Northern Explorer: Scenic Train Auckland - Wellington image

Northern Explorer: Scenic Train Auckland - Wellington

Cafe Tourist attraction Tour operator

👍👍 The best journey ever. 11hours on a train traveling from Auckland to Wellington. During travelling, I can say that I never get bored to stay on a train because of the perfect scenery. It's a scenic route that you can see New Zealand's life. Recommend to you all. If you have a plan to traveling to... People often mention train, Auckland, trip, experience, journey, Wellington, good, staff, hours, friendly,


Address

66 The Strand, Parnell, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Website

www.greatjourneysnz.com

Contact

+64 800 872 467

Rating on Google Maps

4.20 (120 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Tuesday: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Wednesday: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Thursday: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Friday: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Saturday: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM
  • Sunday: Closed
  • Monday: 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: train (22) Auckland (13) trip (12) experience (11) journey (10) Wellington (8) good (8) staff (8) hours (6) friendly (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 MM 3 years ago on Google • 62 reviews
    The best journey ever. 11hours on a train traveling from Auckland to Wellington. During travelling, I can say that I never get bored to stay on a train because of the perfect scenery. It's a scenic route that you can see New Zealand's life. Recommend to you all. If you have a plan to traveling to New Zealand please try to take a train on the route "Northern Explore"
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Adam S. 4 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    Is a long 11 hour trip, we went from Auckland through to Wellington. Beautiful scenery and worth doing if you are wanting to make the trip. Pack some warm clothes just in case a it can get a bit cold, especially if you wander into the open carriage. Cafe on board with reasonable food, bit expensive but good to eat. May pay to take some cash as there are intervals where eftpos doesn't have coverage. Staff are very friendly and professional, considering the length of their shifts, they did not miss a beat.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Matapouri M. 4 years ago on Google
    What an awesome experience from Wellington to Auckland with a stopover in Ohakune. So much fun for everyone. Best to book 3 or more as you most probably get a booth seat with table in the middle. If you have kids bring a cards, colouring books ect to have fun while travelling. The outdoor carriage is an awesome experience. The cafe is packed with kai but you can also bring your own kai and drinks. Toilets are clean and surprisingly spacious enough. Will definitely be trying the others too ... tranzalpine ect.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jesse T. 2 years ago on Google • 207 reviews
    Bring food, download movies and podcasts, and get comfy. Glad I did the journey but probably wouldn't again. The North Island just isn't that interesting with mostly farmland. Still snapped a few pictures though from the windowless car at the front.

  • 5/5 amiranagui 5 years ago on Google • 75 reviews
    Lovely trip. Vocal guide with personal headset is available the ride between Auckland and wellington takes almost 10 hours but you will never get board and feel like dosing off as its very exciting telling the story of building the railway with all the challenges and changes taking place. There is a cafe on board, bathroom and a photo deck at the front of the train.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 David B. 8 months ago on Google • 31 reviews
    it is about 3-4 hours longer than you would want ... lots of bored kids playing Pop-It (currently going on 25 min non-stop) and TV without headphones. adults too. it is a slow train thru terrain that is very green and very much same same same. some pretty. but same. I should have rented a car.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Hunter M. 3 years ago on Google • 4 reviews
    The Northern Explorer is an unforgettable experience either for the tourist or resident. You are in flat Hamilton and next minute you are in gorgeous middle earth on the Central Plateau. Staff are really friendly but you shouldn't need them much since you will always be looking out the window. I've done some photography on the Northern Explorer and she looks beautiful as ever from the outside. From the observation car you have no windows and the wind blowing in your hair, feeling the temperature change as you climb to National Park, and back down again past Ohakune. The Kapiti Coast is amazing too, it is the only part where you can see the ocean, but blame what the most efficient route to build a rail line in the early 20th century on. Some points of interest include: the Rauriumu Spiral, Horopito, Makatote Viaduct, Hapuawhenua Viaduct, Mangaweka, and the Kapiti Coast. This is a once in a lifetime journey and you should definitely consider it one time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 jaimie f. 4 years ago on Google • 77 reviews
    Loved doing the Northern Explorer rail from Auckland to Wellington. The views are amazing, the seats are comfortable and the staff are very accomodating. Makes travelling for 7 hours feels shorter and fun.

  • 5/5 Katt P. 1 month ago on Google • 71 reviews New
    Beautiful journey from Auckland to Wellington. I also took it back up to Hamilton and then back up to Auckland. I couldn't stop looking at the amazing views that I got a neck ache from turning around repeatedly. Long ride, but lovely. The cafe cart had decent food and cute postcards and other little souvenirs. Restrooms are good size on train and seats weren't too bad either. You don't know your seat until the day of which caused me some anxiety, but luckily, I had aisle seats both times.

  • 5/5 Nigel B. 3 months ago on Google • 37 reviews New
    The first 1.5 hours travelling through industrial outer suburbs of Auckland is boring, but then gets much better. Volcanoes and gorges! Comfy seats, food is good, staff very friendly. The open viewing carriage is great

  • 4/5 Liz B. 3 months ago on Google • 20 reviews New
    Wonderful trip - we skipped Auckland and caught the train in Hamilton - long trip, but staff are wonderful. Being late November, the train was full, so harder to sit back and relax (some tourists are loud!). Stunning views and interesting commentary.

  • 5/5 Des C. 8 months ago on Google • 15 reviews
    What a fabulous trip. The crew on both routes were amazing and fabulous with the kids. A definite recommended trip for those who want to relax and see some of the north islands best scenery on offer

  • 5/5 Nen R. 3 weeks ago on Google • 9 reviews New
    Amazing 12 hours journey from Auckland to Wellington. Scenic view are spectacular😇

  • 5/5 Donna Marie M. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing trip. Friendly staff that went above and beyond to make our experience a memorable one. Especially Bill. You are a true asset to the company! 😊

  • 5/5 Jill W. 1 year ago on Google
    Thanks team for the great effort for getting us to the ferry. You went above and beyond for us. It was an amazing trip and I would be definitely doing it again.

  • 2/5 G M. 1 year ago on Google
    I did the journey from Auckland to Wellington, and I'm sorry to say that this train really didn't live up to expectations. The two stars are for the friendly bar staff & the panoramic windows, but after that, it's a lengthy series of minuses. The train was fully booked and a tad overcrowded; narrow 2x2 seating with a very stingy seat pitch is not comfortable when you're 190 cms tall. That led to the scenic car behind the loco being busy most of the time too. Our audio commentary worked intermittently, as did the air conditioning. The train arrived 45 minutes late, which works out to an average speed of 59 km/h for the journey from Auckland. To add insult to injury, the baggage guys managed to break my bag (the shoulder strap) at Wellington station, so I really can't say that I was too impressed by the overall product. As with so many things in New Zealand, it promises much, costs a fortune ($219 NZ, €129, $137 USD) & delivers remarkably little. It is most definitely not a luxury travel experience!!

  • 1/5 Shahbaz R. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely terrible experience, you will feel miserable and regret for your life. It can make you mentally and phycially sick. you can't even sit, stand or enjoy for a single moment. it runs on 20-40 kms per hour for whole 12 hour journey. you will feel like a prisoner in this horrible old and filthy train. No Hand sanitiser in whole train in this covid erupting situation. You will also have flee bites on you skin, terrible onboard food with expensive price. NZ govt is ripping off innocent travelers, they should stop this service immediately. Its so suffocating that you can't even breath properly. I can still feel the smell of that horrible train. I am having some anti anxity and antidepressent pills to come out of that trauma. Please don't travel on this miserable train especially people with high blood pressure and heart conditions BIG NO, don't even think about this terrible train. you are most welcome to call me on 021499922 to share my experience with you. NZ govt and Kiwirail please don't make this country's image terrible to continue this service.

  • 1/5 Atif A. 1 year ago on Google
    Extremely over priced and absolutely not comfortable we were too sqaushed to enjoy the views smells bad i cant explain how bad that was. The only good thing was one staff lady who was quite helpful.

  • 4/5 TheNinja A. 1 year ago on Google
    The train experience was quite good. It's bumpy in some places, but overall the 11.5 hour train ride wasn't too bad. The day we went on the train, the train was full so the cabins got quite warm and humid which was uncomfortable as it was already a hot day but there is an outdoor carriage that helped a bit with the hear but overall happy with our trip.

  • 2/5 Meadow H. 10 months ago on Google
    The food was horrible and overpriced so definitely be prepared to pack your own food for the journey. The journey was painfully long and boring and I probably wouldn’t do it again, but it was a good experience to do at least once in your life. There’s no wifi on board so be sure prepared to buy data and bring things to keep you occupied. Overall the experience was okay but not amazing. The best thing about the train is the open carriage but that’s about it!

  • 5/5 Lulu D. 7 months ago on Google
    Comfortable train and staff are friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. It's a bit on the expensive side though..probably cheaper to fly..but def worth it for the experience.

  • 5/5 Cécile S. 3 years ago on Google
    I booked this as a surprise for my son who turned 13 and adores trains. Can't say that this is my idea of fun but my son, an entire month later, is still thanking me for it. And it actually was pretty good for a 12-hour ride. The seats around the table were comfortable, we could charge our devices, the range of food and drinks was pretty good with reasonable prices, the audio commentary was interesting and the staff were so attentive and friendly! Of course this is New Zealand so the scenery was fantastic even on a wet day. I expected to be bored out of my brains but was pleasantly surprised.

  • 4/5 Dave R. 2 years ago on Google
    Great trip from Palmerston North to Auckland. Not a huge amount of legroom, and its a little uncomfortable to the neck to look out the window for long periods. It was dark for the last hour or two, which means that you can't see much. But overall, a great trip. Outside observation car is great (make sure you get there early for the Spiral). We took our own food and drinks, so not sure what they are like from the restaurant, but it seemed to have a steady stream of people buying stuff. Toilet pretty clean. Fairly steady on the rails and not particularly noisy


Similar Tourist attractions nearby

Starbucks 220 Queen Street image
1
Starbucks 220 Queen Street
Coffee shop
Seattle-based coffeehouse chain known for its signature roasts, light bites and WiFi availability.
$$ $$
3.90 (2.3K reviews)
Tony's Original Steak & Seafood Restaurant image
2
Tony's Original Steak & Seafood Restaurant
Steak house
Veteran locale offering a traditional menu of steak & seafood in a warm, old-fashioned atmosphere.
$$ $$
4.50 (2.2K reviews)
Swashbucklers Restaurant & Bar image
3
Swashbucklers Restaurant & Bar
Seafood restaurant
Family-friendly waterfront tavern featuring a seafood-centric menu & drinks amid maritime decor.
$$ $$
4.40 (2K reviews)
Archie's Restaurant & Pizzeria image
4
Archie's Restaurant & Pizzeria
Italian restaurant
Relaxed Italian eatery featuring wood-fired pizzas, plus a take-out menu & a terrace.
$$ $$
4.50 (1.9K reviews)
Wildfire Restaurant Auckland image
5
Wildfire Restaurant Auckland
Brazilian restaurant
Upscale restaurant on Viaduct Harbour featuring Brazilian churrascaria-style meats carved tableside.
$$$ $
4.10 (1.7K reviews)
Last updated:
()