Trip Details:
New Zealand North & South Island Rail Tour – 7 days
Combine three of New Zealand’s greatest rail journeys and explore the spectacular North and South Island!
Fly to Auckland to begin your New Zealand discovery. Your time will be free time to enjoy the urban delights of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch on this self-guided trip. Journey through Tongariro National Park aboard the Northern Explorer train, skirt the Pacific Coast between Picton and Christchurch aboard the Coastal Pacific and feel like you’ve arrived in Middle Earth on the TranzAlpine train through the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps.
A scenic crossing from the North Island to the South Island aboard the Interislander Ferry is sure to be another highlight of this memorable New Zealand holiday!
Why you’ll love this trip:
- It’s a comprehensive, worry-free trip travelling around New Zealand by train and ferry!
- Spends overnight stays in Auckland, Wellington & Christchurch
- Discover historic monuments, iconic sights & cultural experiences in the cities
- Breathtaking train rides through volcanic mountains, rich forests & alongside icy blue rivers!
Your Holiday Includes:
- Flights to New Zealand – Return economy class airfare to Auckland & from Christchurch
- Fly from Melbourne, Brisbane & Sydney with luggage included (contact us for other cities)
- Rail journeys – 3 legendary train rides
- Northern Explorer from Auckland to Wellington through central North Island
- Coastal Pacific from Picton to Christchurch between the mountains and sea
- TranzAlpine train through the South Island’s striking natural landscapes
- Ferry – Interislander scenic ferry to marvel at the beautiful Marlborough Sounds
- Accommodation – 6 nights in standard rooms, based on twin share
- 2 nights Auckland – VR Auckland Hotel or Grand Central Serviced Apartments
- 1 night Wellington – Mercure Hotel or Quest on Lambton
- 3 nights Christchurch – ibis Christchurch or BreakFree on Cashel
Departure Dates:
Available from February to 30 November (excluding school holidays and peak travel periods).
The lowest price deals depart during the following dates:
2024 – 16 September to 30 November
2025 – 01 February to 15 March
Extra $299 per person for flights from Adelaide, Hobart or Canberra. Extra $599 per person from Perth.
Please contact us for departures at other times of the year or flights from different cities.
Note: Prices are per person, based on twin share. Departures are subject to confirmation at time of booking and price may vary depending on your travel date. Lead prices are subject to sale airfares being available at your time of booking. Conditions apply.
Get the Brochure:
Click on the button to view or download a copy of the brochure. The brochure includes more details and the full itinerary.
Upgrade with the Scenic Plus Experience
Scenic Plus dining is now available aboard the Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine trains.
Elevate your experience with and a full-sensory exploration of the lands you travel through aboard these two spectacular rail journeys.
Using the finest ingredients, carefully selected from the Canterbury and West Coast regions, you’ll get to enjoy a curated menu of seasonal delicacies that are freshly prepared in the custom-built kitchen carriage and served at your seat throughout the journey.
Enjoy the upgrade from just $470 per person extra for both trains, when you depart from 23 January 2024 onwards.
Hurry, space is limited so let your travel designer know today if you’d like to upgrade to Scenic Plus!
Want to Stay Longer
You can add extra nights in New Zealand or upgrade your accommodation.
Extend your holiday: from an extra $100 per person per night.
Upgrade the hotels: from an extra $370 per person for 6 nights.
Fly Business class: contact us for the latest deals.
Want to explore Queenstown? Add on a flight to Queenstown with a 2-night hotel stay and Milford Sound Day Cruise from an extra $600 per person.
Let us know if you’d like to see more of New Zealand by adding car hire or extend your stay with an escorted tour.
Ask us today about staying in other properties or adding more services. We are happy to design a holiday that will suit you best.
Travelling Solo?
We can look after you. A single supplement from $900 covers the cost of having your own rooms.
Booking Conditions:
This special deal is valid for a limited time. Flash sale ends on 11 April 2024. Please contact us for current rates.
All prices are per person, based on twin share, and listed in Australian dollars (AUD). Prices were correct as of 6 April 2024.
The package is subject to confirmation at the time of booking and prices may change without notice. Booking conditions and cancellation fees apply.
Please read Australia & New Zealand Travel Company’s Terms & Booking Conditions prior to making a reservation. By booking any travel service with us, you have agreed to be bound by these terms and conditions.
How to Book
To make a booking please call Australia & New Zealand Travel Company on 1300 168 910 or email reservations@anztravelco.com.
You can also select a trip and request it via this website – please make sure you enter the quantity for the number of people travelling. In the ‘Additional Information’ field on the Checkout page, add your preferred departure date plus any other information that will help us process your booking, such as departure city and travel preferences.
No payment is required to submit an online booking request, but your booking is pending and no place is being held. Your booking status will be advised when you hear from our travel consultants. Bookings are normally actioned within 24 hours – Monday to Friday.
traveller –
The whole trip was great, the Kiwi Rail train trips and the Interislander journeys are a great way to travel and so many memorable highlights.
Some feedback…
The 3 hotels…. all very clean and good quality, the hotel apartments in Wellington and Christchurch were top notch and great locations.The Ibis in Auckland was pretty small but a very good location.
Kiwi Rail trains, very comfortable, easy checkin, great views and commentary, the Auckland to Wellington Northern Explorer was a surprise with regard to the variety of different thing to see, staff on all these trains are really customer focused.
TranzAlpine was great going all the way to Greymouth and back, had done half before off a cruise ship to Arthur’s Pass but it’s a great train trip and measures up well against the White Pass train trip from Skagway. Needed more time in Greymouth but very interesting.
Highlights for us were the train trips, the Wellington Museum is fantastic, particularly the Gallipoli exhibit which is stunning. Loved the Air New Zealand flight from Christchurch to Queenstown, spectacular views from the turbo prop plane.
Qantas were great both ways and their interchange bus service at Sydney is hassle free.
The trip back Friday via Sydney from Queenstown took 12hr from hotel to my house due to all the check-in times required and delays leaving Sydney, next time will leave NZ direct to Melb.
Overall great value for money and worth doing, people doing the trips should be aware the train stations and ferry are a bit outside the capital cities, they leave early and are 10 to 15 minutes in a taxi.
Many thanks again Laura.
Cheers, Mike & Jill.
traveller –
Hi Leanne
Thanks for organising the New Zealand trip last week for my sister and me. All went well. We enjoyed the TranzAlpine trip the best of the 3 trains. But all were fascinating and we saw and learnt much more about New Zealand than any road trip.
Hotels in Auckland and Christchurch were excellent.
The Mercure was nicely located but very noisy in room 203. We could hear the street walk crossing on the corner all hours of the night as well as people talking and traffic. Neither bed was good. Need renewing as they sloped. Service was efficient and prompt when we asked for clean towels, how to turn the TV on and when the fridge was not cold (new fridge). Just thought I’d let you know about the Mercure. Old room, needs refurbishing.
I was able to upgrade our seats Brisbane to Auckland and it was sooo good. Thanks for booking the flexible fare. Not worth applying for the way home as it was a 737-800.
Thanks once again.
Two happy clients.
Take care,
Pamela