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The Ultimate NZ Train
The Ultimate New Zealand Train Journey
Auckland - Invercargill
Prices From
$7,695NZD
per person twin share
Travel Dates
Depart: Thu 30 Apr 2026
Return: Tue 12 May 2026
Duration: 12 days
Enquire Now
Experience the Ultimate New Zealand Rail journey featuring five spectacular train rides – three of which are private charter. Travel aboard the Northern Explorer from Auckland to Wellington; a private charter aboard the Coastal Pacific train from Blenheim along the Kaikoura coastline to Christchurch; the Tranz Alpine across the Southern Alps to Greymouth; and private charter train to Oamaru and Dunedin before disembarking in Invercargill. We take the time to explore each city along the way whilst also enjoying stunning panoramic autumnal views of the magnificent southern mountain scenery, meandering rivers and coastal plains.
Planned at a leisurely pace, with frequent two-night stops, our tour ensures a relaxed and memorable rail adventure without the rush.
Your travel itinerary
Thursday 30 April
Wellington – Picton - Blenheim
Breakfast
Dinner
After breakfast, enjoy a Wellington city tour including the Botanical Gardens and Mt Victoria before crossing Cook Strait by ferry to Picton. On arrival, travel by coach and check into our centrally-located hotel in Blenheim.
Friday 01 May
Auckland – Wellington
Lunch
Dinner
Board the popular ‘Northern Explorer’ train at The Strand in Parnell, Auckland. Among today’s highlights are the circular climb up the famous engineering feat – the Raurimu Spiral to the Central Plateau and Tongariro National Park with spectacular views of Mt Ruapehu. Continue on to Ohakune, Waiouru and alongside the Rangitikei River to Wellington for a one-night stay.
Enjoy a welcome dinner at our centrally- located hotel.
Saturday 02 May
Blenheim – Christchurch
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast, we visit the Omaka Aviation Museum before a local vineyard lunch. We join our privately chartered Coastal Pacific Train for a leisurely journey to Christchurch. This special section of picturesque coastline railway will pass through Kaikoura and continue inland through the hill country of North Canterbury to Christchurch, arriving at our inner-city hotel in the evening for a three-night stay.
Sunday 03 May
Christchurch
Breakfast
Dinner
Depart by coach for a tour of the Banks Peninsula. The drive has spectacular views overlooking bays and beaches before arriving in Akaroa with time to enjoy the history, harbour and French character. We return to Christchurch and the afternoon is free for you to enjoy the city.
Monday 04 May
Christchurch – Greymouth – Christchurch
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Today board the Tranz Alpine train to traverse the spectacular Southern Alps to the West Coast. Cross the Canterbury Plains through Darfield and climb the mountain range including a stop at Arthurs Pass. Our descent takes us through Otira and the renowned rain forests and wetlands to Greymouth. After some time to explore this West Coast town we rejoin our coaches and travel back to Christchurch via the Great Alpine Highway to enjoy the vista’s from a different perspective.
Tuesday 05 May
Christchurch – Oamaru
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
This morning we join our exclusive chartered train and travel south through rolling farmland and coastal inlets via Timaru to arrive in Oamaru for a two-night stay. This evening join an optional tour to visit the Blue Penguin Colony of Oamaru.
Wednesday 06 May
Oamaru
Breakfast
Dinner
After breakfast join our local guide for a fascinating walking tour of Oamaru with its Victorian Precinct built of Oamaru stone. Steampunk has grown rapidly over the past 10 years to make Oamaru the ‘Steampunk Capital of the World’. Free time to enjoy lunch then travel on to Duntroon to visit the Vanished World Centre and learn about the unique fossil history of this area.
Thursday 07 May
Oamaru - Invercargill
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast, board our train and travel through Dunedin, Gore and Balclutha before arriving in Invercargill to enjoy one of the southernmost cities in the world.
Friday 08 May
Invercargill
Breakfast
This morning we will have an excursion to Bluff before a free afternoon to explore the city. Why not discover the world class vintage truck collection at Bill Richardson Transport World, or learn about the legend of speed - Burt Munro at E Hayes Motorworks. Or simply take a stroll through the botanical gardens.
Saturday 09 May
Invercargill – Catlins - Dunedin
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast, board our train and travel through to Balclutha. Here we depart our train and travel by coach to the spectacular Nugget Point and the Catlins. Highlights include podocarp forests, rugged coastlines, hidden lakes and stunning waterfalls. Arrive in Dunedin late afternoon.
Sunday 10 May
Dunedin
Breakfast
This morning enjoy a sightseeing tour of the ‘Edinburgh of the South’ including Signal Hill-the world’s steepest street, the botanical gardens, the University, Forsyth Barr Stadium and the Otago Settlers Museum. The afternoon is free. An optional tour to the Dunedin Royal Albatross Centre is available this afternoon.
Monday 11 May
Dunedin – Christchurch
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
After breakfast we head north along the coastal rail route through Palmerston, Timaru and the plains via Ashburton to return to Christchurch and say farewell to our charter train. Enjoy a farewell dinner tonight to end our wonderful rail experience.
Tuesday 12 May
Christchurch – Auckland
Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for return flights to Auckland or other destinations (please ask).
Inclusions
- 12 nights hotel accommodation
- Travel by Exclusive Charter Train Christchurch to Invercargill
- Northern Explorer Train included
- Coastal Pacific Train included – private charter
- Tranz Alpine Train
- Cooked breakfasts daily
- Eight lunches and 11 dinners
- All sightseeing and entrance fees as specified
- Commentaries provided by your drivers and guides
- Comfortable air-conditioned coaches with panoramic windows
- One way airfare home from Christchurch to Auckland (other destinations please ask)
- All gratuities are included
- Oamaru guided walking tour
- Dunedin city sights tour
- Akaroa experience day tour
- Morning tour to Bluff
- Catlins experience tour
- Vanished World tour in Duntroon
- Pukekohe Travel escorts with you all the way
Cost
| Cost Per Person * Auckland - Auckland | Twin Share | Single |
|---|---|---|
|
$7,695 |
$8,850 |
*This is a cash price. Credit cards will incur a 1.5% fee
*Itinerary and costs subject to change, airline and fuel charges and currency fluctuations prior to final payment
Exclusions
- Domestic travel insurance – please ask us for a quote
- Items of a personal nature
Booking Conditions
- A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person will secure a place on the tour
- FULL PAYMENT is due no later than 28 March 2026
- Bookings made after 28 March 2026 must be paid in full at time of booking
Cancellations
- Deposit – non refundable
- After 28 March 2026 – the tour is non refundable
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend all clients purchase travel insurance to protect against cancellations, lost items, and delays that could lead to unexpected costs. Please ask us for a quote.
General Information
Advantages of joining The Ultimate New Zealand Train Journey
Hassle Free - Our experienced tour escort allows you to sit back and relax. Most luggage handling is included and no tipping is expected. Our family friendly manner makes this a tour to remember.
Our Accommodation - Accommodation has been carefully selected on location with a high standard of comfort and friendly, helpful service. Rooms have single, twin or double beds, ensuite bathroom, television and generally have tea and coffee making facilities.
Travelling alone - We will do our utmost to match suitable participants in share accommodation to avoid the single room supplement. For those who prefer, we have rooms for sole use.
Health and Mobility
- To ensure the tour is enjoyable for the whole group, a good standard of fitness is required with the ability to walk 500 metres unaided
- Mobility frames are not practical or permitted
- It is expected you will arrive on tour fit, healthy and ready to travel
Optional Tours
The optional tours have always proved popular
Tuesday 05 Blue Penguin Colony visit (Oamaru) $47 per person - The birds return from their day’s fishing, make their way across the beach, up a stony ramp and cross to the colony. The colony began when a small number of blue penguins began nesting in a rock quarry area at the edge of Oamaru Harbour in the early 1990s. Today it is Oamaru’s largest tourist attraction.
Sunday 10 Dunedin Royal Albatross Centre $65 per person - Albatross are the world’s largest seabirds. They normally breed on remote islands and spend at least 85% of their lives at sea, well away from land and human view. Dunedin’s Taiaroa Head is the only mainland Royal Albatross breeding colony in the world and is a great day out from Dunedin (group numbers are limited).
These optional tours attract a separate charge and can be included at time of final payment (see booking form).
Terms and Conditions
For full terms and conditions please visit our website Terms and Conditions or please ask our tour consultant for a copy.
Note:
Pukekohe Travel reserves the right to correct errors and omissions on our website without recourse.
* Itinerary subject to change
Prices From
$7,695NZD
per person twin share
Travel Dates
- Depart: Thu 30 Apr 2026
- Return: Tue 12 May 2026
- Duration: 12 days
