The Northern Explorer is a scenic rail journey across New Zealand’s North Island, covering 680 kilometres from Auckland to Wellington in approximately 10 hours and 40 minutes. Operating three times weekly, this train experience showcases volcanic landscapes, farmland, engineering achievements, and cultural heritage while travelling through areas significant to Maori communities.

I travelled in November, enjoying the best of both: green fields and snow-capped volcanoes.

Route and Timetable

Service Schedule:

  • Auckland to Wellington: Departs 7:45 AM, arrives 6:25 PM (Monday, Thursday, Saturday)
  • Wellington to Auckland: Departs 6:55 AM, arrives 5:50 PM (Friday, Sunday, Wednesday)

Major stops: Auckland Strand, Hamilton Frankton, Taumarunui, National Park, Ohakune, Palmerston North, Paraparaumu, and Wellington.

Pricing and Booking

2026 fares:

  • Scenic Class: NZD 219-249 per adult
  • Children (14 and under): NZD 153-174
  • Scenic Plus (premium with dining): higher pricing available on the Great Journeys NZ website

What’s included: Seat reservation, luggage allowance (23kg checked, 7kg cabin bag), open-air viewing carriage access, and onboard commentary.

Booking advice: Reserve 2-4 weeks ahead through the Great Journeys NZ website. Window seats on the left side offer better volcanic views. Book early for summer travel and holiday periods.

Getting to the Station

From Auckland Airport:

Arrive at least one day early. Take a taxi or rideshare to Strand Station (approximately NZD 80-100, 45-60 minutes). The historic Strand Station features a converted shipping container ticket office with basic facilities.

Check-in: Arrive 20-30 minutes before departure. Luggage is tagged and loaded into the luggage car; passengers retain only carry-on items.

Onboard Experience

Seating: Comfortable seats with decent legroom and fold-down tables. Seats do not recline. Panoramic windows extend above luggage racks for unobstructed views.

Cafe: Hot meals, salads, snacks, beverages, and alcohol. Payment warning - card machines fail without mobile signal; bring cash.

Toilets: One per carriage minimum; fully accessible options available.

Open-air viewing carriage: Covered platform with open sides, ideal for photography. Bring a light jacket for weather protection.

Technology: No Wi-Fi available. Mobile data is patchy in rural areas. Download entertainment beforehand.

Scenic Highlights

Waikato Farmland: Rolling green hills that wouldn’t look out of place in a film set. The countryside opens up after Hamilton and stays green for a solid stretch.

Raurimu Spiral: An early 20th-century engineering marvel - a feat of railway construction using tight loops and tunnels to gain elevation. Completed in 1908, it’s one of the few spiral railways still in regular service.

Tongariro National Park and Mount Ruapehu: The visual centrepiece of the journey. An active stratovolcano and UNESCO World Heritage site. Snow-capped peaks visible in most seasons; winter offers dramatic snowy landscapes, summer provides green volcanic terrain.

Rangitikei River Gorges: Steep cliffs and dramatic river canyon scenery. Keep your camera ready - these sections pass quickly.

Kapiti Coast: Coastal views approaching Wellington, featuring the Tasman Sea. A welcome change of scenery after hours of inland landscapes.

Luggage and Restrictions

Luggage allowance:

  • Scenic Class: 1 checked bag (23kg) + 1 cabin bag (7kg) + 1 personal item
  • Scenic Plus: 2 checked bags (23kg each)

Pets and bicycles:

  • Pets: Service animals only
  • Bicycles: Permitted in luggage car with pre-booking and additional fee

What to Pack

Essentials: Camera or smartphone with power bank, snacks and water, light jacket, cash (the cafe card machine is unreliable), entertainment (books, downloaded shows), medications, sunglasses, sunscreen.

Optional: Inflatable pillow, earplugs.

Best Time to Travel

Summer (December-February): Lush green landscapes, warm weather. Higher demand and prices.

Winter (June-August): Snow-capped mountains, dramatic volcanic scenery. Cold on the open-air carriage.

Spring and Autumn (September-November, March-May): Moderate weather, fewer crowds, balanced scenery. This is when I’d recommend travelling if your dates are flexible.

Before and After the Journey

Auckland (pre-departure): Arrive at least one day early. Stay somewhere central for easy access to Strand Station the next morning. The station itself has minimal facilities, so sort breakfast before you arrive.

Wellington (post-arrival): You’ll arrive around 6:25 PM, leaving time for an evening meal and exploring Wellington’s compact centre. The railway station sits centrally, within walking distance of most accommodation. Wellington has plenty to keep you busy - Te Papa Museum (free admission), the Cable Car, Cuba Street cafes, and Zealandia wildlife sanctuary.

Historical and Cultural Context

The route follows the North Island Main Trunk railway, completed in 1908 after decades of construction. Before rail, travel between Auckland and Wellington required lengthy sea journeys or overland treks.

The route passes through areas of significance to Maori, particularly Tongariro National Park, sacred to the Ngati Tuwharetoa iwi. An 1887 partnership to protect this area represented groundbreaking conservation cooperation and laid the foundation for New Zealand’s national park system.

The Northern Explorer uses DFB diesel-electric locomotives and AK passenger carriages manufactured in New Zealand.

Vs Other Options

Vs flying: Flights take about an hour and there are multiple daily options. The Northern Explorer costs more than a budget flight but offers views and an experience you simply can’t get at 30,000 feet. This isn’t about speed - it’s about the journey.

Vs driving: The drive takes 8-9 hours. The train takes slightly longer but you can watch the scenery instead of the road. If you need a car at your destination, drive. If you want to enjoy the landscape, take the train.

Vs coach: Coach services are cheaper but offer less comfort and no open-air viewing carriage. The train’s panoramic windows and commentary add genuine value.

Is It Worth It?

At NZD 219-249, the Northern Explorer isn’t the cheapest way between Auckland and Wellington, but it might be the most memorable. You’re getting 10+ hours of volcanic peaks, farmland, gorges, and cultural insights that you’ll never see from a plane. The onboard commentary adds depth, the open-air viewing carriage is genuinely special, and the staff are a highlight.

Book it if you’re already planning to visit both Auckland and Wellington and you have a day to spare. Treat it as an experience, not just transport.