Mini Rail Tour. 7 days/6 nights

NEW ZEALAND MINI RAIL TOUR.    7 Days/6 nights from just $2,390 share twin, $2,990 single. 

"Northern Explorer" from Auckland and Hamilton to WELLINGTON (2 nights), "Interislander", "Coastal Pacific" (Intercity coach replaces Coastal Pacific 28 April - 30 August), CHRISTCHURCH (3 nights), "Tranz Alpine" return day excursion  to Greymouth.

Scenic Plus - the de luxe way to travel. Includes priority check in, exclusive carriage and host/hostess service, complimentary drinks including wines, 3 course lunch or dinner and snacks. exclusive kitchen and open air viewing carriage (avoid the crowds). Extra cost per person per journey: "Northern Explorer".. $290, "Coastal Pacific".. $250, "Tranz Alpine" .. $250. Day return $400

Independent departures  (Minimum 2 passengers) from Auckland every monday and thursday year round except  21 April, 02 June, 23 June, 27 October,  23 December, 2025 to 13 January 2026.. Ongoing maintenance dates for 2026 not yet available.

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GROUP DEPARTURE HOSTED. 7 days/6 nights. 05 - 12 May, 2025

MINI  RAIL TOUR INCLUDING KAIKOURA.  7 days/6 nights.  includes:"Northern Explorer" SCENIC PLUS including meal and refreshments, 2 nights Wellington with tour, "Interislander" LOUNGE CLASS with meal, "Edwin Fox" ship reconstruction". Road trip Picton - Kaikoura - Christchurch, Kaikoura (1 night - Optional Whale Watch cruise ($175), Dolphin cruise $120 or flight $250), Christchurch (3 nights), (Optional Tramcar dinner $149 - with wine $189) "Tranz Alpine" day return excursion to Greymouth (Scenic Plus option return- $400)

Just $2,990 2 per room. $3,840 single room.

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INDEPENDENT DEPARTURES: (minimum 2 passengers)  Southbound: Depart Auckland, Papakura, Hamilton and Otorohanga, Monday and Thursday, most weeks subject to space available. Singles may join any departure on which we have other people reserved. Locally hosted in each city. Itinerary can be amended subject to schedules and availability. 

This tour is flexible. We can arrange stopovers in Taumarunui, Ohakune, Picton, Kaikoura, or on the West Coast and the tour connects with our SOUTH ISLAND ICONS tour. Read here. Price does increase if breaking the rail journey en route.

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7 day itinerary.

Day 1. Monday/Thursday.  AUCKLAND - WELLINGTON     

7.45am Depart Auckland Strand Railway Station aboard the "Northern Explorer". Depart Papakura 8.40am, Hamilton 10.15am, and Otorohanga 10.54am.  (Transfers to train not included)

Sit back and relax and enjoy the scenes of suburban Auckland and rural Waikato dairy farmland and travel south through the central North Island including the famed Raurimu Spiral, a major engineering feat, and through the Tongariro National Park with magnificent views of the central North Island volcanoes in fine weather. Arrive Wellington 6.25pm. Transfer to your hotel. The cafe car on the train has a variety of meals and snacks. Upgrade to Scenic Plus including meal, refreshments, and exclusive service - extra cost $290 

Day 2.  Tuesday/Friday.  WELLINGTON (B)

Explore the capital city on our included tour. Visit Oriental Bay. and enjoy part of the beautiful Marine Drive.  Tour Weta Workshop, visit Mt Victoria for a panoramic view over the city, Courtenay Place, and the Botanical Gardens (optional cable car ride - extra expense). A guided tour of Parliament Buildings can be arranged if you wish - no charge but must be prebooked. (Tour ends on arrival at Parliament Building. If you do not wish to tour Parliament our driver will drop  you off at your hotel, Zealandia, or Te Papa.). 

Day 3. Wednesday/Saturday.  WELLINGTON (B)

Free day to explore the capital city. Ride the local trains, take a day tour to Martinborough and the Wairarapa wine country or to the eco sanctuary of Kapiti Island, spend time at Te Papa and/or Zealandia, or try out the electric ferry to Days Bay. All activities extra expense.  

Day 4. Thursday/Sunday.  WELLINGTON - PICTON - CHRISTCHURCH      (B)

Transfer to the Interislander terminal. (Check your bags to Christchurch). Depart at 8.45am  for the 3 hour 30 minute scenic cruise across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton arriving 12.15pm

Join  the "Coastal Pacific" train  departing 1.40pm for the scenic ride down the Kaikoura Coast to Christchurch arriving 7.30pm. Transfer to your accommodation in the central city. Please note: Intercity coach replaces "Coastal Pacific" 28 April - 30 August, 2025

Day 5.  Friday/Monday.   CHRISTCHURCH. (B)

We have left today free for your own activities. Optional tours are available to the  Port Hills, Hanmer Springs, Akaroa, etc. We recommend a visit to the Orana Wildlife Park, Ferrymead historic area, and Antarctic Centre and ride the tram. All activities are extra expense.

Please note: Passengers departing Auckland thursdays May 05 - 07 July will do the Tranz Alpine today and have a free day in Christchurch tuesday.

Day 6.  Saturday/Tuesday.          CHRISTCHURCH - GREYMOUTH RETURN   (B)

Transfer to the rail station.

8.15am Depart Christchurch railway station aboard the  "Tranz Alpine" express for one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world crossing the Canterbury Plains and climbing through the foothills of the Southern Alps criss crossing the Waimakariri River on the way to Arthurs Pass for a brief break. Travel through the Otira tunnel and descend into the rainforest of the West Coast. Pass Lake Brunner and the Grey River and arrive Greymouth 1.05pm.   Upgrade to Scenic Plus including meal, snacks, and exclusive service - extra cost $400.

Time to explore Greymouth. Rejoin  the "Tranz Alpine" train departing 2.05pm to recross the Southern Alps to Christchurch where arrival is scheduled for 7.00pm. Transfer back to your accommodation.

Day 7. Sunday/Wednesday    CHRISTCHURCH DEPART     (B)

You will be transferred to the airport  or why not stay longer and explore more of Canterbury and further south, or join ur SOUTHERN ICONS tour. tread More:

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NORTHBOUND - 7 days/6 nights.

This tour can commence Christchurch most Saturdays and Thursdays for 3 nights hotel and enjoying "Tranz Alpine" day tour one day, "Coastal Pacific" (Please note: Intercity coach replaces "Coastal Pacific" 28 April - 30 August, 2025) and "Interislander"  to Wellington for 3 nights and tour, "Northern Explorer to Auckland for 1 night in central city. Same costs apply. Nights in Auckland and Christchurch are interchangeable 

This tour is flexible. Stopovers can be arranged in Picton, Kaikoura, West Coast subject to availability and operation of trains.

 

Tour cost person 2025  - Independent departures - 7 day/6 nights:

01 March - 25 April.  2 per room  $2,590.......  Single room... $3,290

26 April - 26 August. 2 per room $2,390.......  Single room...  $2,990

27 August - 25 September. 2 per room $2,590..... Single Room... $3,390

29 September - 19 December. 2 per room $2,790... Single room... $3,690

19 January - 31 March, 2026. 2 per room $2,990... Single room $3,890

 

Tour cost Includes ;

**   All travel from Auckland to West Coast and  Christchurch  including  "Northern Explorer",   "Interislander", "Coastal Pacific" (Intercity coach replaces "Coastal Pacific" 28 April - 30 August),  and "Tranz Alpine" 

** 3 nights hotel and breakfast in Wellington

** Half Day tour of Wellington including Weta Workshop, City and Mt Victoria. Options to  Zealandia, and/or tour of Parliament

**  Interislander cruise. (Lounge class available for additional $80 subject to availabilty).

** "Coastal Pacific" from Picton to Christchurch, (Intercity 28 April - 30 August)

** 3 nights hotel and breakfast in Christchurch with free day.

** "Tranz Alpine" Christchurch to Greymouth day  return.  

** 1 night hotel and breakfast in Christchurch

You are welcome to stay over on the West Coast if you wish - extra expense for train fares and local arrangements.

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WEST COAST STOPOVER 3 DAYS / 2  NIGHTS. Available any day for minimum of 2 subject to space available.

Day 1.      GREYMOUTH - HOKITIKA

Arrive Greymouth 1.05pm.  You will be met by your local guide  and drive to Hokitika and catch up on Hokitika in its prime during the gold rush era. Two nights accommodation and breakfast at the Beachfront Hotel, Hokitika.

Day 2.    HOKITIKA                  (B)  

This morning we go back to nature at the Hokitika Gorge for a short walk among the breathtaking scenery.  . Drive south to the West Coast Treetop Walkway for an exhilirating treetop adventure  high in the ancient Rimu and Kamahi trees with great views (weather permitting) of Lake Mahinapua, the Southern Alps, and Tasman Sea. A leisurely Eco boat cruise is available October - May on the Lake Mahinapua waterways originally used by pioneers, gold diggers, and early explorers. Extra cost $150 and minimum numbers needed. 

Day 3.          HOKITIKA - PUNAKAIKI  - CHRISTCHURCH   (B)

Drive to the amazing Punakaiki Rocks and explore the area before returning to Greymouth and visit Shantytown. Ride the train, pan for gold, and recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era.  Depart Greymouth 2.05pm for Christchurch. (or continue down the West Coast to Franz Josef Glacier and Queenstown). 

Stopover cost per person (Additional to Mini Rail Tour cost): 2 per room $1,360. Single room $1,690

Includes: touring on the West Coast by minibus, 2 nights accommodation and breakfast in Hokitika, admissions to Shantytown and Treetops walk. "Tranz Alpine" fares are not included.

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WEST COAST CONNECTION - 3 days /2 nights). Greymouth - Franz Josef Glacier (2 nights), - Queenstown.

Departs Greymouth daily to 25  April. From 01 May coach departs Greymouth every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and departs Franz Josef for Queenstown every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.

Day 1.    GREYMOUTH - FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER.    (B)

Depart Greymouth directly from the "Tranz Alpine" (Or connect from our West Coast stopover) by Intercity  coach at 1.30pm for Franz Josef Glacier arriving 5pm 2  minutes walk from your hotel.. Accommodation and breakfast for 2 nights at Scenic Franz Josef Hotel.

Day 2.  FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER (B)

Free day at Franz Josef for optional activities. Take a helicopter flight to land on the glacier, forest walk, shuttle to and from the track to the glacier lookout, tour to Lake Matheson available some days, support the local cafes, and in the evening relax in the the hot pools set in the forest. All activities are extra expense. 

Day 3. FRANZ JOSEF - WANAKA - QUEENSTOWN   (B)

Depart Franz Josef at 8am travelling the scenic West Coast route south to Wanaka and on to Queenstown arriving at 4.30pm. The  coach stops in the centre of town.  

Tour cost per person   

01 March - 30 September, 2025 . 2 per room $790. Single room $1,190

01 October - 23 December, 2025. 2 per room $890. Single room $1.350

Tour cost includes: all travel from Greymouth to Queenstown or vv by Intercity coach, 2 nights accommodation and breakfast at Scenic Franz Josef Hotel

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THE COOK CONNECTION - Christchurch - Tekapo - Mt Cook - Queenstown or vv 2 days/1 night

Departs Christchurch and Queenstown DAILY

Day 1.   Depart Christchurch 7.30am from the Travel Centre in Litchfield St  by Great Sights tour coach for Lake Tekapo with time to see the sheep dog monument and church of the Good Shepherd before continuing along the shores of Lake Pukaki to the Hermitage in the heart of the Mt Cook National Park arriving 12.50pm. Free afternoon for helicopter or ski plane flights, glacier lake cruise, or alpine walks. Accommodation at the Hermitage hotel with breakfast. (Note: You may stayover in Tekapo instead of Mt Cook if you wish - same price applies. Enjoy the Tekapo Dark Skies project or Mt Cook stargazing if you wish - extra expense and early booking essential)

Day 2.  Free morning and depart Mt Cook at 2.25pm travelling over the Lindis Pass and through the Kawarau Gorge to Queenstown arriving 6.20pm. The coach  departs from the Hermitage Hotel and arrives in the centre of Queenstown.

Tour cost per person - 2 days 1 night tour

Hermitage Mt Cook View Rooms:    2 per room     $990         Single room  $1,280

Hermitage. Premium rooms:      $1,390.   Single room    $1,650

Tour cost includes all travel from Christchurch to Queenstown or vv, 1 night accommodation at Hermitage Hotel with breakfast, 

Passengers may stay at Tekapo and Bluewater Resort instead of Mt Cook if you want the Dark Sky Experience. Same price as Mt Cook View rooms.

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THE GRAND RAIL AND SAIL TOUR COMBO .. 13 days/12 nights. October to May.

Depart Auckland and Hamilton most mondays on our MINI RAIL TOUR  

** Mini rail tour from Auckland and Hamilton to Christchurch. 7 days. Monday - Sunday

** Great Sights tour coach  from Christchurch to Tekapo, Mt Cook sunday and Queenstown Monday

**  Fabulous Fiordland Tour 7 days/ 6 nights featuring 2 nights Queenstown, Milford Sound cruise, 2 nights Te Anau, 1 night cruise on beautiful Doubtful Sound, 1 night Queenstown.  Read More:

Total cost per person. 13 days

2 per room  $4,500. Single room $6,300

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SOUTHERN ICONS TOUR 6 days/5 nights- extendable.  Includes Christchurch (1 night), Mt Cook (1 night), Queenstown (3 nights), Milford Sound tour and cruise. Commence Christchurch (Southbound) and Queenstown (Northbound) DAILY. Read More: 

More info ( 17 MB)