B5.3.4 New Zealand: Train Services
Description
This article is from the New Zealand FAQ, by Phil Stuart-Jones and Lin Nah with numerous contributions by others.
B5.3.4 New Zealand: Train Services
Good, if they go where you are going.
In the North Island, there are the main line from Auckland to Wellington
which runs west of the central volcanoes, a main line to the east coast at
Tauranga and a number of branch lines.
In the South Island, there is the main trunk line north-south down the east
coast between Picton and Invercargill, and the midland line east-west
between Christchurch and Greymouth via Arthurs Pass.
The middle and long-distance trains operated by Tranz Rail under the name
"Tranz Scenic" are listed below. All fares quoted are full adult fare in
NZ$ as at July 1997. Various discounts are available, even during the
peak travel season. Range of discounts are 20% - 50%; Supersaver(50%),
saver(30%), economy(20%) and full fare.
If you have a youth hostel membership card or a recognised backpackers
card, you will automatically be eligible for a 30% discount on all train
and bus fares - use that if supersaver fares are not available. Students
(with recognised student IDs) are eligible for a 20% discount.
Overlander; (Daylight) Auckland to Wellington, 685km/10 hours 40 mins, both
ways, Daily $55-135 (route includes cities, rural towns, lakes, volcanic
plateau, gorges, bush, rolling farmland).
Northerner; (Overnight) Auckland - Wellington, 685km/11 hours, both
ways, departs Sun-Fri $120. Half-price 'no-frills' fares are available
during holiday periods on both the Overlander and the Northerner. The
frills omitted are the more comfortable carriages and the complimentary
refreshments, including lunch.
Kaimai Express; Auckland - Tauranga, evening, 3 hours 25 mins daily $54
Tauranga - Auckland, morning, 3 hours 30 mins daily $54
Geyserland Express; Auckland - Rotorua - Auckland, approx 4 hours 10mins
each way, daily $63 (route includes rolling farmland, towns, city, bush,
volcanic plateau, thermal areas)
Bay Express; (Daylight) Wellington - Napier 334km/5 hours 20 mins, both
ways daily - $70 (route includes city, farmland, bush, river gorge, hill
ranges, wine making country)
Southerner Express; (Daylight) Christchurch - Invercargill, 594km/8hours
40 mins, both ways daily, $117 (Christchurch - Dunedin $74) (route is east
coast of South Island to the southern-most town, farmland, hill ranges,
coastal). This train has in the past run only Monday to Friday during
winter. There is only one train per day north and one south between
Invercargill and Christchurch.
Coastal Pacific; (connects with Interisland ferry) Christchurch - Picton,
350km/5 hours 20 mins, both ways, daily $72 (route is northern half of
east coast of the South island, hills, seaward mountain ranges, fishing
towns, whale watching area, Marlborough Sounds)
Tranz-Alpine Express; (Daylight) Christchurch - Greymouth, 5 hours 20
minutes each way, daily, $99 return or $76 one way (route is spectacular
crossing of Southern Alps from east to west coasts; Pacific Ocean to the
Tasman sea)
The Taieri Gorge Railway run excursion trains through the spectacular
Taieri Gorge to the west of Dunedin. It's possible to take the Taieri
Gorge Limited from Dunedin and connecting bus service to Queenstown or vice
versa. The timetable for the Taieri Gorge Limited varies through the year,
running only on some days of the week outside the peak season.
All Tranz Rail services (except suburban) and Taieri Gorge Railway
services, together with a reasonable sample of current fares and the
details of the various discounts on offer, can be found at:
http://www.waikato.ac.nz/rail/
Everything that's there is accurate as at July 1997. Be warned that
Tranz Rail's fares are not as systematic as those in some countries.
Also try:
http://www.waikato.ac.nz/rail/new.html
-----
Three suggestions regarding scenic train runs. The Railway Enthusiasts'
Society do excursions from time to time as well as operate the Glenbrook
Vintage Railway, SW of Auckland.
Write to: PO Box 13-684, Onehunga, Auckland
Phone: 64-9-636-9361
Fax: 64-9-636-9558
The Mainline Steam Trust,PO Box 2722, Wellington
Phone: 64-4-476-2733
Fax: 64-4-476-3164
Otago Excursion Train Trust, PO Box 140, Dunedin
Phone: 64-3-477-4449
Fax: 64-3-477-4953
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Charles Eggen offers:
"There is one night and one day train daily [Auckland - Wellington].
Forget the night train. You might consider getting off at Otorohanga and
spending time visiting the many wonders of the cave system around Waitomo.
Actually there is a nice native bird aviary in Otorohanga, the largest in
New Zealand. The Kiwi House, as it is called is open 9:30am-5pm daily,
unless there have been changes recently. There are frequent shuttle buses
from Otorohanga to Waitomo(30 min.trip) daily and lodging is usually easier
to locate and cheaper in Otorohanga, but there has been a growing number of
Bed & Breakfast and Farmstay facilities in the Waitomo area, so an improved
selection of accommodations seems to be occurring.
You should check out the Waitomo website at:
http://hindin.co.nz/waitomo/
"Another possible consideration for a stopover would be National Park.
There are accommodations in that small rail community as well as within the
Tongariro National Park at Whakapapa Village where the Grand Chateau Hotel
tops the list with economy rooms at about $110 and the prices go up from
there. Ruapehu volcano is the dominate feature htere, but not the only one
and if you enjoy walking/tramping, there are many possibilities."
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