20 Day New Zealand Rail Journey

Welcome to Auckland. On arrival, please make your way to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at leisure to get acquainted with this vibrant city.

Should you wish to participate in the below optional activity you will require to arrive in Auckland a day prior. Please contact us to make the necessary accommodation and sightseeing arrangements.

Check in & arrival information.

Auckland airport is connected to the city by the Auckland City Express SkyBus and offers a great cost-effective means of getting directly into Auckland City. For $17 each one way (or $32 return), they will take you directly from the airport into the city. The service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, taking between 40 and 50 minutes. As you’d expect, you’ll need to allow additional time if travelling in peak hours.

Hotel check in is at 2pm. Should you arrive earlier than this, hotel staff will do all possible to check you in as soon as possible. If your room is not available before check-in time, you are welcome to leave your luggage in storage and explore the surrounding area.

Make your way to the Sky City Coach Terminal on Hobson Street by 12.30pm to board your 1pm coach to Paihia. New Zealand runs one of the world’s best tourist coach networks all across the country. Intercity coaches are modern and comfortable air-conditioned buses.

Note: You will be returning to the same hotel in Auckland. You may wish to leave your main suitcase and travel with an overnight bag to Paihia.

If you take the below Auckland Revealed optional tour you will be dropped off at the Sky City Coach Terminal in time to take your bus to Paihia so bring all your belongings with you.

Paihia is considered the gateway to the Bays of Islands. If you want to discover the coves and beaches of the Bay of Islands, Paihia is the perfect place to start. On arrival, your coach will drop you off close to Paihia Wharf, from here it is only 200m to your hotel.

Make your way to the wharf by 9am to board your morning Hole in the Rock cruise. Take in the stunning views as we glide out through the islands and along the Rakaumangamanga Peninsula to Cape Brett, where a historic lighthouse keeps watch over Piercy Island/Motukōkako, or as it is popularly known the ‘Hole in the Rock’. You can expect to return to the wharf by 12pm

This afternoon, take the scenic 2km walk (approximately 25 minutes) to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds (entry fee included).

This morning, reboard your coach back to Auckland. Coaches depart Paihia from the location you disembarked. On arrival back in Auckland, make your way to your hotel.

Today you will be collected from your hotel to join a guided tour of Hobbiton and Waitomo. Travel south from Auckland over the Bombay Hills to the rich farmland of the Waikato region. Your journey takes you through undulating green hills reminding you that you are approaching The Shire. Your guide will give you commentary on the way to Hobbiton with insights into the areas you are travelling through, along with some background to the movies.

On arrival at Shire’s Rest you embark on your Hobbiton movie set tour. This location is the largest “green set” in the world and the only part of the set remaining in New Zealand. You see 44 hobbit holes, the Mill and the Party Tree. At this stunning location you can take a photo at the gate to Bilbo’s house, “Bag End”, looking out over the whole set to the hills in the distance. You will be treated to a sumptuous buffet lunch in the marquee. There is time for shopping before your tour continues to Waitomo. (Drive time 1 hr 20min). On arrival in Waitomo, join a 45 minute guided tour of the incredible Waitomo Glow Worm caves. Discover an ancient world 30 million years in the making. Enjoy the delicate cave formations and be wowed in the Cathedral, before taking the iconic boat ride through the glow worm grotto (subject to water levels). Marvel in silence at thousands of magical glow worms, which are unique to New Zealand before exiting the cave. Upon conclusion you will be returned to your hotel in Auckland.

Today make your way to Auckland central station to board the Northern Explorer. New Zealand's longest running passenger service, the Northern Explorer is a long distance scenic train service running between Auckland and Wellington, stopping at Palmerston North, Ohakune, National Park and Hamilton. This iconic train journey allows you to experience the extremes of New Zealand’s scenery, from the fertile farmlands of Waikato to the volcanic peaks of the Central Plateau and the sparkling Kapiti coast. 

The train has panoramic windows, open-air view carriage, a fully licenced cafe plus commentary allowing you to connect with the histories, legends and myths of New Zealand.

On arrival in Wellington, disembark your scenic train and make your way to your hotel. We recommend a short taxi service which can be found easily when exiting the station.

This morning, you’ll be collected from your hotel to join a half day city sights tour of Wellington. An intimate tour looking at the unique aspects of the World’s Coolest Little Capital. Drive through Courtenay Place and Oriental Parade and head up Mt Victoria for spectacular views of the City and Harbour. Then travel the stunning, rugged coastline, now a marine reserve, stopping along the way to taste some famous Wellington coffee. Return to the central city for a drive through the quirky Cuba Street district and along Lambton Quay, the main shopping street, for a chance to ride the famous Wellington Cable Car. We finish the tour with stops at Parliament and Old St Paul’s Cathedral. The tour concludes at your hotel around 1:30pm where the rest of the day is at leisure.

A big day of stunning landscapes is ahead of you today. This morning, make your way to the central wharf to board the Interislander ferry to Picton. Connecting the North Island and South Island together since 1962, the Interislander ferry service is New Zealand's original Cook Strait ferry. Sailing between Wellington and Picton several times a day, the Interislander journey is considered one of the most beautiful ferry journeys in the world and one of New Zealand's most iconic experiences and connects seamlessly with the Coastal Pacific train which is the next leg of your journey.

On arrival in Picton the ferry and the train are separated by only metres. The location is well sign posted. The Coastal Pacific train takes you along rugged coastlines, across remote beaches, between mountains and sea, on a timeless journey of breathtaking beauty.

Explore the stunning Kaikōura Coastline, famous for its marine life and whale watching. On arrival in Kaikoura disembark the Coastal Pacific and make your way to your hotel either on foot or using the local Kaikoura shuttle service which can be found at the station on arrival.

Itinerary note. Coastal Pacific schedule changes from season to season. Should Coastal Pacific train not run on this day, the trip between Picton and Kaikoura will be travelled by Intercity bus instead.

This morning make your way to the wharf to board a half day whale watching tour. The main focus of your tour is to locate and view the Giant Sperm whale. They average between 1 to 2 whale sightings per tour due to the length of time the whales can stay submerged.

This afternoon, make your way back to the station to take the Intercity bus from Kaikoura to Christchurch. On arrival in Christchurch, make your way to your hotel. We recommend a short taxi service which can be found easily when exiting the station.

This morning you will be collected from the hotel to enjoy a half-day guided tour of Christchurch. Your guide will explain both the history of the city and the effects of the earthquake, you will see for yourself both the destructive powers of nature and the rebuild taking place. On leaving the inner city, the tour travels to Mona Vale, a historic homestead and gardens. We then travel to the Sign of the Takahe, an historic building with a lookout providing spectacular views over the city, Canterbury Plains and to the Southern Alps. The tour then travels via the Port Hills and Lyttleton Harbour by way of the Sign of the Kiwi and Governors Bay to the Port of Lyttleton. The tour proceeds through the Lyttleton harbour tunnel to the seaside suburb of Sumner and cave rock before returning to your hotel where the tour will conclude. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure.

Enjoy a free day at leisure to explore Christchurch at your own pace.

Today the driving portion of your holiday begins! Check out from your hotel and collect your vehicle. Your car includes unlimited kilometres in a mid-sized category (Toyota Corolla or similar)

New Zealand is a drivers paradise, stunning scenery, leisurely speeds and easy navigable roads. Leaving Christchurch, begin the drive south. Watch the scenery and skyline become jaw-dropping with the Southern Alps towering over the horizon.

Mt Cook, locally known as Aoraki is the highest mountain in New Zealand at 3,754m. The drive takes approximately 4.5hrs from Christchurch. At the foot of the mountain sits the village of Mount Cook - a comfortable haven in one of the most unforgiving parts of New Zealand. On every side, the Southern Alps scrape the sky. On arrival check in to your hotel and enjoy the alpine village. The nearby Hooker River is accessible to see huge glacier carved icebergs.

Approximate driving distance: 330km, 4.5-5 hrs

Car Hire Pick Up.
Up to 31 December 2021 - Collect your car from Hertz downtown office, located on Unit 4/150 Kilmore Street

From 1 January 2022 - Collect your car from Budget downtown office, located on 150 Kilmore Street

Leaving Mt Cook, continue your drive south to Queenstown. It seems impossible the scenery can get any better, but today’s drive takes you even deeper into the majesty of New Zealand. 

On arrival in Queenstown make your way to your hotel for check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Approximate driving distance: 270km, 3.5-5 hrs

Enjoy a free day at leisure to explore Queenstown at your own pace.

Enjoy a free day at leisure to explore Queenstown at your own pace.

Enjoy a free day at leisure to explore Queenstown at your own pace.

Today, make the short drive to Wanaka. The suggested route is via Cardrona Road along the Crown Range. The Crown Range road climbs to high altitudes and crosses a mountain chain the Cromwell route doesn’t. While the Crown Range Road is a shorter distance to journey between Queenstown and Wanaka, travel time is longer and the road is more challenging than the usual route through Cromwell. You should also allow time to stop and admire the massive views, which are often accompanied by amusing encounters with kea (mountain parrots). On arrival in Wanaka make your way to your hotel for check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Approximate driving distance: 80km, 1.5-3 hrs

Leaving Wanaka, make your way up the western coast of New Zealand. This trip tracks down the West Coast through the breathtaking Haast Pass and to Glacier country. Fox Glacier and Franz Josef allow you to see two glaciers in one day. The Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers are unique relics of the last ice age. Mighty rivers of solid white, tumbling down ice-hewn rock valleys, they are classically beautiful in the glacial sense. Nowhere else in the world have glaciers advanced so close to the sea at this latitude. On arrival in Franz Josef make your way to your hotel for check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Approximate driving distance: 290km, 4.5-5 hrs

Continuing driving the West Coast until arriving in Greymouth. On arrival in Greymouth, drop your car before 12pm and check-in to the TransAlpine train to Christchurch. Your scheduled train departure time is 2pm and you must be ready to board 20’ earlier. Whilst there is a small cafe on board your train, we recommend you to allow time to have lunch in Greymouth before departing.

Considered one of the world's greatest train journeys, this journey you’ll see epic vistas, travel the edges of the ice-fed Waimakariri River, traverse the Southern Alps, and see miles of native beech forest.

The train has panoramic windows, open-air view carriage, a fully licenced cafe plus commentary allowing you to connect the scenery all around you.

On arrival in Christchurch, disembark your scenic train and make your way to your hotel. We recommend a short taxi service which can be found easily when exiting the station.

Approximate driving distance: 180km, 2.5-3.5 hrs

Today your New Zealand Rail Journey comes to an end! At the appropriate time today make your way to the airport or continue your onward journey.

Alternatively, contact us if you wish to extend your stay in Christchurch as we can help you make arrangements for additional accommodation. 

Check out & departure information.

A taxi or Uber from your hotel to Christchurch airport costs approximately NZD 45-50 per car. Hotel check out is at 11am. You are welcome to leave your luggage in storage and explore the surrounding area if departing later.