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Wexas Travel · Tailor-made rail holiday

New Zealand by Rail

15-day North and South Island loop from Auckland to Christchurch by four named trains

Illustration of New Zealand by Rail

Wexas Travel's New Zealand by Rail is a 15-day tailor-made holiday that connects the North and South Islands by train, ferry and air, starting in Auckland and ending in Christchurch. The journey unfolds across five boutique hotels, each a 2 to 3-night base, with the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine Express handling the major transitions. On day 5, the Northern Explorer carries you south from Auckland through Waikato farmsteads and beneath the volcanic peaks of Ruapehu and Tongariro into Wellington. Days 7 and 8 centre the Marlborough Sounds after a Cook Strait ferry crossing, with optional wine tours and bush walks. Days 9 and 11 ride the Coastal Pacific, passing vineyards and mountain ranges with marine wildlife visible from the carriage; day 12 boards the TranzAlpine for its celebrated crossing of the Southern Alps and native beech forest. Free days in Kaikoura and Christchurch allow optional whale watching, scenic flights and city exploring. The trip suits repeat rail travellers, couples, photographers and food-and-wine enthusiasts drawn to regional character and self-guided flexibility.

What to know before you look closer

  • Days 1 and 2 are flight days from the UK; you do not arrive in Auckland until day 3.
  • The hotels include options listed as 'or similar' (Superior rooms at the named properties).
  • Kaikoura day (day 10) and Christchurch day (day 13) are free; activities such as whale watching and scenic flights are optional and priced separately.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Depart UK

    Begin your holiday in style with included VIP airport lounge access before your flight to New Zealand.

  2. Day 2

    Depart UK

    Continue your journey to New Zealand, arriving in Auckland on day three.

  3. Day 3overnight: Heritage Auckland (Superior)

    Auckland

    Explore the North Island's main city, with the Sky Tower, Viaduct Harbour and neighbourhoods such as Ponsonby, or make the short journey to Waiheke Island for beaches, forests, vineyards and olive groves.

  4. Day 4overnight: Heritage Auckland (Superior)

    Auckland

    A second day to acclimatise and explore Auckland's attractions.

  5. Day 5overnight: QT Museum Wellington (Superior)

    Auckland to Wellington (The Northern Explorer)

    The Northern Explorer departs Auckland at 0745, arriving Wellington at 1825, through the farmsteads and river valleys of King Country and Rangitikei, across the plains of Waikato and Manawatu, beneath the peaks of Ruapehu and Tongariro.

  6. Day 6overnight: QT Museum Wellington (Superior)

    Wellington

    Explore the country's most fashionable centre, with its restaurants, cafés, microbreweries, film studios, art galleries and museums including Te Papa. An optional WETA Workshop 'There and Back Again' tour is recommended.

  7. Day 7overnight: Furneaux Lodge, Marlborough Sounds (Superior)

    Wellington to Picton (The Interislander Ferry)

    The Interislander Ferry departs Wellington at 0900 and arrives at Picton at 1230, cruising the Cook Strait. Head into the Marlborough Sounds with a water transfer to your accommodation at the head of Endeavour Inlet.

  8. Day 8overnight: Furneaux Lodge, Marlborough Sounds (Superior)

    Marlborough Sounds

    Bush walks along the Queen Charlotte Track, or a range of tours from Marlborough sauvignon blanc wine tours to a Greenshell Mussel Cruise or The Mail Run Cruise.

  9. Day 9overnight: Kaikoura Boutique Hotel, Kaikoura (Superior)

    Picton to Kaikoura (The Coastal Pacific)

    The Coastal Pacific departs Picton at 1340 and arrives into Kaikoura at 1625, through the Blenheim wine region and the Kaikoura mountain ranges alongside the Pacific coastline, with marine wildlife visible from the carriage. Optional whale watching or swimming with dolphins in Kaikoura.

  10. Day 10overnight: Kaikoura Boutique Hotel, Kaikoura (Superior)

    Kaikoura

    A free day for optional touring, perhaps a whale wildlife cruise or scenic flight, looking for whales, seals, dusky dolphins and the wandering albatross.

  11. Day 11overnight: The Classic Villa, Christchurch (Superior)

    Kaikoura to Christchurch (The Coastal Pacific)

    The Coastal Pacific departs Kaikoura at 1625 and arrives into Christchurch at 1920. Check into your boutique hotel and explore the city, with punts on the River Avon and strolls through its gardens.

  12. Day 12overnight: The Classic Villa, Christchurch (Superior)

    Christchurch to Arthur's Pass to Christchurch (The Tranzalpine)

    TranzAlpine departs Christchurch at 0815, arriving Greymouth at 1305 and returning to Christchurch at 1831, traversing the Waimakariri River, the Southern Alps and native beech forest - 139 miles one-way in under 5 hours.

  13. Day 13overnight: The Classic Villa, Christchurch (Superior)

    Christchurch

    A final day in New Zealand - perhaps visit the International Antarctic Centre, join a city tour, or ride the Christchurch Tram.

  14. Day 14

    Departure

    An included transfer will see you to Christchurch airport to board your overnight flight home.

  15. Day 15

    Arrive UK

    On arrival back into the UK, continue with your homeward journey.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5The Northern Explorer departs Auckland at 07:45, travelling through King Country and Rangitikei farmsteads, beneath the peaks of Ruapehu and Tongariro, arriving Wellington at 18:25.
  • Day 7The Interislander Ferry crosses Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton, then a water transfer takes you into the Marlborough Sounds to Endeavour Inlet.
  • Day 9The Coastal Pacific departs Picton at 13:40, passing through the Blenheim wine region and Kaikoura mountain ranges alongside the Pacific coastline, with marine wildlife visible from the carriage.
  • Day 12The TranzAlpine departs Christchurch at 08:15, traversing the Waimakariri River, the Southern Alps and native beech forest, arriving Greymouth at 13:05, then returning to Christchurch at 18:31.

Included

  • Complimentary UK airport lounge access
  • Rail travel: Northern Explorer (Auckland-Wellington), Coastal Pacific (Picton-Kaikoura-Christchurch), TranzAlpine (Christchurch-Arthur's Pass return)
  • Interislander Ferry (Wellington-Picton)
  • Included transfer to Christchurch airport

Questions travellers ask

Is all the rail travel included?
Yes. The package includes the Northern Explorer (Auckland to Wellington), the Coastal Pacific (Picton to Kaikoura and Kaikoura to Christchurch), the TranzAlpine day return (Christchurch to Arthur's Pass and back), and the Interislander Ferry (Wellington to Picton).
Is this an escorted tour or independent?
Wexas Travel describes it as a tailor-made rail holiday. The itinerary shows self-guided city exploration in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, with optional guided activities such as wine tours and whale watching available at extra cost.
Which hotels are included?
Heritage Auckland (2 nights), QT Museum Wellington (2 nights), Furneaux Lodge in the Marlborough Sounds (2 nights), Kaikoura Boutique Hotel (2 nights) and The Classic Villa in Christchurch (3 nights), all Superior rooms.
How much walking is involved?
The itinerary includes optional bush walks along the Queen Charlotte Track, strolls through Christchurch gardens and punts on the River Avon. Days in cities allow self-guided exploration, and free days (day 10 in Kaikoura, day 13 in Christchurch) are unguided.
What is the total cost?
From GBP 3,490 (approximately USD 4,661). The package includes rail, ferry, hotels, airport lounge access and airport transfer. Optional activities such as whale watching, wine tours and scenic flights are priced separately.

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