Compared to many parts of the world, rail travel in New Zealand is very limited. The lack of route options is more than made up for however, as New Zealand has some of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.
There are three main passenger rail lines in New Zealand. All are run by TranzScenic.
1. The Overlander runs between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island. It travels through the central North Island volcanic plateau, and provides some stunning mountain scenery. It also traverses the Raurimu Spiral, which is a feat of railway engineering. The main stops include Hamilton, National.Park and Ohakune, and Palmerston North, as well as many small towns along the way. A good place to break the journey is Ohakune, which offers skiing in the winter, and great hiking in the summer. The service runs once daily in summer, and three days a week in winter (in both directions).
2. The TranzCoastal runs from Picton to Christchurch. The Interisland Ferry connects Wellington to Picton, so it is possible to catch the train all the way from Auckland to Christchurch. This route has superb coastal scenery, and runs through Kaikoura, which is famous for whale watching. The service runs daily, all year long (in both directions).
3. The TranzAlpine is a famous mountain rail route traversing the Southern Alps. Trains depart from Christchurch, then travel across the Canterbury Plains, climb up to Arthur’s Pass, and then descend through lush rainforest to the West Coast town of Greymouth. Spectacular anytime, this route is particularly beautiful under winter snow. The service runs daily, all year long (in both directions).
Wellington and Auckland are the only cities with commuter railways. In Wellington you can travel as far as Masterton and Palmerston North using separate commuter services. Auckland has been a little slower to organise their commuter trains, but services are rapidly improving, and the lines runs to the west, east, and south of the city.
There are also a few special tourist rail services. These include:
• Taieri Gorge Railway (from Dunedin)
• Weka Pass Railway (from Waipara, near Christchurch)
• Whangaparaoa Narrow Gauge Railway
• Whangarei Steam & Model Railway Club
• Shantytown, Greymouth
• Pahiatua Railcar Society
• Bay Of Island Vintage Railway
• Gisborne City Vintage Railway
• Goldfields Railway - Waihi
