the renowned rain forests and wetlands to Greymouth. After some time to explore this West Coast town we rejoin our coaches and travel back to Christchurch via the Great Alpine Highway to enjoy the vista’s from a different perspective. 

Tuesday 06 May

This morning we join our exclusive chartered train and travel north through rolling farmland and coastal inlets via Timaru to arrive in Oamaru for a two-night stay. This evening join an optional tour to visit the Blue Penguin Colony of Oamaru.

Optional Tour Blue Penguin Colony visit (Oamaru) The birds return from their days fishing, make their way across the beach, up a stony ramp and cross to the colony. The colony began when a small number of blue penguins began nesting in a rock quarry area at the edge of Oamaru Harbour in the early 1990s. Today it is Oamaru’s largest tourist attraction.

Wednesday 07 May

After breakfast join our local guide for a fascinating walking tour of Oamaru with its Victorian Precinct built of Oamaru stone. Steampunk has grown rapidly over the past 10 years to make Oamaru the “capital of Steampunk” in the world. Free time to enjoy lunch then travel onto Duntroon to visit the Vanished World Centre and learn about the unique fossil history of this area.

Thursday 08 May

After breakfast, board our train and travel through Dunedin, Gore and Balclutha before arriving in Invercargill to enjoy one of the southernmost cities in the world.

Friday 09 May

This morning we will have an excursion to Bluff before a free afternoon to explore the city.  Why not discover the world class vintage truck collection at Bill Richardson Transport World, or learn about the legend of speed - Burt Munro at E Hayes Motorworks. Or simply take a stroll through the botanical gardens.

Saturday 10 May

After breakfast, board our train and travel through to Balclutha. Here we depart our train and travel by coach to the spectacular Nugget Point and the Catlins. Highlights include podocarp forests, rugged coastlines, hidden lakes and stunning waterfalls. Arrive in Dunedin late afternoon. 

Sunday 11 May

This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ including Signal Hill, the world’s steepest street, Botanical Gardens, University, the Forsyth Barr Stadium and the Otago Settlers Museum. The afternoon is free. An optional tour to the Dunedin Royal Albatross Centre is available this afternoon. 

Optional tour to the Dunedin Royal Albatross Centre Albatross are the world’s largest seabirds. They normally breed on remote islands and spend at least 85 percent of their lives at sea, well away from land and human view. Dunedin’s Taiaroa Head is the only mainland Royal Albatross breeding colony in the world and is a great day out from Dunedin (group numbers are limited).

Monday 12 May

After breakfast we head north along the coastal rail route through Palmerston, Timaru and the plains via Ashburton to return to Christchurch and say farewell to our charter train. Enjoy a farewell dinner tonight to end our wonderful southern rail experience.

Tuesday 13 May

Transfer to the airport for return flights to Auckland or other destinations (please ask).