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Northern Explorer Train Journey from Wellington to Auckland
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Reviewed 3 August 2019

We live in NZ and did the train trip on 2/8/2019. The service was good, the staff were friendly and seating was fine for us. We requested forward facing seats and that's what we got and there was plenty of leg room. The windows were big and clean, the open carriage was available for viewing outside and the cafe car provided a range of food but we had taken our own. (It's a long trip so take snacks). Scenery wise you see the coast coming out of Wellington, Kapiti Island and a glimpse of the South Island, then mostly farmland (sheep, cattle, deer and goats) for the majority of the trip, some forest and bush land, and good views of the viaducts the train passes over. The commentary headphones worked well and other announcements were made of points of interest coming up. Unfortunately it was wet and cloudy near the National Park so we didn't see Mt Ruapehu or Tongariro. Overall it was a good trip.

Date of experience: August 2019
1  Thank 19Lucy14
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 29 July 2019

This turned out to be my highlight in New Zealand, which is saying something as New Zealand is a beautiful country full of wonderful things to do. The views are amazing and varied. The train itself is quite well maintained and comfortable. The staff and service were really friendly, and the food was actually better than I expected! I would absolutely ride again, which is saying something for an 11 hour train ride. What an amazing way to see New Zealand!

Date of experience: July 2019
Thank jonathancoveney
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 26 July 2019

I took this train from Hamilton to Wellington - 8 hours. I loved every minute (until the sun set an hour before we got in). The scenery changed every 20 minutes or so. We crossed rolling pasture land, climbed steep embankments, saw snow-capped mountains including Lord of the Rings 'Mountain of Doom', crossed deep ravines, etc, etc. The train had an open observation car so we could get great photos. The seats are comfortable, the cars are new and clean, the staff is friendly and helpful, and the cafe car has a good choice of food. I hadn't expected such a good experience.

Date of experience: July 2019
1  Thank James B
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 24 July 2019

Absolutely fantastic trip down to Wellington on the train.
Great service great staff.
Rich and Bruce were friendly guys couldn't fault them.
If anyone has anything to complain bout this trip then they need their head read cause it was faultless. Recommend this trip to anyone.

Date of experience: July 2019
Thank lorraine m
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reviewed 17 July 2019

Very comfortable seating with audio commentary on the areas you pass as the journey progresses. The cafe carriage is well stocked with food and beverages, although I noticed that the food choices disappeared quickly in the morning as hungry travellers obviously hadn't had a chance to eat breakfast!

Unfortunately, the weather on the lower North Island was murky, which obscured our views of Mt Ruapehu. Some spectacular gorges and viaducts as the journey goes on and some marvellous engineering on the line. I'd say this trip would be a must for any train enthusiast.

Date of experience: July 2019
1  Thank dec_curley
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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