New Zealand by rail

Spectacular scenery, friendly people, superb food and wine… what’s not to like? But savvy travellers don’t just like NZ – they love it.

New Zealand is a land of unspoilt, unending, unforgettably spectacular scenery along the road less travelled. A relatively small country, it offers visitors an expansive menu of travel options including Alpine mountain ranges, sandy beaches, wooded national parks, spectacular fiords, quaint historic settlements, cosmopolitan cities and unique wildlife.

But with 29 regions stretching over 1600 kilometres across two main islands, the big question is, how can I see so much in a relatively short time? Well at Holidays of Australia & the World, we have the perfect answer – on our exclusive rail package that cherry-picks the best of NZ.

Let your life-changing experience begin as you travel aboard an exclusive chartered train and soak in the spectacular New Zealand scenery and stunning natural beauty that surrounds you all from the comfort of your seat.

You’ll begin with a circular climb up the famous engineering feat – the Raurimu Spiral to the Central Plateau and Tongariro National Park with spectacular views of Mt Ruapehu. Enjoy an inter-island ferry crossing the picturesque Marlborough Sounds to Picton before embarking on the Coastal Pacific Train travelling along the picturesque Kaikoura Coast to Christchurch. The journey continues aboard the Tranz Alpine Train to journey across the spectacular Southern Alps to the rugged West Coast. A sightseeing day to Franz Joseph, a unique part of New Zealand, passes through typical west coast bush and rain forests to Hokitika (famous for its greenstone). An optional helicopter ride to Franz Joseph Glacier and Mt Cook is available (at an additional cost) for an unforgettable experience and is truly recommended. You’ll travel on to Dunedin for 1 night with free time and a city tour allowing you to explore this up and coming city.

Board the Taieri Gorge Railway for the spectacular scenic journey over viaducts and through narrow tunnels to Pukerangi. This is often regarded as the most spectacular rail journey in New Zealand and will forever be etched in your memory. Travelling through central Otago you’ll arrive in Queenstown, the home of adventure and stunning scenery on the edge of Lake Wakatipu. With a thriving community throughout summer and winter, it really is a special place that you’ll wat to return to over and over again. With a two night stay here you can explore it for yourself and uncover its hidden gems!

Continue on to the beautiful Lake Te Anau for a two night stay. Next will be a truly unforgettable day as you drive through mountain beech forests framed by spectacular snow-capped mountains and the Homer Tunnel before emerging at Milford Sound. You will be captivated by the closeness and beauty of this World Heritage region as you cruise alongside pristine native forests with waterfalls seemingly cascading from the sky as the glacier waters make their way down the cliff faces. The final leg of your journey will take in the remote far south to Invercargill with an optional tour to Stewart island.