Wexas Travel · Tailor-made rail holiday

New Zealand by Rail

New Zealand by Rail, a rail journey with Wexas Travel

Showcase New Zealand's natural beauty and city greats with this ultra-flexible rail journey.

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.

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

Similar journeys, different answers