Crossing New Zealand by Train: My Scenic Plus Experience on the Northern Explorer
Watch my full review on YouTube by clicking here.
You’ve probably heard of cruising around New Zealand — but have you ever considered crossing the entire North Island by train?
I recently boarded the Northern Explorer, a long-distance rail journey operated by Great Journeys New Zealand (KiwiRail), and travelled from Auckland to Wellington in just under 12 hours. No airport queues, no hire cars, and certainly no stress. Instead, I sat back in Scenic Plus class and watched the country unfold in panoramic style. Here’s what the experience was like.
✈️ From Sydney to Auckland: A Quick Hop Across the Tasman
Watch my Air New Zealand review here
My journey began at Sydney Airport with a quick three-hour flight across the ditch. I spent one night in Auckland and stayed at the Fable Auckland, MGallery — a comfortable, centrally located boutique hotel that put me within easy reach of the train station for my early start the next morning.
🚉 All Aboard the Northern Explorer
The Northern Explorer runs three times a week in each direction and covers 681km (around 420 miles) of stunning terrain. Because the train is diesel-powered, it doesn’t depart from Auckland’s Britomart Station — instead, it leaves from The Strand, just a few minutes from the city centre.
There are two classes onboard:
• Scenic (standard)
• Scenic Plus (premium)
Both offer large panoramic windows and access to the open-air viewing carriage, but Scenic Plus includes:
• Reserved seating at a 4-person table
• A full meal and beverage service throughout the journey
• Access to local wines, tea, coffee, and more
• Dedicated onboard hosts
• Generous luggage allowance
🍽️ Food, Wine & Epic Views: Scenic Plus Highlights
Let’s be honest — a huge part of this experience is the wining and dining. The journey is carefully punctuated with drinks, dishes, and snacks, all served at your seat. Some of my highlights included:
• A vegetable frittata and streaky bacon for breakfast
• Sparkling Oyster Bay Brut (yes, before midday — I blame the time difference!)
• Chicken skewers with orzo salad for lunch
• An indulgent dark chocolate mousse with Orangecello
• A ploughman-style platter in the afternoon
• And a seared beef fillet dinner with Cabernet Sauvignon
The crew were warm, professional, and attentive, and dietary needs were clearly accommodated.
❄️ The Scenery (and the Cold)
This train cuts straight through the rural heart of New Zealand, and the scenery was just as diverse as it was breathtaking. We passed through rolling farmland, dense forests, volcanic plateaus, and even followed the Kapiti Coast as the sun began to set.
One of the most impressive moments was the legendary Raurimu Spiral — a century-old railway engineering feat that helps the train ascend steep elevation using loops and tunnels.
The open-air viewing carriage was perfect for capturing these sights… though in winter, I highly recommend bringing a warm jacket. It was freezing.
📱 Smart Tech Onboard
A surprising bonus was the Great Journeys NZ onboard app, which connects to the train’s WiFi and provides:
• A live interactive map
• GPS updates on your location
• Audio commentary on points of interest
This made it easy to keep track of the journey and added a nice layer of context without interrupting the peaceful vibe onboard.
💸 Was Scenic Plus Worth the Cost?
For this trip, I paid $499 NZD (about $460 AUD / $300 USD) for Scenic Plus. In comparison, the standard Scenic fare was $219 NZD. So yes — it’s a premium.
But for me, as a solo traveller, the upgrade was worth it:
• No need to bring food or drinks onboard
• Comfortable seating with space to film and relax
• Excellent service
• A seamless, all-inclusive experience
🧳 Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. If you’re someone who enjoys slow travel, rail adventures, or off-cruise experiences, this is a unique and luxurious way to see New Zealand’s North Island.
Would I do it again? Yes — and next time, I’d love to try the TranzAlpine or Coastal Pacific routes on the South Island.
🚄 Plan Your Own Journey
You can book this journey directly via Great Journeys New Zealand, or speak to a travel advisor (like me!) to help package it into a broader New Zealand itinerary — including accommodation, transfers, or even a connecting cruise.
If you’re planning your next holiday, don’t forget to visit my website to search, compare, and book your next adventure and watch the full and detailed review on my YouTube channel right here.