Northern Explorer: Scenic Train Auckland - Wellington

My wife and I travelled the Northern Explorer (Plus) train from Aukland to Wellington on a Monday. What a fantastic experience! From the moment we arrived at the station and boarded our carriage, until we completed our trip in Wellington, we were lavished with delicious and quality food from around the region, which was delivered with much ado from the 'Plus' team. The team were very friendly and nothing was too much effort. Special shout-out to Tia (😁) who was always ready with a fun antidote about the food he was serving or about his 'backyard' where he lives (north of Palmerston North). The scenery is everything you'd expect of New Zealand; in short its just stunning. If you'd like a leisurely paced tourist trip of NZ's North Island, then this is the trip for you! Highly recommended ⭐️

We took the Northern Explorer from Auckland to Wellington for a day’s journey through the heart of the North Island of Aotearoa — and what a ride it was. The landscape unfolded like a moving postcard: rolling hills, dense forests, open plains, and skies that seemed to shift through all four seasons in a single day. From the comfort of the train, there was time to work (the Wi-Fi held up well), read, or simply watch the world glide by. The food was delicious, the service warm and attentive, and the open-air deck offered both fresh air and a closer connection to the land. A truly memorable way to travel New Zealand.

Travelled Auckland to Wellington in Scenic Plus class. Weaving its way down the North island, we pass by some truly breathtaking scenery along the way. The scenic sections are separated though by long stretches of not much to see. In particular the arrival into Wellington was at night, limiting the opportunity to see anything at all. An audio commentary is provided via the app, though curiously on board the train there was no mention of this feature, either by the staff or on any of the materials. We were treated to a multi course menu on board, which was prepared in the kitchen car behind. The food was tasty, and hot and cold beverages are freely available on demand throughout the journey. The carriage was new, and the seats were reasonably comfortable, though no recline or other movement was available. Squeezing out from the window seat required folding up part of the table, which could be problematic at meal times. The staff on board were friendly though both appeared to be very new to their roles and still getting used to the premium car (was advised it's a recent addition to the Northern Explorer). One oddity I feel the service can do without was the arts and crafts section. It was disjointed, ill prepared and felt like being taken back to kindergarten, not the premium service I'd paid for. Overall did I enjoy the trip? Yeah. Would I recommend it to others? No

The train itself is good. comfortable enough. the rear open sided viewing platforms is fun. We were left standing on the cold windy Wellington platform for a long time before they started loading the bags onto the train. But the food in the cafe car is crap and very expensive. the train manager was quite rude to a number of other travelers ( large man on the Wellington to Auckland service 29 Jan 2025 ) the rest of the crew were nice. personally, I don't think the North Island scenery has any think on the south islands majesty.

Our trip from Wellington to Auckland in March 2025 was really great. The views from the cabins are great and there is an outside viewing car you can go to as well. Food was excellent and the staff in Scenic Plus (especially the hosts, Dawn and Jaiden, and the chef) were really excellent - with interesting stories and history to relate, amazing ability to balance a tray of drinks in a moving train and just friendly and helpful attitudes. We loved the train ride.

Absolutely 5-star, or even 6-star. There are amazing scenery along the way, foods and drinks are served almost every two hours and generally are tasty. The crew is very friendly, supportive and professional. They really know how to deal with everything that can happens along the journey, and even know how to cheer the crowd up. Riding in this train is not 100% smooth as there are small bumpies here and there, but for me it simply add some niche to the feeling that I am travelling through a historical, classic route. There are complimentary Wi-Fi onboard so you will not feel boring for any moment, and actually the beautiful landscape outside will take your attention to the extent that you will not need the internet much. Must-try experience and the best way to see the North Island. And just a small note: travelling from Wellington to Auckland may be preferable, as a major of the scenic landscape are close to Wellington than Auckland, so departing from Wellington will allow you to see the main attractions sooner.

Friendly service, but the train interior needs updating. The food portions were quite small (I would have preferred twice the amount and my partner 3 times), and the scenery didn't impress; the drive from Wellington to Auckland offered much more enjoyable views. $519 dollars per person and they didn’t deliver.

We did this train from Auckland to National Park on the second day of a recent trip to NZ. It is still one of the highlights of our time. It’s a great way to travel and see parts of the country you don’t normally see from this angle, also the open carriage is pretty special. Aside from being a mode of transport - it’s a tourist activity in itself!