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Railbookers · Independent rail vacation

Ultimate New Zealand

19-day rail, coach, and ferry tour across New Zealand's two islands

Illustration of Ultimate New Zealand

Railbookers runs this 19-day trip the length of New Zealand, starting in Auckland and finishing in Dunedin. It mixes independent travel days with small-group guided excursions, moving by rail, coach, and ferry between the North and South Islands. Early days cover the Bay of Islands and a Hobbiton Movie Set tour on the way to Rotorua, where a traditional Maori evening with a hangi dinner follows a tour of the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland. The Northern Explorer train carries the trip to Wellington, then an Interislander ferry crosses Cook Strait to Picton for the Coastal Pacific train to Kaikoura and Christchurch. The TranzAlpine crosses the Southern Alps through the Otira Tunnel toward Franz Josef Glacier, before coach travel continues to Queenstown, Milford Sound, and Dunedin. Hotels change often, sometimes for a single night, so it suits travelers who want a packed itinerary of named sights and don't mind moving frequently, and who are comfortable with guided excursions handling the logistics of caves, glaciers, and wildlife.

What to know before you look closer

  • The Coastal Pacific train between Picton and Christchurch is seasonal and replaced by a coach outside November to March, so travelers outside that window would do that leg by road instead of by rail.
  • A scenic flight from Milford Sound back to Queenstown is listed as an optional extra at additional cost, so the base price assumes the return coach journey instead.
  • The trip changes hotels 12 times over 18 nights, including three separate one-night stays in Auckland, so expect to pack and unpack often.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Auckland

    Auckland

    Welcome to Aotearoa! On arrival at the airport you will be escorted to your hotel to check-in. Then head off to acclimatize with the 'City of Sails'. Head up the Sky Tower for a panoramic view of the surrounding land.

  2. Day 2overnight: Paihia

    Bay Of Islands

    After breakfast, you depart Auckland on a scheduled coach service to Paihia. Travel north through the seaside resorts of the Hibiscus Coast and the city of Whangarei to the beautiful Bay of Islands. On arrival visit the Waitangi Treaty House and Grounds.

  3. Day 3overnight: Paihia

    Bay Of Islands

    Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the region, renowned as the birthplace of the nation of New Zealand as well as for its beautiful beaches and wildlife.

  4. Day 4overnight: Auckland

    Bay Of Islands/Auckland

    This morning depart on a scenic boat trip through the bay cruising past the Cape Brett Lighthouse, before arriving at the Hole in the Rock and the Grand Cathedral Cave. In the afternoon depart Paihia on a scheduled coach for Auckland.

  5. Day 5overnight: Rotorua

    Hobbiton/Rotorua

    Depart Auckland on a trip to Rotorua, including a magical journey through Middle-earth at the Hobbiton Movie Set. You see 44 hobbit holes, the Mill and double arch bridge, and the party tree, and visit the Green Dragon Inn. Continue on to Rotorua, part of the geologically active 'Pacific Rim of Fire'.

  6. Day 6overnight: Rotorua

    Rotorua

    This morning enjoy a half day small group tour experiencing the geothermal activity of Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and the Waimangu Volcanic Valley nature walk. Tonight, experience a traditional Maori evening with cultural performance and hangi dinner.

  7. Day 7overnight: Auckland

    Rotorua/Waitomo Caves/Auckland

    Depart Rotorua by sightseeing coach through the King Country region. After arriving in Waitomo, take a 45-minute guided group tour through the world-famous Glowworm Caves, ending with a boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto. Continue to Auckland.

  8. Day 8railovernight: Wellington

    Auckland to Wellington

    Early start this morning for a journey aboard the Northern Explorer Train to Wellington, through rolling countryside, the volcanic mountains of Tongariro National Park, and the Central Plateau.

  9. Day 9railovernight: Kaikoura

    Wellington to Kaikoura

    Cross the Cook Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound by ferry to Picton, then take the scenic Coastal Pacific Train to Kaikoura. Kaikoura is known for its abundant wildlife and sperm whale population.

  10. Day 10railovernight: Christchurch

    Whale Watching in Kaikoura - Christchurch

    Today head out on the Pacific Ocean for a Whale Watch experience by catamaran, encountering the Giant Sperm Whale. Spend around three hours on the water, then board the Coastal Pacific Train through the Waipara wine district to Christchurch.

  11. Day 11overnight: Christchurch

    Christchurch

    Enjoy a relaxing day in 'the most English city outside of England' and make use of your all-day pass for the Christchurch heritage Tram service around town.

  12. Day 12railovernight: Franz Josef

    Christchurch to Franz Josef

    Depart Christchurch on the spectacular Tranz Alpine train to Greymouth, climbing the Southern Alps and passing through the 8km Otira Tunnel. From here ride a coach down the Tasman Sea coastline to Franz Josef, home to Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier.

  13. Day 13overnight: Queenstown

    Franz Josef/Queenstown

    Depart Franz Josef by coach, heading south to Queenstown through dense forest, the Southern Alps via the Haast Pass and the Kawarau Gorge. Queenstown is the adventure capital of New Zealand.

  14. Day 14overnight: Queenstown

    Queenstown

    Discover more about Queenstown on a guided tour this morning, with panoramic views from Queenstown Hill and some wine tasting at Gibbston Valley.

  15. Day 15overnight: Queenstown

    Milford Sound Day Trip

    Full-day coach tour around Lake Wakatipu and across the Southland countryside into Fiordland National Park to Milford Sound, including stops at Mirror Lakes and the Chasm, and a cruise of the fiord past Mitre Peak.

  16. Day 16overnight: Dunedin

    Queenstown/Dunedin

    Another scenic coach ride today, heading to Dunedin, the most southerly city in the world, founded by Scottish settlers as the 'Edinburgh of the South'.

  17. Day 17overnight: Dunedin

    Dunedin

    Today head out on a tour of the Otago Peninsula for close encounters with wildlife including penguins, albatross, seals, and pelagic birds, including a guided tour of a Yellow-Eyed Penguin Colony at Penguin Place.

  18. Day 18overnight: Christchurch

    Dunedin/Christchurch

    Depart Dunedin travelling north across the Otago Hills by scheduled coach. See the giant marble-like boulders at Moeraki, pass through Oamaru and Timaru and cross the fertile Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.

  19. Day 19

    End Of Tour

    Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before taking your car to the airport for your flight home, or to continue your travels elsewhere.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 5The Hobbiton Movie Set tour shows 44 hobbit holes, the Mill and double arch bridge, the party tree, and the Green Dragon Inn.
  • Day 6A traditional Maori evening with cultural performance and a hangi dinner follows a half-day tour of the Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Waimangu Volcanic Valley.
  • Day 10A three-hour Whale Watch catamaran trip off Kaikoura encounters the Giant Sperm Whale before the Coastal Pacific train continues through the Waipara wine district to Christchurch.
  • Day 12The TranzAlpine train climbs the Southern Alps and passes through the 8km Otira Tunnel on the way to Franz Josef Glacier.
  • Day 15A full-day trip into Fiordland National Park stops at Mirror Lakes and the Chasm before a cruise of Milford Sound past Mitre Peak.

Included

  • All rail and coach journeys as per the itinerary
  • All hotel and station transfers as per the itinerary
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Auckland
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Paihia
  • 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast in Rotorua
  • 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast in Wellington
  • 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast Kaikoura
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Christchurch
  • 1 night hotel accommodation with breakfast in Franz Josef
  • 3 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Queenstown
  • 2 nights hotel accommodation with breakfast in Dunedin
  • Seats aboard the Interislander ferry from Wellington to Picton
  • Sightseeing cruise of the Bay of Islands
  • Sightseeing tour of Hobbiton
  • Sightseeing tour of Rotorua and a traditional Maori evening excursion
  • Sightseeing tour of Waitomo Caves
  • Whale Watching cruise from Kaikoura
  • All-day Christchurch Heritage Tram Pass
  • Half-day city tour of Queenstown
  • Milford Sound day trip
  • Half-day wildlife tour of the Otago Peninsular from Dunedin
  • Private airport transfers

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. All rail and coach journeys are included as per the itinerary, covering three scenic trains: the Northern Explorer (Auckland to Wellington), the Coastal Pacific (Picton to Christchurch), and the TranzAlpine (Christchurch to Greymouth).
Is this trip guided or independent?
It is a mix. Railbookers arranges independent hotel and transport days alongside small-group guided excursions such as Hobbiton, Waitomo Caves, the Rotorua thermal tour, and the Milford Sound day trip.
Which trains does the trip use?
The Northern Explorer, the Coastal Pacific (seasonal, replaced by coach outside November to March), and the TranzAlpine.
Is there a ferry crossing?
Yes, seats aboard the Interislander ferry across Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton are included on day 9.
What is not included?
A scenic flight from Milford Sound back to Queenstown is listed as an optional extra at additional cost.

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