This Train Route Is One of the World’s Most Beautiful

Passing via volcanic plateaus and rugged river gorges between Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, the Northern Explorer is likely one of the most lovely prepare journeys within the nation—if not, the world. Initially a part of the North Island Main Trunk railway, the 423-mile route passes via the North Island’s most spectacular topography and climbs over 2,600 ft in elevation.

As you journey alongside, chances are you’ll 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, really. Lots of the landscapes passengers see on the Northern Explorer have served as filming areas for The Lord of the Rings movie collection, and stood in for locations just like the Anduin River and Mount Doom. In complete, 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 method to expertise the complete range 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 National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site with energetic volcanoes, together with Mount Ruapehu. Alongside the way in which, you may 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 slender elevated part of monitor. Within the winter, Ruapehu is residence to a few of the North Island’s hottest ski slopes. In summer time, the Tongariro Crossing is one among New Zealand’s finest day hikes, taking about eight hours. The prepare consists of an open-air viewing carriage the place you’ll be able to step outdoors to really feel the wind as you cross via the volcanic ambiance. 

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

Whereas New Zealand has trendy 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 ft. 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 came about.

The Rangitikei itself has a few of the journey’s most putting surroundings. “The river has carved a few 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 understand they’re going to cross via it till they see it from the prepare.”

Expertise It

As we speak, the Northern Explorer is likely one of the hottest prepare 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, notably from worldwide guests who’re selecting to discover Aotearoa, New Zealand, in a slower, extra immersive, and lower-impact approach,” Goodall says. “What persistently stands out in visitor suggestions are two issues: the breathtaking sweep of Aotearoa New Zealand’s surroundings from the prepare home windows, and the nice and cozy hospitality delivered by our onboard crew all through the journey.”