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Travelmarvel (APT Travel Group) · Rail Tour

New Zealand Rail Adventure

15-day New Zealand rail loop from Auckland to Lake Tekapo on four named trains

Illustration of New Zealand Rail Adventure

Travelmarvel's New Zealand Rail Adventure is a 15-day escorted tour that travels across both the North and South Islands, starting in Auckland and ending at Lake Tekapo. The journey features four of New Zealand's scenic trains: the Glenbrook Vintage Steam Train near Auckland, the Northern Explorer from Rotorua to Wellington, the Coastal Pacific along the Kaikōura coastline, and the TranzAlpine ascending the snow-capped Southern Alps. A Travelmarvel Tour Director and driver accompany the group throughout, keeping numbers to a maximum of 24 guests. Days include stays in premium hotels, with dinners featuring Māori Hāngī feast in Rotorua and gourmet lakeside fare at Walter Peak High Country Farm. The tour also includes a cruise through Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park. This package suits repeat rail travellers who value guided comfort, couples seeking intimate dinners, and food enthusiasts drawn to regional cuisine and cultural experiences. The itinerary mixes rail days with coach transfers and water-based excursions across New Zealand's dramatic landscapes.

What to know before you look closer

  • Flights to and from New Zealand are not included in the package price
  • The tour covers both North and South Islands with coach transfers, rail journeys, and a cruise; rail days are interspersed with other transport modes

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Auckland

    Arrive Auckland

  2. Day 2railovernight: Auckland

    Auckland, Glenbrook Vintage Railway

  3. Day 3overnight: Rotorua

    Auckland, Rotorua

  4. Day 4overnight: Rotorua

    Rotorua

  5. Day 5railovernight: Wellington

    Rotorua, Northern Explorer train, Wellington

  6. Day 6overnight: Wellington

    Wellington

  7. Day 7railovernight: Christchurch

    Wellington, Picton, Coastal Pacific train, Christchurch

  8. Day 8railovernight: Fox Glacier

    Christchurch, TranzAlpine train, Fox Glacier

  9. Day 9overnight: Queenstown

    Fox Glacier, Queenstown

  10. Day 10overnight: Queenstown

    Queenstown

  11. Day 11overnight: Te Anau

    Queenstown, Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, Te Anau

  12. Day 12overnight: Dunedin

    Te Anau, Dunedin

  13. Day 13overnight: Aoraki/Mount Cook

    Dunedin, Aoraki/Mount Cook

  14. Day 14overnight: Christchurch

    Lake Tekapo/Takapō, Christchurch

  15. Day 15

    Depart Christchurch

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Day 2: Ride the Glenbrook Vintage Steam Train through the Franklin countryside near Auckland, then explore the Pukeoware Depot workshop and historic locomotives
  • Day 5Day 5: Travel the Northern Explorer train from Rotorua to Wellington
  • Day 7Day 7: Board the Coastal Pacific train at Picton and travel along the Kaikōura coastline with views between mountains and sea to Christchurch
  • Day 8Day 8: Ascend the South Island's snow-capped Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Fox Glacier
  • Day 11Day 11: Cruise Milford Sound in Fiordland National Park, viewing cascading waterfalls and pristine waters

Included

  • 14 nights in premium accommodation
  • Services of a Travelmarvel Tour Director and experienced driver
  • 24 meals – 14 breakfasts and 10 dinners including special Welcome and Farewell Dinners
  • Take a ride aboard the Glenbrook Vintage Steam Train
  • Immerse yourself in an evening of Māori Culture and Cuisine in Rotorua
  • Ride the Coastal Pacific Train along the Kaikōura coastline
  • Cruise Milford Sound/Piopiotahi, a magnificent fiord with views of cascading waterfalls
  • Small Groups available on selected departures (Maximum 24 guests)

Not included

  • Flights

Questions travellers ask

Which trains are included?
The Glenbrook Vintage Steam Train (near Auckland), Northern Explorer (Rotorua to Wellington), Coastal Pacific (Picton to Christchurch via Kaikōura), and TranzAlpine (Christchurch to Fox Glacier/Greymouth)
Is the tour guided or independent?
It is fully guided. A Travelmarvel Tour Director and experienced driver accompany the group throughout the 15 days
What is included?
14 nights in premium accommodation, 24 meals (14 breakfasts and 10 dinners including Welcome and Farewell Dinners), all four train journeys, Milford Sound cruise, Māori cultural experience and Hāngī feast in Rotorua, and Walter Peak cruise with gourmet dinner
What is not included?
Flights to New Zealand
How many people travel in the group?
Small groups are available on selected departures, with a maximum of 24 guests
Where do you stay?
Premium hotels including Mount Cook Lodge in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park; one hotel is named, others unspecified

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