Service Update: Train Schedules Extended to June 2027 & Planned Maintenance Notices

SERVICE UPDATE
Train Schedules Extended to June 2027. Additional rail schedules are now open for booking through June 2027. Please review operating days and planned maintenance closures when arranging travel.

Northern Explorer

Operating Days

  • Northbound: Wednesday, Friday & Sunday
  • Southbound: Monday, Thursday & Saturday

Operating days are confirmed to 30 November 2026.

Scheduled Track Maintenance

Full cancellations – No bus replacements

  • 6–10 February 2026
  • 3–7 April 2026
  • 29 May–2 June 2026
  • 10–14 July 2026
  • 23–27 October 2026

Coastal Pacific

Operating Schedule

Date Range Service
1 Sep 2025 – 26 Apr 2026 7 days a week
27 Apr 2026 – 30 Aug 2026 Not operating
1 Sep 2026 – 30 Apr 2027 (TBC) 7 days a week

Note: The Coastal Pacific does not operate on Christmas Day.

TranzAlpine

Operating Periods

  • 17 Jul 2025 – 11 May 2026: Daily
  • 29 May 2026 – 6 Jul 2026: Friday–Monday
  • 14 Jul 2026 – 10 May 2027: Daily
  • 14 May 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 (TBC): Friday–Monday

Note: The TranzAlpine does not operate on Christmas Day.

Scheduled Track Maintenance

Full cancellations – No bus replacements

  • 25–27 April 2026
  • 16–22 May 2026
  • 10–13 July 2026
  • 26–28 September 2026
  • 24–26 October 2026

 

Onboard Infotainment App
Audio commentary is now delivered through the Great Journeys New Zealand app. Passengers should bring:

  • Personal mobile device
  • Headphones
  • USB charging cable

Download the free app before travel. Full content becomes available once connected to onboard Wi-Fi.


For further inquiries or assistance with your travel plans, please contact our New Zealand Travel Team.

Our friendly New Zealand Travel Team is available from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (New Zealand Time) Monday - Sunday, excluding public holidays.

For assistance and reservations during our opening hours, contact our New Zealand Travel Team by email or phone.  To cancel a reservation, please email us at info@newzealandtravelteam.com before 72hrs or 3 days from the travel date.

Phone
You can call one of our English-speaking Consultants at +64 7 575 5049
Current New Zealand time: 

Within New Zealand:
Reservations only with payment -           0800-143-669
Travel planning and all other inquiries - +64 7 575 5049
Outside New Zealand: 
+61 1800 359 729      Australia Toll-free
+1   855 413 3019    USA Toll-free
+1   866 554 0304    Canada Toll-free
+44 800 0148106     United Kingdom Toll-free

 
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Auckland suburban train services
For fare and timetable information please phone Auckland Transport on 0800-103-080 tollfree in the Auckland region only or click for online train timetables and fares on the Western, Southern, Eastern, Onehunga and Manukau lines only.

For timetable and fare information for the Wailkato Connection - Te Huia ( Auckland/Hamilton ) - please phone Auckland Transport on 0800-103-080 tollfree in New Zealand

Wellington suburban train services
For fare and timetable information please phone Metlink on 0800-801-700 tollfree in New Zealand for train timetables and fares on the Capital Connection and the Wairarapa Connection operating from Wellington. The Capital Connection and the Wairarapa Connection are commuter train services, so reservations are not required.

Tickets for these trains are available from the Tranz Metro ticket office - Wellington Railway Station, Masterton Railway Station, Featherston Railway Station and Palmerston North Railway Station or from the respective Train Manager's on the day of travel.

For timetable and fare information for the Capital Connection (Wellington/Otaki/Levin/Palmerston North) - please phone KiwiRail on 0800 872-467 tollfree in New Zealand.

For timetable and fare information for the Wairarapa Connection (Wellington/Featherston/Masterton) train services - please phone Metlink on 0800-801-700 tollfree in New Zealand.