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7 September, 2022

New rail tourism offerings launched by KiwiRail to support NZ regions

A range of new rail tourism offerings that focus on domestic and international visitors travelling throughout regional New Zealand have been announced by KiwiRail’s GM Great Journeys New Zealand (GJNZ) and Commuter Rail Tracey Goodall said.

At the end of last week, KiwiRail unveiled 10 short break packages and multi-day tours that it will run and operate. The short breaks will allow customers to self-guide themselves in the North and South Islands, on the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine trains with experiences in Auckland, Taumarunui, Wellington, Marlborough, Kaikōura and on the West Coast.

A series of 12 fully guided tours will also be available – the longest stretching from Auckland all the way to Queenstown.

“If people just want to travel independently and take in the scenery from Auckland to Wellington, Picton to Christchurch or Christchurch to Greymouth, they will still be able to book a standard scenic train journey as they always have,” Goodall said.

“Our packages and tours are designed to build on that. They’re a convenient, easy way for international tourists to explore New Zealand, knowing that their accommodation, transfers and visitor experiences are taken care of. It’s about giving people more travel choice – offering something new for Kiwis, while catering to different parts of the international tourism market.

“The shorter break packages will explore the regions and get people off the beaten track – such as a rail cart experience in Taumarunui and a night in the ‘independent republic’ of Whangamōmona; as well as wine tasting in Marlborough; whale, dolphin and albatross encounters in Kaikōura; or a trip to the Punakaiki Rocks and Hokitika Gorge on the West Coast.

“The longer, multi-day, fully-guided tours are small group focused and will come in two styles. Classic tours are designed for the traveller who likes more free time, with the ability to add on optional extras. They range from six days to 15 days in length. Our Signature tours are designed for the traveller who wants a complete experience that explores the grandeur of New Zealand. They range from six to 17 days in length. Both types of tour bring numerous tourism experiences together, complete with a guide who will accompany and support the group throughout their journey. There will be set departure dates each year.

“Importantly, both the packages and tours will see money going into regional economies – from tourism operators to local transport companies, accommodation providers and restaurants.

“We hope it will give regional tourism a healthy boost during the peak summer tourism season after a very difficult few years under COVID-19.”

Northern Explorer (Auckland – Wellington) will resume running from 25 September and Coastal Pacific (Picton – Christchurch) from 29 September. TranzAlpine (Christchurch – Greymouth) re-started in January 2022. Packages begin later this year and tours in early 2023.

Goodall says the announcement is designed to broadly promote KiwiRail’s new tourism offerings, to give people who are currently thinking about their holidays early notice of the package and tour options. Exact details, prices and start dates will follow.

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Commuter Rail Great Journeys New Zealand KiwiRail Tracey Goodall