Hop aboard one of the world’s great railway journeys – the Northern Explorer from Auckland to Wellington. This is an epic, all-day journey through spectacular scenery. Find out why the Northern Explorer has been described as New Zealand’s hidden gem, in this video travel guide.
In this video, we’ll explore the specially designed Scenic Class carriages, which feature panoramic windows and skylights, and experience the open-air viewing car.
The Northern Explorer climbs the world famous Raurimu Spiral and crosses deep ravines and towering viaducts as it traverses the Central Plateau including the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park. The journey also includes includes one of the best stretches of coastal railway in New Zealand – the Kapiti Coast and Porirua Harbour.
Northern Explorer bookings, fares and timetable:
https://www.greatjourneysnz.com/tours-and-trains/scenic-trains/northern-explorer-train
Route guide by the Man in Seat 61:
https://www.seat61.com/auckland-to-wellington-by-train.htm
🚉 Train: The Northern Explorer
🚉 Operator: Great Journeys of New Zealand (parent company: KiwiRail)
🚉 Locomotive: New Zealand DF class (DFB 7213)
🚉 Seat: Car A, Seat 03D (window)
🚉 Route: Auckland Strand – Wellington
🚉 Distance: 681km
🚉 Travel time: 10 hours 40 minutes (scheduled)
🚉 Class: Scenic class
🚉 Travel date: 27 October 2022
EQUIPMENT:
🚉 Cameras: GoPro Hero 10, GoPro Hero 8, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Panasonic HC-VX1
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:47 – The Strand station and check in
02:18 – Train consist and seat tour
03:57 – Departing Auckland and crew announcement
06:28 – Cafe car and breakfast
07:55 – Viewing car and North Island Main Trunk line
09:49 – Route and Huntly
10:54 – Hamilton to King Country
13:09 – Otorohanga and first viaducts
15:07 – Bathroom tour and Taumarunui
17:02 – Raurimu Spiral
20:27 – Tongariro National Park and lunch
21:53 – Makatote Viaduct and the last spike
23:06 – Hapuawhenua Viaduct
23:49 – Okahune and the Tangiwai disaster
25:52 – Mount Ruapehu and wine time
26:42 – Turangarere Horseshoe
27:34 – Rangitīkei River and viaducts
29:56 – Accesible features of the cafe car
30:37 – Makohine Viaduct, Marton and travel times
32:46 – Electric locos and Palmerston North
34:23 – Levin to Waikanae
36:12 – Kapiti Coast
37:49 – Fares
38:44 – Plimmerton and Porirua Harbour
40:12 – Tawa Flat deviation to Wellington
41:39 – Arriving Wellington
42:55 – Final thoughts and next trip
Music
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Credits and sources:
OpenRailwayMap:
https://www.openrailwaymap.org
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Island_Main_Trunk
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Explorer
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raurimu_Spiral
King Country
https://teara.govt.nz/en/king-country-region
Viaducts
https://places.nz/9848
https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/heritage/heritage-records/hapuawhenua-viaduct/
Population stats:
https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/population
https://www.wellingtonnz.com/about-us/press-releases-and-news/facts-and-figures/?fbclid=IwAR1iDv09Yey_jRvcChPUblkb6Yvt7YcS06WYbAsLh9BVC0kZ67l4udWIPPw
Photos and videos
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northisland_NZ_NIMT.png
Joerg Mueller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
North Island rail map:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/NorthIsland_rrMap_v02.svg
Meet the Locals: Lahar video
Department of Conservation (NZ)
Pictorial Parade No. 81 (1958) video
Archives New Zealand
Tangiwai rail disaster photos
Archives New Zealand
Waitomo Glowworm Caves
By Манько Марко
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Waitomo_Cave.jpg
Waiteti railway Viaduct
By Johnragla
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NZR_130_m_long_35m_high_Waiteti_railway_Viaduct_built_1889.jpg
Northern Explorer at National Park
Northern Explorer heads south from National Park
https://media.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/assets/167348?tags=Northern Explorer
Raurimu Railway Spiral from Helicopter
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raurimu_Railway_Spiral_from_Helicopter_-_panoramio.jpg
Duane Wilkins
‘Final spike – North Island main trunk line’
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/final-spike-nimtl,
Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1909, D-2
Crater Lake
Michal Klajban via Wikimedia Commons
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crater_Lake,_Ruapehu,_New_Zealand_13.JPG
Capital Connection
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Capital_Connection_ready_to_leave_Wellington_for_Palmerston_North_-_panoramio.jpg
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