Northern Explorer is KiwiRail's scenic tourist train from Auckland Strand to Wellington, covering 681 km in approximately 11 hours through the volcanic plateau and Tongariro National Park (home of Mount Ruapehu). Running only on weekends and public holidays, it is New Zealand's premier long-distance passenger train, with panoramic windows and an open-air heritage car.
| # |
|---|
| Station |
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| Arrival |
|---|
| Departure |
|---|
| 1 | Auckland Strand Station Auckland | Start | 07:45 |
| 2 | Hamilton Train Station Hamilton | 09:38 | 09:43 |
| 3 | Palmerston North Station Palmerston North | 15:58 | 16:03 |
| 4 | Wellington Railway Station Wellington | 19:15 | End |
Timetable data is sourced from official New Zealand railways records and may vary due to delays or seasonal changes. Always verify with the official operator before travelling.
Northern Explorer is KiwiRail's scenic tourist train from Auckland Strand to Wellington, covering 681 km in approximately 11 hours through the volcanic plateau and Tongariro National Park (home of Mount Ruapehu). Running only on weekends and public holidays, it is New Zealand's premier long-distance passenger train, with panoramic windows and an open-air heritage car. As a special service, it is a premium service designed for higher-comfort travel on its corridor.
Northern Explorer runs on Fri, Sat, Sun, with the timetable above showing the scheduled departure time at each intermediate stop. The full route includes 4 stops with a total scheduled time of 11h 30m, averaging out to approximately 220 minutes between consecutive stations once dwell time is taken into account. Major intermediate stops along the route include Hamilton Train Station, Palmerston North Station, providing passenger interchange points with regional and local services where available.
Northern Explorer offers 1 travel class: Economy. The lowest published fare is NZD 49 for Economy, while the highest-class fare is NZD 49 for Economy. Higher-class fares typically include wider seating, better climate control, and on many long-distance services include meals or refreshments. Travel class fare differences also reflect coach configuration — for example sleeper berths convert to flat beds for overnight travel, while seated coach classes use forward-facing reclining seats arranged 2+2 or 2+1 across the aisle. Check the per-class fare table on this page for the current published price by class.
Tickets for Northern Explorer are sold by KiwiRail through the official booking portal at kiwirail.co.nz. Online booking typically opens between 30 and 180 days before departure depending on the operator and service type. Booking early gives access to the cheapest advance discount fares which can be 30–80% cheaper than walk-up tickets at the station. Tickets are also available at station booking offices and from authorised travel agents and ticket resellers. Most operators accept payment by credit card, debit card, and digital wallet.
On the day of travel, arrive at the originating station at least 30–45 minutes before the scheduled departure time. This gives time to locate the correct platform (platform number is announced on station information displays 20–60 minutes before departure), find your reserved coach (coach numbers are marked along the platform edge at major stations), and board with your luggage. Always cross-check the platform number against your e-ticket or seat reservation before boarding — multiple trains can depart within a short window from adjacent platforms during peak periods.
This Northern Explorer page is part of the TrainsTracking New Zealand timetable collection covering passenger rail services across the KiwiRail network. Schedule data is verified daily against the official operator timetable, and fare information reflects the most recent published tariff. TrainsTracking is an information platform and does not process bookings or payments — all ticket purchases are completed directly through kiwirail.co.nz. For real-time delay information, platform changes, and same-day cancellations, always check station displays or the official operator app immediately before travel.
Standard seating, most affordable class
Book Northern Explorer tickets at kiwirail.co.nz, the official KiwiRail portal. Compare fares and seat availability before booking. Online booking typically opens 30 to 90 days before departure.
Book NowVisit any KiwiRail booking office in person. Staff can help with seat selection, group bookings, and special assistance. Book early for popular departure times and holidays.
Contact KiwiRail for schedule information, delay updates, and booking assistance via their official website or station helpdesk.
Visit KiwiRailNorthern Explorer departs at 07:45 and arrives at the final destination at 19:15. The total scheduled journey time is approximately 11h 30m. Times use the official New Zealand timetable and are local times at each stop. Always verify with KiwiRail on the day of travel as schedules can change due to engineering work or seasonal adjustments.
Northern Explorer fares start from approximately NZD 49 for Economy class and go up to NZD 49 for Economy. Higher-class fares include wider seating, climate control, and on long-distance services may include meals. Book through kiwirail.co.nz for the latest published fares and to check current seat availability.
Tickets for Northern Explorer are sold through kiwirail.co.nz, the official KiwiRail booking platform. Online booking opens between 30 and 180 days before departure depending on operator. Book in advance for the cheapest available fares. Tickets can also be purchased at station booking offices during opening hours, typically 08:00–20:00 daily.
Northern Explorer makes 4 scheduled stops along its route. The journey starts at Auckland Strand Station and ends at Wellington Railway Station. Major intermediate stops include Hamilton Train Station, Palmerston North Station. The full stop sequence with arrival and departure times is shown in the table above.
Northern Explorer running days are shown in the hero section at the top of this page (badges indicate which days of the week the train operates). Some long-distance services run daily while others operate only on specific days (typically weekday-only or weekend-only). Operating days can change with the annual timetable revision (usually December) so verify current running days with KiwiRail before booking, particularly for trips planned more than 6 months ahead.
Yes, kiwirail.co.nz typically accepts international debit and credit cards from major card networks. Some operators require a local phone number for SMS confirmation — check the booking requirements before starting your reservation. Booking platforms display fares in the local currency of the operator.
Northern Explorer offers 1 travel class: Economy. Economy or standard classes have reserved numbered seats at the lowest fare. Premium classes (business, first class, sleeper) add wider seats, climate control, and on overnight services berths for lying flat. The fare table on this page lists current published prices for each class.
Platform numbers are not pre-published — they are announced on station information displays between 20 and 60 minutes before scheduled departure. Arrive early at the originating station to check the platform allocation displays. At larger stations, platform numbers can also be viewed on the operator's app. If the train is delayed or rescheduled, the platform may change at short notice — always verify against station displays immediately before boarding.
Opens KiwiRail official booking site