New Zealand Train Travel – Wellington to Auckland
Towards the end of my time in Wellington, I started looking ahead to Auckland. I had already booked a flight for about $60 but a woman in my hostel dorm started telling me about the scenic train she was taking to Auckland the same day I had my flight. As much as I like to get to my destination as quickly as possible, I was getting burnt out on airports, constantly changing baggage rules, and cramped airplanes. And 12 hours watching the New Zealand countryside go by sounded relaxing. So I booked a ticket on the train and blew off the flight.
As I settled into my seat, I noticed I was in the last car of the train. That meant I had easy access to the big panoramic observation windows, allowing me to look back the tracks and the fading scenery.
I thought I would read a lot on the 12 hour journey, but instead I mostly listened to my iPod and gazed out the window. The landscapes were gorgeous, and it was a great time to just sit, relax and think. I wrote some notes for blog posts. I reflected on the previous months of travel. I thought about Andy and how excited I was to be only two days away from seeing him in Auckland. I listened to the announcer point out things along the way, including a man who has been waving at the train every single day for years. But mostly I just looked out that window.
Oh and sheep. I saw LOTS of sheep. Horses, cows, goats, rabbits, birds, all there. But sheep really are everywhere in New Zealand.
For several hours after I got off the train, I felt like I was still moving. Kind of like when you’ve been on a boat for awhile, and afterwards you feel like you’re still swaying. It took me a while to realize why I felt so odd, but the train from Wellington to Auckland was still a nice break from the hassles of air travel.
For more information about New Zealand’s scenic trains, check out what KiwiRail offers here.
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I recently shared a photo as a guest post on Going Nomadic, check it out here: Did Anyone Ask For A Bed On A Bike?
April 16, 2012 @ 10:56 AM
Ah memories- five years ago I took the train from Auckland where I was studying a semester to Wellington, and your pictures brought back memories- though looks like your windows were a lot cleaner than mine! 😉
It was doubly special as it was my first trip alone even if it was just a weekend… and met some cool people in the back of the observation car, some of whom I jumped into a cab with at the end of my trip to head to our respective hostels but when we got to mine they told me no charge. My first glimpse of how kind travelers are, and the start of many more great adventures. 🙂
Hope Turkey’s going well!
April 17, 2012 @ 10:14 AM
Meeting people while traveling is one of the best things about traveling. I really enjoyed that train but it is hard to take pictures through windows of moving vehicles.
April 16, 2012 @ 2:43 PM
awesome photos which i love. I particularly love the one on the train tracks as the train moves, so surreal. Thanks for this post.
cheers from the Philippines 🙂
April 17, 2012 @ 10:15 AM
Thanks, I’m glad you liked the photos!
April 17, 2012 @ 12:39 AM
Luckily Shaun hates the window due to his motion sickness so I always get prime views. Looks beautiful out there!
April 17, 2012 @ 10:21 AM
That does work out nicely! I like the window views too but Andy & I switch sometimes.
April 17, 2012 @ 4:50 PM
Even though my worst travel habit is sleeping while I am in transit. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bus, plane, train, boat… I would NOT fall asleep on this train ride. Wow that looks so beautiful… I do love though when I am in transit writing in my journal, but hate that during that time is when a million thoughts run through my mind non-stop and sometimes… just over whelm me.
April 17, 2012 @ 8:21 PM
I so wish I could sleep while in transit. I might doze off for a few minutes here and there, but not enough to do me any good. This train trip really was gorgeous, I never thought 12 hours would go by like that without getting bored just looking out the window. And I know what you mean about the thoughts overwhelming you, I had that too while I was sitting there. I often have too many thoughts going around in my head.
April 21, 2012 @ 9:48 AM
Yeah, so I actually had no idea that this existed, and we spent nearly 2 months there! I actually thought the only train the country was the Tranzalpine, lol. Just goes to show how thorough my research is. Looks amazing though and a slightly better view than we had from the Nakedbus.
April 24, 2012 @ 12:01 AM
I HATE long buses! I wasn’t really aware of the train either until this women in my hostel mentioned it to me. Glad I ditched my plane ticket and took the train.
May 18, 2012 @ 10:15 PM
I’m off to NZ in 2 weeks, please tell me what it costs to do this as your pics are amazing.
Many thanks for sharing them with us.
May 19, 2012 @ 12:05 AM
Thanks! The scenic train from Wellington to Auckland was US$76, and it took about 12 hours including a lunch stop.
May 28, 2012 @ 4:13 PM
This is definitely an option I’m going to take when it comes to me going for a trip to New Zealand. I know that domestic air travel there is really expensive and with views like these who would want to fly? Again thank you for the beautiful photos. We’re really spoiled to have them!
May 29, 2012 @ 2:54 PM
Thank you Matthew! I think domestic air travel in New Zealand is hit or miss. The flight I actually booked from Wellington to Auckland was pretty cheap, which was why I was willing to skip taking the flight (non-refundable) and take the train. I think the train was actually the same price, but so much prettier. I definitely enjoyed it, good choice if you go there.
September 15, 2012 @ 11:16 AM
Ohh, gorgeous! I thought that I would spend that time reading too, but the views were just too good to have your eye diverted from it!
September 15, 2012 @ 11:32 AM
Thanks Tash! It’s amazing how easy it was to spend 12 hours looking out the window and not get bored!
Train Travel Resources- Her Packing List
June 22, 2015 @ 12:30 PM
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