This 423-mile Train Route Is One of the Most Scenic in the World—Crossing Volcanoes, River Gorges, and a National Park

Passing via volcanic plateaus and rugged river gorges between Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, the Northern Explorer is without doubt one of the most stunning practice journeys within the nation—if not, the world. Initially a part of the North Island Essential Trunk railway, the 423-mile route passes via the North Island’s most spectacular topography and climbs over 2,600 toes in elevation.

As you journey alongside, you could discover landscapes that look as if they have been pulled straight from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Center-earth—and also you would not be removed from the reality, truly. Lots of the landscapes passengers see on the Northern Explorer have served as filming places for The Lord of the Rings movie sequence, and stood in for locations just like the Anduin River and Mount Doom. In whole, the journey takes roughly 11 hours, with stops at cities together with Hamilton, Otorohanga (close to the Waitomo Caves), Taumarunui, Ohakune, and Palmerston North alongside the way in which.

“The Northern Explorer is the one approach to expertise the complete variety of the North Island of New Zealand in a single day by rail,” says Tracey Goodall, government enterprise chief at Nice Journeys New Zealand. “The journey travels via Tongariro Nationwide Park, a UNESCO World Heritage web site with lively volcanoes, together with Mount Ruapehu. Alongside the way in which, you will additionally see Ngāuruhoe, the volcanic cone that starred as Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings. For a lot of worldwide vacationers, it is a true bucket-list expertise.”

From Auckland, the Northern Explorer passes via an extinct volcanic cone, the Orakei Basin, on a slim elevated part of observe. Within the winter, Ruapehu is dwelling to a number of the North Island’s hottest ski slopes. In summer time, the Tongariro Crossing is one in every of New Zealand’s greatest day hikes, taking about eight hours. The practice consists of an open-air viewing carriage the place you may step exterior to really feel the wind as you cross via the volcanic environment. 

“There is no glass between you and the surroundings, so you may hear the locomotive working, really feel the push of air, and {photograph} the landscapes with none reflections or obstructions,” Goodall says. “It is significantly spectacular when crossing the viaducts or touring via the volcanic plateau.”

Whereas New Zealand has fashionable rail connections to take passengers between cities, the Northern Explorer is all about having fun with the journey. Earlier than vehicle journey, going from Auckland to Wellington took a number of days of treacherous crusing across the coast. The railway turned this lengthy voyage into only a day’s journey—although constructing it took practically 30 years due to the difficult terrain.

Because the Northern Explorer crosses the Rangitīkei River, it passes over a number of viaducts, together with the Makatote Viaduct, the tallest on the route at 260 toes. The Manganui-o-te-Ao Viaduct was the ultimate part accomplished in 1908, connecting Auckland to Wellington by rail for the primary time; an obelisk on the western financial institution marks the spot the place the opening ceremony occurred.

The Rangitikei itself has a number of the journey’s most putting surroundings. “The river has carved a number of the most putting surroundings within the nation, with sheer white cliffs and winding blue water,” Goodall says. “Sir Peter Jackson used this panorama because the Anduin River in The Lord of the Rings, and plenty of vacationers do not realize they will cross via it till they see it from the practice.”

Expertise It

As we speak, the Northern Explorer is without doubt one of the hottest practice journeys in New Zealand, and though it’s an 11-hour journey, there are many methods to sluggish it down additional. Choices vary from brief breaks at Tongariro to full-day journeys to 17-day excursions of the various landscapes.

“Over the previous yr, we have seen a noticeable resurgence in curiosity in scenic rail journey, significantly from worldwide guests who’re selecting to discover Aotearoa, New Zealand, in a slower, extra immersive, and lower-impact method,” Goodall says. “What persistently stands out in visitor suggestions are two issues: the breathtaking sweep of Aotearoa New Zealand’s surroundings from the practice home windows, and the nice and cozy hospitality delivered by our onboard staff all through the journey.”