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

Passing through volcanic plateaus and rugged river gorges between Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, the Northern Explorer is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the country—if not, the world. Originally part of the North Island Main Trunk railway, the 423-mile route passes through the North Island’s most spectacular topography and climbs over 2,600 feet in elevation.

As you journey along, you may notice landscapes that look as if they’ve been pulled straight from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth—and you wouldn’t be far from the truth, actually. Many of the landscapes passengers see on the Northern Explorer have served as filming locations for The Lord of the Rings film series, and stood in for places like the Anduin River and Mount Doom. In total, the journey takes approximately 11 hours, with stops at towns including Hamilton, Otorohanga (near the Waitomo Caves), Taumarunui, Ohakune, and Palmerston North along the way.

“The Northern Explorer is the only way to experience the full diversity of the North Island of New Zealand in a single day by rail,” says Tracey Goodall, executive business leader at Great Journeys New Zealand. “The journey travels through Tongariro National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site with active volcanoes, including Mount Ruapehu. Along the way, you’ll also see Ngāuruhoe, the volcanic cone that starred as Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings. For many international travelers, it’s a true bucket-list experience.”

From Auckland, the Northern Explorer passes through an extinct volcanic cone, the Orakei Basin, on a narrow elevated section of track. In the winter, Ruapehu is home to some of the North Island’s most popular ski slopes. In summer, the Tongariro Crossing is one of New Zealand’s best day hikes, taking about eight hours. The train includes an open-air viewing carriage where you can step outside to feel the wind as you pass through the volcanic atmosphere. 

“There’s no glass between you and the scenery, so you can hear the locomotive working, feel the rush of air, and photograph the landscapes without any reflections or obstructions,” Goodall says. “It’s particularly spectacular when crossing the viaducts or traveling through the volcanic plateau.”

While New Zealand has modern rail connections to take passengers between cities, the Northern Explorer is all about enjoying the journey. Before automobile travel, going from Auckland to Wellington took several days of treacherous sailing around the coast. The railway turned this long voyage into just a day’s journey—though building it took nearly 30 years because of the challenging terrain.

As the Northern Explorer crosses the Rangitīkei River, it passes over several viaducts, including the Makatote Viaduct, the tallest on the route at 260 feet. The Manganui-o-te-Ao Viaduct was the final section completed in 1908, connecting Auckland to Wellington by rail for the first time; an obelisk on the western bank marks the spot where the opening ceremony took place.

The Rangitikei itself has some of the journey’s most striking scenery. “The river has carved some of the most striking scenery in the country, with sheer white cliffs and winding blue water,” Goodall says. “Sir Peter Jackson used this landscape as the Anduin River in The Lord of the Rings, and many travelers don’t realize they’ll pass through it until they see it from the train.”

How to Experience It

Today, the Northern Explorer is one of the most popular train journeys in New Zealand, and although it is an 11-hour ride, there are plenty of ways to slow it down further. Options range from short breaks at Tongariro to full-day trips to 17-day tours of the many landscapes.

“Over the past year, we’ve seen a noticeable resurgence in interest in scenic rail travel, particularly from international visitors who are choosing to explore Aotearoa, New Zealand, in a slower, more immersive, and lower-impact way,” Goodall says. “What consistently stands out in guest feedback are two things: the breathtaking sweep of Aotearoa New Zealand’s scenery from the train windows, and the warm hospitality delivered by our onboard team throughout the journey.”