Between 15 January 2025 and 27 January 2025 and Between 12 April 2025 and 28 April 2025.
Essential upgrade work will be taking place on the Auckland network to prepare for the City Rail Link to open in 2026. The tracks between Auckland Strand Railway Station and Hamilton are closed for train travel for this portion of the line while the Rail Network Rebuild work takes place.
We are very pleased to advise that the Northern Explorer service will go ahead as planned however the first 2.5 hours portion of your journey will be replaced by bus.
The bus will follow the standard timetable:
· Auckland departure at 7.45am
· Papakura departure at 8.35am
· Hamilton arrival at 10.10am
The transfer bus will meet the Northern Explorer train at Hamilton Railway Station. The train will depart Hamilton at 10.15am and continue travelling to Wellington following the standard train timetable.
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
The Capital Connection
The Capital Connection is a regional passenger commuter train service operating between Palmerston North, Shannon, Levin, Otaki and Wellington featuring air conditioned, centrally heated carriages with large panoramic windows and disable facilities.
As this is a commuter rail service and reservations are not available. Tickets and monthly passes for this train are available from the railway station on the day of travel - Wellington Railway Station, Palmerston North I-Site in the Square or tickets only from the Palmerston North Railway Station or the Train Manager on the day of travel.
The Capital Connection operates one daily service each way - Monday to Friday. There are no services on Saturday, Sunday, or Public Holidays including Christmas Day.
Travel time from Wellington to Palmerston North is 2 hours.
For timetable and fare information concerning The Capital Connection (Wellington/Otaki/Levin/Palmerston North) train service - please phone KiwiRail on 0800 872-467 tollfree in New Zealand.
There are no passenger train services from Palmerston North to Masterton, Napier, Hastings, Wanganui or New Plymouth.
The Wairarapa Connection
The Wairarapa Connection is a regional commuter passenger train service that operates daily between Masterton, Carterton, Featherston and Wellington with air-conditioned, centrally heated carriages with large panaromic windows and disable facilities.
The Wairarapa Connection is a commuter rail service, so reservations are not required. Tickets and monthly passes for this service are available from Tranz Metro ticket office - Wellington Railway Station, Featherston Railway Station or tickets only from the Masterton Railway Station or the Train Manager on the day of travel.
The Wairarapa Connection operates Five daily services each way (Mon - Thu), Six daily services each way (Fri) and two daily services each way (Sat, Sun, Public Holidays).
Travel time from Wellington to Featherston is 1 hour and to Masterton is 1 hour 45 minutes.
The Wairarapa Connection also stops at Woodside (For Greytown), Matarawa, Carterton, Solway and Renall Street. There are connecting local bus services from Woodside for Greytown and Featherston for Martinborough.
For timetable and fare information The Wairarapa Connection (Wellington/Featherston/Woodside/Carterton/Masterton) train service - please phone Metlink on 0800-801-700 tollfree in New Zealand.
The Waikato Connection - Te Huia
Te Huia is the passenger rail service which connects Waikato to Auckland ( Strand )
Capable of carrying over 500 passengers per day, connecting Hamilton, Huntly and Auckland.
Te Huia runs return services from Frankton ( Hamilton ) to Auckland twice per day during the week, and once on Saturdays
Journey time is 2 hours 25 minutes between Frankton and Papakura. Connecting with Auckland Transport's Metro network at Puhinui, Papakura and the Strand - please phone AT Metro on 0800-205-305 tollfree in New Zealand