I've always been very sceptical of train travel in New Zealand. It's slow, routes are extremely limited and, for a long time now, the infrastructure has had few upgrades. On the other hand, New Zealand has some of the most scenic train rides in the world with popular tourist routes including the Overlander, TransCoastal and the Transalpine. Train travel is fairly priced, even these "tourist" routes are reasonably priced.
The Overlander is by no means the fastest mode of transport between Auckland and Wellington. It takes 12 hours, while driving will take around 8 and flying less than 2! However you don't have to go through airport security to jump on a train and you don't have to navigate the country's winding roads.
The last section of the train carriage houses a semi-circular lounge with large windows, perfect for site-seeing and taking in the various landscapes. This makes it easy to film and photograph things and shows the real value of train travel in New Zealand: tourism. As it's too slow for business travellers, its use as a sightseeing tour vehicle is both highlighted and optimised for. In many ways, this is a wise move although most New Zealanders would be happy to see faster connections on more modernised rails.
While both food and drink are available on all long-haul kiwi trains, you can also book your ticket in such a way to make use of stops (and real restaurants and hotels) along the way. The Overlander stops in small and interesting towns between Auckland and Wellington and, with a little forsight, can provide a great stop-over experience.
When you travel by train in New Zealand, you can expect to see amazing views and encounter generally friendly staff and fellow passengers. Certainly don't expect a fast service, but one that allows you to travel through beautiful scenery with ease. - 31515
The Overlander is by no means the fastest mode of transport between Auckland and Wellington. It takes 12 hours, while driving will take around 8 and flying less than 2! However you don't have to go through airport security to jump on a train and you don't have to navigate the country's winding roads.
The last section of the train carriage houses a semi-circular lounge with large windows, perfect for site-seeing and taking in the various landscapes. This makes it easy to film and photograph things and shows the real value of train travel in New Zealand: tourism. As it's too slow for business travellers, its use as a sightseeing tour vehicle is both highlighted and optimised for. In many ways, this is a wise move although most New Zealanders would be happy to see faster connections on more modernised rails.
While both food and drink are available on all long-haul kiwi trains, you can also book your ticket in such a way to make use of stops (and real restaurants and hotels) along the way. The Overlander stops in small and interesting towns between Auckland and Wellington and, with a little forsight, can provide a great stop-over experience.
When you travel by train in New Zealand, you can expect to see amazing views and encounter generally friendly staff and fellow passengers. Certainly don't expect a fast service, but one that allows you to travel through beautiful scenery with ease. - 31515
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