The trip
New Zealand's three long-distance trains are usually sold as day trips. Ridden one after the other, in the right direction, they become something else: a way to cross the whole country at ground level, through the parts no highway reaches — the Raurimu Spiral and the volcanic plateau, the seal colonies below the Coastal Pacific's windows, the Waimakariri gorge and Arthur's Pass from the TranzAlpine's open-air viewing carriage.
This itinerary is scheduled around the Great Journeys New Zealand timetable, so departure dates are fixed to the days the trains actually run and to the Coastal Pacific's operating season. Between trains you travel by coach with a Cooee specialist: the Interislander across Cook Strait, the West Coast glaciers after the TranzAlpine, and the Haast Pass into Central Otago to finish in Queenstown.
Scenic-class seating is booked on all three trains, with the dining car and the viewing carriage available on each. Hotel nights are placed so that no train day starts before a proper breakfast and none ends without time to see where you've arrived.
Day by day
Every day below is the standard itinerary. Optional activities are noted where they sit; your specialist can add or swap them when you book.
Day 1 Auckland — Arrive2 nights Auckland
Airport transfer and welcome dinner. Your specialist walks the group through the rail days ahead.
Day 2 Auckland — Harbour city
Morning at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, then a harbour cruise past Rangitoto. Afternoon free — Waiheke Island is a 40-minute ferry away.
Day 3 Northern Explorer — Auckland to Wellington by rail2 nights Wellington
A full day on the Northern Explorer: the Waikato farmland, the Raurimu Spiral, the volcanic plateau beneath Ruapehu and the Rangitīkei viaducts, arriving in Wellington in the early evening.
Day 4 Wellington — The capital
Guided visit to Te Papa Tongarewa, the cable car to the Botanic Garden, and a late-afternoon walk along Oriental Bay.
Day 5 Cook Strait → Marlborough — Ferry to the South Island1 night Blenheim
Interislander sailing through the Marlborough Sounds to Picton, then tastings at two Marlborough cellar doors before the night in Blenheim.
Day 6 Coastal Pacific — Picton to Kaikōura by rail1 night Kaikōura
Board the Coastal Pacific at Picton for the run down the Kaikōura coast — the Seaward Kaikōura Range on one side, seal colonies and the Pacific on the other. Alight at Kaikōura for the night.
Day 7 Coastal Pacific — Kaikōura to Christchurch by rail2 nights Christchurch
Morning free for a whale-watching cruise or the peninsula walkway, then rejoin the Coastal Pacific south across the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch.
Day 8 Christchurch — Ōtautahi
City tour of the rebuilt centre, the Riverside Market and a punt on the Avon. Afternoon free.
Day 9 TranzAlpine — Christchurch to Greymouth by rail, then Franz Josef2 nights Franz Josef
The TranzAlpine across the Canterbury Plains, up the Waimakariri gorge and through Arthur's Pass to Greymouth. Coach down the West Coast to Franz Josef.
Day 10 Franz Josef — Glacier country
Walk to the Franz Josef glacier viewpoint and the Lake Matheson mirror-lake track. Optional helicopter flight over Franz Josef and Fox glaciers.
Day 11 Haast → Queenstown — Over the pass to Central Otago1 night Queenstown
Down the coast to Haast, over the Haast Pass beside the Makarora, along Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea and over the Crown Range to Queenstown. Farewell dinner.
Day 12 Queenstown — Depart
Transfer to Queenstown Airport, or extend — Milford Sound is a natural add-on from here.
What's included
Included
- 11 nights in 4-star and boutique hotels
- Scenic-class seats on the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine
- Interislander Cook Strait ferry
- Breakfast daily, 5 dinners including welcome and farewell, 2 lunches
- Coach with a Cooee specialist for all non-rail legs
- Auckland harbour cruise, Te Papa guided visit, Christchurch city tour
- Two Marlborough cellar-door tastings
- Airport transfers on days 1 and 12
- Tipping, park fees and road tolls
Not included
- Flights to Auckland and from Queenstown
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed, drinks with meals
- Optional activities — Kaikōura whale watch, glacier helicopter flight
- Single-room supplement
Dates and prices
| Departure | Per person, twin share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lead-in departures, October to April | from $7,990 AUD | Exact dates and any seasonal difference confirmed at enquiry |
| Single room | Supplement quoted at enquiry | Varies by departure and hotel |
| Private departure | Quoted per party | Same itinerary, your dates, your group only |
Questions answered
Which class of seat is booked on the trains?
Scenic class on all three, with access to the open-air viewing carriage and the café car. Where Great Journeys offers a premium carriage on a given departure, your specialist can quote the upgrade.
Does the Coastal Pacific run year-round?
No — it is seasonal, which is why this tour departs between October and April. Dates are set to the published timetable each year.
Is the price per person?
Yes — the 'from' price is per person, twin share, in Australian dollars, for the lead-in departure. Single travellers are welcome; a single-room supplement is quoted at enquiry and depends on the departure. Flights to and from New Zealand are not included so you can use points or a preferred carrier — your specialist can book them alongside the tour.
How big is the group?
This is a regional small-group departure capped at 24 guests. Some departures run smaller. A Cooee specialist travels with the group from the first hotel to the last.
Can I add days before or after?
Yes. Most guests add two or three nights — Waiheke Island before, or Queenstown after. Tell your specialist when you enquire and it will be built into one quote.
What fitness level do I need?
Moderate. Expect a few hours on your feet on sightseeing days and some short walks on uneven ground. Nothing on the standard itinerary is strenuous, and every walk has an easier alternative or a rest option.
What happens if a ferry or train is cancelled?
Cook Strait sailings and rail services are occasionally cancelled for weather or maintenance. Your specialist re-routes the group — usually by flight or coach — and the cost of the substitute is covered by Cooee, not by you.
Do I need a visa for New Zealand?
Australian citizens don't need a visa or an NZeTA to enter New Zealand. Other passport holders may need an NZeTA and to pay the International Visitor Levy — check immigration.govt.nz or ask your specialist well before departure.
Is travel insurance included?
No. We require every guest to hold comprehensive travel insurance covering medical, cancellation and baggage from the day you pay your deposit. Your specialist can point you to suitable policies.
How do I book?
Send an enquiry or call 0409 661 342. A Brisbane specialist confirms availability on your preferred departure, answers questions and sends a written quote. A deposit secures your place; the balance is due under our Booking Conditions.
Keep planning
Ready to see both islands?
Tell us your preferred month, who's travelling and whether you'd like to add days at either end. A Brisbane specialist comes back within one business day with dates and a quote.