Hop aboard one of the world's great railway journeys – the Northern Explorer from Auckland to Wellington. This is an epic, all-day journey through spectacular scenery. Find out why the Northern Explorer has been described as New Zealand’s hidden gem, in this video travel guide. In this video, we'll explore the specially designed Scenic Class carriages, which feature panoramic windows and skylights, and experience the open-air viewing car. The Northern Explorer climbs the world famous Raurimu Spiral and crosses deep ravines and towering viaducts as it traverses the Central Plateau including the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park. The journey also includes includes one of the best stretches of coastal railway in New Zealand – the Kapiti Coast and Porirua Harbour. Northern Explorer bookings, fares and timetable: https://www.greatjourneysnz.com/tours-and-trains/scenic-trains/northern-explorer-train Route guide by the Man in Seat 61: https://www.seat61.com/auckland-to-wellington-by-train.htm 🚉 Train: The Northern Explorer 🚉 Operator: Great Journeys of New Zealand (parent company: KiwiRail) 🚉 Locomotive: New Zealand DF class (DFB 7213) 🚉 Seat: Car A, Seat 03D (window) 🚉 Route: Auckland Strand - Wellington 🚉 Distance: 681km 🚉 Travel time: 10 hours 40 minutes (scheduled) 🚉 Class: Scenic class 🚉 Travel date: 27 October 2022 EQUIPMENT: 🚉 Cameras: GoPro Hero 10, GoPro Hero 8, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Panasonic HC-VX1 Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 00:47 - The Strand station and check in 02:18 - Train consist and seat tour 03:57 - Departing Auckland and crew announcement 06:28 - Cafe car and breakfast 07:55 - Viewing car and North Island Main Trunk line 09:49 - Route and Huntly 10:54 - Hamilton to King Country 13:09 - Otorohanga and first viaducts 15:07 - Bathroom tour and Taumarunui 17:02 - Raurimu Spiral 20:27 - Tongariro National Park and lunch 21:53 - Makatote Viaduct and the last spike 23:06 - Hapuawhenua Viaduct 23:49 - Okahune and the Tangiwai disaster 25:52 - Mount Ruapehu and wine time 26:42 - Turangarere Horseshoe 27:34 - Rangitīkei River and viaducts 29:56 - Accesible features of the cafe car 30:37 - Makohine Viaduct, Marton and travel times 32:46 - Electric locos and Palmerston North 34:23 - Levin to Waikanae 36:12 - Kapiti Coast 37:49 - Fares 38:44 - Plimmerton and Porirua Harbour 40:12 - Tawa Flat deviation to Wellington 41:39 - Arriving Wellington 42:55 - Final thoughts and next trip Music I use Artlist for high quality, licensed audio. If you sign up using my referral link below, you will get two extra months for free. https://artlist.io/Adam-3542584 Credits and sources: OpenRailwayMap: https://www.openrailwaymap.org Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Island_Main_Trunk https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Explorer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raurimu_Spiral King Country https://teara.govt.nz/en/king-country-region Viaducts https://places.nz/9848 https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/heritage/heritage-records/hapuawhenua-viaduct/ Population stats: https://www.stats.govt.nz/topics/population https://www.wellingtonnz.com/about-us/press-releases-and-news/facts-and-figures/?fbclid=IwAR1iDv09Yey_jRvcChPUblkb6Yvt7YcS06WYbAsLh9BVC0kZ67l4udWIPPw Photos and videos https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northisland_NZ_NIMT.png Joerg Mueller, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons North Island rail map: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/NorthIsland_rrMap_v02.svg Meet the Locals: Lahar video Department of Conservation (NZ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8h84v-UXoE Pictorial Parade No. 81 (1958) video Archives New Zealand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFhHTgP3ZTQ&t=409s Tangiwai rail disaster photos Archives New Zealand https://www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/11440565016/in/photostream/ Waitomo Glowworm Caves By Манько Марко https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Waitomo_Cave.jpg Waiteti railway Viaduct By Johnragla https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NZR_130_m_long_35m_high_Waiteti_railway_Viaduct_built_1889.jpg Northern Explorer at National Park Northern Explorer heads south from National Park https://media.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/assets/167348?tags=Northern Explorer Raurimu Railway Spiral from Helicopter https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raurimu_Railway_Spiral_from_Helicopter_-_panoramio.jpg Duane Wilkins 'Final spike - North Island main trunk line' https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/final-spike-nimtl, Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1909, D-2 Crater Lake Michal Klajban via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crater_Lake,_Ruapehu,_New_Zealand_13.JPG Capital Connection https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Capital_Connection_ready_to_leave_Wellington_for_Palmerston_North_-_panoramio.jpg DB Thats-Me Follow me on social media: https://www.instagram.com/_fromthewindowseat/ https://twitter.com/adamgjoyce https://facebook.com/adamjoycetravels #greatjourneysnz #KiwiRail #trainreview