Wonderful Wellington

WONDERFUL WELLINGTON. 4 days/3 nights (extendable). 

Departs Auckland most mondays,  thursdays, saturdays  year round locally hosted in Wellington.

Day 1. Monday/Thursday/Saturday.  AUCKLAND - WELLINGTON    

7.45am Depart Auckland Strand Railway Station aboard the "Northern Explorer". Depart Papakura 8.35am, Hamilton 10.15am, and Otorohanga 10.50am.  

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  in the central city.

Day 2.  Tuesday/Friday/Sunday.  WELLINGTON (B)

Explore the capital city on our included tour. Visit Oriental Bay  and enjoy part of the beautiful Marine Drive.  Enjoy a guided tour of  Weta Workshop and visit Seatoun and  ther South Coast, Mt Victoria for a panoramic view over the city, the Botanical Gardens (optional cable car ride - extra expense), Zealandia Wildlife Eco Sanctuary, and a guided tour of Parliament Buildings. (Tour ends at Parliament Building. If you do not wish to enjoy the tour of Parliament our vehicle can drop you off at your hotel  or Te Papa). 

Day 3. Wednesday/Saturday/Monday.     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. (Please note some tours will not be operating Christmas Day) 

Day 4. Thursday/Sunday/Tuesday.       WELLINGTON DEPART.     (B)

You will be transferred to the airport or Interislander for departure.

"The Northern Explorer returns to Auckland on friday's, sundays, and wednesdays departing Wellington 7.55am and arriving Hamilton 4.25pm, Papakura 6.05, and Auckland Strand Railway Station 7pm.  

The "Interislander" departs Wellington 8.45am arriving Picton at 12.30pm. The "Coastal" Pacific departs Picton at  1.40pm and is scheduled to arrive Christchurch at 7.30pm. 

CRUISE COOK STRAIT - for up to date timetable and fares book on their web sites www.interislander.co.nz OR www.bluebridge.co.nz

We recommend you explore more. Stay in Wellington as long as you wish and return by train, Intercity coach, or air.  Enjoy a 3.5 hour cruise across Cook Strait and through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton. Enjoy a short walk to the town and cruise back or we recommend an afternoon  in the charming resort of Picton and  a visit to the "Edwin Fox" ship restoration project. Stayover in Picton or Blenheim and/or take the bus to Nelson and explore more of the Top of the South Island.

Interislander offer "Lounge Class' including guaranteed seating in special lounge (minimum age 18) with buffet meal and drinks - extra cost $80 above your normal fare. 

Timetable current as at 20 June, 2023 Timetable changes from day to day. Check www.interislander.co.nz and www.Bluebridge.co.nz websites for up to date schedule. 

Interislander departs Wellington at 2am, 6.15am, 8.45am, 1pm, 3.45pm, and 8.30pm.

Bluebridge departs Wellington at 2am, 8.15am, 1.30pm, and 8.30pm.

Interislander departs Picton at 7.30am, 11am, 2.15pm, 6.30pm, 8.35pm

Bluebridge departs Picton at 2.30am, 7.45am, 2pm, and 7.15pm  

With the Interisland ferries so much in the news I was able to take a quick trip from Wellington to Picton 4pm sailing of the Interislander "Aratere" returning the following day on the 2pm sailing Bluebridge "Connemara" to check out the ships, lounges, and port facilities. travelling Premium Lounge on "Aratere" and Lounge class on "Connemara". Check in and boarding "Interislander" in Wellington is easy with a free shuttle bus from platform 10 at Wellington Railway Station to the terminal 70 minutes prior to departure. Most of the passengers self boarded  with their cars and only 10 of us used the shuttle and were able to check in immediately albeit with a short wait in the terminal before boarding. The Premium Lounge is easy to find with comfortable arm chairs to relax in the 'adults only' environment and of course you still have the run of the ship during the cruise to get the best vantage points. Free snacks are available and the buffet dinner available after sailing was tasty and plentiful. The desserts satisfied my sweet tooth! The ride was smooth, the service friendly and efficient and the Marlborough Sounds as scenic as ever. I stayed at the Picton Beachcomber Inn (www.pictonhotel.com) for the night just 5 minutes walk from the terminal and with views from my room overlooking the harbour. The hotel has an excellemt dinner for breakfast but does not serve breakfast. The other alternative forr hotel style accommodation is the Picton Yacht Club Hotel. There was a shuttle available for those with bags (Waikawa Shuttles) but at $25 per person. "The "Edwin Fox" ship restoration project is a 'must do' in Picton. It is a unique part of New Zealand's history. Bluebridge provide a shuttle from 2 stops in Picton town to their sailings to the terminal to check in, or it is about a 15 minutes walk.  Bluebridge boarding is a bit strange as they use another shuttle to take you from the terminal to the ship and they pause the car loading to allow passengers to use the main vehicle ramp. Again the Lounge was easy to find with comfortable armchairs and a quality meal including desserts, and snacks. An advantage in Wellington is that Bluebridge berth beside the Railway Station which leads through to the bus depot for easy connection to airport buses which, unlike Auckland, are part of Metlink and take Gold Cards except before 9am and 3pm - 7pm. Interislander including the Premium Lounge cost $168, Bluebridge including lounge $149 ($89 fare plus Lounge)  but prices vary by sailing. Check out the web sites www.interislander.co.nz or www. bluebridge.co.nz. Both ships offered a very similar standard of service and meals. 

For  a short break away why not enjoy the "Northern Explorer" train from Auckland or Hamilton to Wellington (Scenic Plus service and meal available) on my "WONDERFUL WELLINGTON" 3 night package with a 2 or 3 night 'add on' to Picton. This departs most Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays year round for a minimum of 2. Join a Mail cruise, wine tour, or visit Blenheim and the Omaka Aviation and Classic Cars Heritage centre and Marlborough Museum.The package is flexible and you can continue to Christchurch on the "Coastal Pacific" train (except 28 April - 01 September, or take the Intercity bus or a rental car to Kaikoura or Nelson. If one ferrry ride is enough there are direct flights with Air New Zealand from Blenheim to Auckland. The package is flexible. See More: