New Zealand is known for its beautiful, varied and dramatic places in the world when it comes to scenery and landscapes. Most would see numerous camper-vans zipping through scenic roads, pulling up every now and then to take in some spectacular vista. However, there’s another great way to see the country’s beauty and that is by rail. This guide will take you through some of the most beautiful Scenic rail journeys in Aotearoa.
TranzAlpine, New Zealand
This 10-hour return trip easily gets the gong for one of the world’s most scenic train journeys. Linking the eastern city of Christchurch with western Greymouth, you’ll cross the snow-quilted Southern Alps where your camera will run out of battery and need recharging so often. Another highlight is the bit through the Waimakariri Gorge, where you’ll glide through 16 tunnels and cross five viaducts, all with gobsmacking views. Have no worries about sustenance on the journey, there is a splendid buffet car to keep you fed in its own style.
Marlborough Flyer
This heritage scenic rail journey is all about steam. Travelling on the 1915-built historic World War I Memorial Locomotive, Passchendaele, this train starts off in Picton at the top of the South Island, the port of which is connected to Wellington by the Interislander ferry service and takes you through to Blenheim. It’s only around 30km but what a 30km it is – filled with stunning views of the Para Wetlands, the Wairau River and Wairau Valley and through a sea of vineyards into Blenheim. Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre is a sight not to miss. This contains the collection of First World War aircraft set up by Lord of the Rings trilogy director Sir Peter Jackson as well as a Second World War collection with the only flyable Avro Anson and a Griffon-powered Spitfire.
Taieri Gorge Railway, Dunedin
Taieri Gorge Railway isn’t just a way of getting from Dunedin to Pukerangi. It’s an experience in itself. The train travels through the Central Otago landscape of hills and gorges, pastureland and forests. It follows part of the route of the historic Otago Central Railway, constructed in the late 19th century during Otago’s Gold Rush. This is a scenic rail journey that photographers should not miss. The Twenties carriages have open balconies so photographers can take unobstructed pictures of the landscape, and there is a buffet car and shop on board for when you need a rest from clicking away on that shutter button. And you will be doing a lot of that because this train runs through some pretty breathtaking country. For most of its length it twists and turns through a spectacularly deep gorge, leaping across vertiginous defiles on lattice viaducts and clinging to ledges in the hillsides. Most trains run as far as Pukerangi, but on certain days they reach Middlemarch, the eastern end of the Rail Trail. The northern end of the Rail Trail is also one of New Zealand‘s most popular long-distance cycle routes.
Coastal Pacific
The Coastal Pacific train operates between the delightful port of Picton, the gateway to the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, and Kaikoura, the home of whale watching, as well as onto Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city. This means that, if you’re feeling like life on the rails is for you, you can hop straight on the train at Christchurch and catch the TranzAlpine as described above. On one side is the Pacific Ocean with marine wildlife such as seals and penguins while on the other are the rugged Kaikōura mountain ranges. In between are the farms of the Canterbury Plains, remote beaches and a whole lot of beauty. Along the way you pass though the town of Kaikoura, where you can break your scenic rail journey to take in whale watching or get up and close by swimming with the dolphins.
If you’re a railway nut or like the idea of seeing a bit of the South Island by rail, then don’t despair and consider this scenic rail journey as it’s a thumping good one.
The Northern Explorer
This is probably the most 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. 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 a journey of extremes and surprises, where snow-blanketed fields, ancient lava flows and dense beech forests can be seen side by side. The Northern Explorer carriages have an advanced airbag suspension system for quieter and smoother travel as well as un-tinted, non-reflective, panoramic side and roof windows to capture the dramatic coastal and mountain views of the magnificent North Island. It also features GPS-triggered journey commentary in five languages at your seat via headphones, information displays and overhead HD video, plus central heating and air conditioning for passenger comfort. This is scenic rail travel for the 21st century. This 10-hour ride between Auckland and Wellington will see you take in the sights of New Zealand farmland and rugged bush landscapes. You’ll then ascend up the world-famous Raurimu Spiral to the volcanic plateau, passing the majestic volcanoes of Mt Tongariro, Mt Ngauruhoe, and Mt Ruapehu – home of the North Island ski fields – then descend again through stunning river gorges to the farming landscapes and rocky seascapes of the lower North Island.
