I Travelled Across New Zealand by Train In First Class

So I decided to cross New Zealand by train. Three train journeys, same country, similar tracks, completely different energy. One followed the coastline with the ocean stretching endlessly beside us, another climbed straight into the mountains, slowly, deliberately, and the longest of them all cut right through the heart of the country, past farmland, forests and volcanic plateaus. This isn't a guide, it's not a review, it's a journey through Aotearoa, one track at a time. Our first journey is the coastal Pacific, running between Christchurch and Picton along New Zealand's rugged east coast. A journey of roughly 350 kilometers, taking just over five hours, but what makes this railway remarkable is how the tracks weave between the landscape. The train passes through over 20 tunnels carved into the coastal cliffs and crosses more than 170 bridges and river crossings as it threads its way between mountains and sea. And for us, this wasn't just a one-way trip. We actually traveled the entire route there and back in a single day, and that ended up being one of the best decisions we made. Literally 7am on the dot and we are out of Christchurch. That was so extremely punctual and on time. All of our food and drinks for the entire journey is included, which is amazing. I knew it, today was going to be an awesome day. In the soft morning light, rolling out past quiet suburbs and into the wide farmland of Canterbury, sheep paddocks stretch across the plains, snow-dusted mountains sit on the horizon. As much as I love traveling around North America or anywhere, I love traveling everywhere, but nowhere has coffee like in New Zealand. New Zealand has ruined coffee for me. It has. Oh, it's creamy, so hot. I just fill my heart with delight and hope and love and and also you, honey, you do that too. One thing that's actually quite nice about filming here in New Zealand is that I don't have to think about data. Everything just kind of works for me. But the second I leave the country, it becomes a very different story, doesn't it, Findus? He's having fights with Maia right now. On my last big filming trip, I used Aerolo throughout Japan, Europe, the US. Isn't that right? And it was fantastic. I had amazing connection the whole way through my trip. If you don't know what it is, it's an eSIM. So it takes away the need for any kind of physical SIM card and dealing with roaming costs. You simply just download the app to your phone and bam, you've got data. I love it because there's no airport queues, no swapping SIM cards, just no stress. And I wouldn't go back. I honestly wouldn't go back. Okay, sorry, I put you down now. If you're coming to New Zealand or traveling anywhere for that matter, you can use my code C&L for $3 off your first eSIM. I've got a link just down there in the description or you can scan this QR code right here on the screen. It's one of those things that you don't really realize that you need until you've used it once and then you're like, how did I live without this? I honestly only just started using eSIMs the last couple of years and it's honestly a game changer. It makes everything so much easier. I love it. So yeah, you can check out the link below, scan this QR code and use code C&L if you want to try it and save a bit of money. What I love is that on this menu, there is a large map and it gives you a glimpse into where each ingredient comes from all around the country. It feels like you're really tasting ingredients as you're traveling through the locations that they come from. Just awesome. The food in this class is just out of this world. Oh my God. Just as much as this train is about the views, it's equally as much about the food. In fact, probably a lot of people would come on this for the food. How's your breakfast, my honey? Delicious. Welcome to the outdoor viewing platform. It's very cold. Yeah, it's March right now and it's very cold this morning and nothing quite beats standing out in the open air on a train. It is windy, it is cold, it is hectic, it is crazy, but you really feel like you're right there in the nature. Pretty chill, pretty sweet, not so crowded. Then slowly, almost without warning, the train reaches the sea. Welcome to the coast, the east coast that is, which we'll be following for the next 150 kilometers. This is where we could possibly find some dolphins. Apparently, they've been very active around the area during the last couple of journeys and they like to do acrobatics and jump around in the air and it could be a very big possibility that we'd be able to see them jumping around today. I really hope so. I hope so, so much. I guess we just have to sit and wait and see, really. A soy latte with views of dolphins. Does it get any better than this with train travel? I don't know if it does. It was one of those moments that feels too perfect to plan. The kind that reminds you why slow travel always wins. For hours, the railway hugs the coastline. On one side, waves breaking against rocky beaches. On the other, vineyards, farmland, and steep hills rising up behind us. It's one of those journeys where you don't really need a plan, you just kind of sit, eat well, and watch New Zealand roll past your window. As we continued north, the scenery kept shifting. Rocky headlands, secluded beaches, tiny coastal towns that you'd never notice from the road, and eventually the train curves inland and rolls into Picton, the gateway to the Melbourne Sounds. We have one hour here in Picton and we're basically going to spend it walking around trying to burn off as much energy as possible before we're back on the train and indulging in all of those delicious meals again. I'm making room for more food really. This is the end point for a lot of passengers. Whether you're into boat tours, kayaking, hiking the famous Queen Charlotte track, or kicking back with some fish and chips by the water, Picton is the kind of place that deserves a little bit more than a quick stopover. We are very excited for the return journey because the light is going to hit super differently. Next stop, Christchurch. We were seated opposite each other across a table, one of my favorite ways to travel by train, because suddenly the journey becomes something shared and we did this journey in scenic plus, which, and I say this with my whole chest, is indulgence at its absolute best. Salted caramel, truffle, and mousse with salt from the pile that we looked at. That chocolate is so thick. Um, did you like it honey? It was all right. No, don't you dare get, put that down, put it down. We have a trio of corn and spinach cheese rolls with tomato relish. Oh man, we are being so spoiled today, this is absolutely crazy. Look at this cheese drippling out, oh my god, this is, no words. The afternoon light hit the mountains at a totally new angle, the ocean changed color, and the shadows grew longer along the coastline. It was the same railway, the same tracks, but an entirely new perspective. Every train on this journey had a completely different energy, and this one, this one felt deeply personal. The Transalpine runs coast to coast across the South Island from Christchurch to Greymouth. At 223 kilometers, it takes just under five hours to cross the Southern Alps. But what makes this railway so remarkable is the engineering behind it. Along the route, the train travels through 16 tunnels and crosses over four spectacular mountain viaducts, including the dramatic staircase viaduct, which rises more than 70 meters above the valley floor. A railway built through terrain that once felt impossible to cross. But for me, this trip wasn't so much about the landscapes, it was about who I was traveling with. This was my dad and me. His name is Paul. Hi Paul. Hi guys, how are you? Are you pretty excited to be on this train today dad? Getting more excited all the time, seeing new things. This is dad's first proper scenic train ride, and it's for his birthday. Happy birthday dad. Thank you, didn't expect this. Just us, our first proper trip together as adults. No rushing, no big agenda, just time. When you can step into the open air viewing carriage. Welcome to the open air viewing car. Dad's really cold already. It's really, really quite rather windy out here, but wow it is fresh. This is one of the coolest things I've ever experienced on a train before, holy moly. Dad, is this cool or what? It's cold and cool. Cool, it is cool. Oh my gosh, look you can see my breath, you can see my breath. For vaping, for healthy vaping. We've only just started and we can already see the most incredible snowy mountain peaks in the distance, and this is just getting me so darn excited. This journey begins across the fields stretching endlessly toward the mountains, braided rivers weaving across vast gravel beds, and the Waimakariri River is the first to catch your eye. Then the train begins its slow climb up into the mountains, river gorges deepen, the track curves through steep valleys, and soon you're sliding into the dramatic landscapes of Arthur's Pass National Park. There are jagged peaks, ancient rock faces, waterfalls cascading down steep cliffs, where the cold mountain air rushes past, and the sound of the tracks echo beneath your feet. Dad is absolutely loving this, aren't you dad? Loving it, I've never seen this before. This is cool, this is so unlike anything dad's ever done before, this is awesome. Normally I'd be working in the gym today. Well instead you're going through Arthur's Pass. We're so close to the snowy mountains, oh my gosh this is so crazy. 100% most scenic journey I've ever been on from a train. Then comes the Otero Tunnel, an 8.5 kilometre passage through the mountains, and when the train emerges on the other side, everything changes. You've got lush rainforest of the west coast, dense native bush crowds the windows, mist hangs low in the valleys, it feels like stepping into an entirely different world. I was a little bit obsessed with the cute tiny colourful homes around here. Welcome to Greymouth, this is the halfway point of our journey. We're in here for literally less than an hour, we've got about 40 minutes or so now to quickly stretch our legs, get some fresh air, take a little walk around. Very cute little town, it looks pretty small. Let's go for a little explore. And then we have a very exciting adventure on the way home. We're not going to be in the same kind of carriage, oh no, we're embarking on the scenic plus dining experience. Are you excited for scenic plus Dano? He wasn't expecting that question. All right, next trip return we go to P. And wow, elevated seating, table service and food that honestly exceeded our expectations. Fresh New Zealand salmon, local cheeses, beautiful desserts. It also comes with a little map showing you exactly where the ingredients were sourced from around New Zealand. Such a small touch but such a meaningful one as well. Oh my goodness, we just got a hot towel. This is amazing, it's an amazing day. You heard it folks, it is an amazing day. It's a bit luxurious isn't it? We are in our own outdoor open air carriage. It's usually not just for us but there's only four of us in scenic plus on the way back. This is all for us dad, what do you feel about that? Incredible luxury, I felt so spoiled. I feel like waiting on the waiters. This is just so incredibly spacious, like I could do walking lunges for ages. And sharing that experience with my dad, laughing, eating far too well, getting excited over warm towelettes, watching the light shift across the mountains and river valleys made it even more special. Some journeys feel epic because of the landscapes and some feel epic because of who you're sitting across from when the mountains roll in. This one managed to be both. If the coastal pacific was about drama and the transalpine was about connection, then the northern explorer was about family. This is New Zealand's longest scenic rail journey, traveling 681 kilometers between Auckland and Wellington. It's an all-day adventure that takes around 12 hours to cross the entire North Island, or majority of it anyway. The railway follows the historic North Island main trunk line, one of the country's greatest engineering achievements. Along the route, the tracks pass over hundreds of bridges and viaducts and through numerous tunnels as the train climbs into the volcanic plateau. And for this one, I wasn't traveling solo or as a couple or with my dad. I was traveling with my mum and my two aunties. All smiles, chatter and probably thinking this was just a regular comfy train ride. But the aunties had finally realized that they were in first class. You could actually see the moment it clicked. I think maybe the aunties are just starting to realize what we're sitting in. They didn't really ever been first class. This is just going to be a normal train trip. Because we said we'd have to walk to the cafe and now she's taking it. This is another meatball. Cheers to many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many copies. Yes. Yes. Yes. Multiple copies. Multiple copies. Cheers. Cheers. We're going to go on salmon. After the salmon, we're going on to like desserts. After like desserts, we're going on to cheese patties. After cheese patties, we're going on to dinner. After dinner, we're going on to desserts. I can't believe we're having alcohol for breakfast. Here, this is a once in a lifetime experience. This right here is the first course of many, many courses. It's a cute little friand with a little herb on top. This is New Zealand's longest train, so of course, this is going to be New Zealand's longest train menu. We have a starter. We have a hot breakfast, followed by lunch, followed by afternoon platter, followed by dinner, followed by dessert. Now, I have my husband picking us up later this evening, and he might just have to roll us off this train, so we're in for a treat. Not only do we have all of these amazing meals included, but we have unlimited tea, coffee, juices, champagne, wine, any kind of beverage that you could possibly ever want is included. Four of us around one table, and it couldn't have been more perfect. It just felt like a big, long ladies' lunch, and it just happened to move through New Zealand. Not long after leaving the city, the tracks reach one of the most beautiful coastal stretches of the entire route, the Kapiti Coast. For a while, the train runs right beside the ocean. Waves are rolling in and crashing onto rocks from the Tasman Sea, and Kapiti Island's just sitting there quietly out on the horizon. It's calm and expensive, the kind of scenery that makes you instinctively fall quiet for just a moment. After braving the wind and pretending I didn't lose feeling in my fingers, it only felt right to reward myself the only way I know how. Another coffee. And then came breakfast course two. A gorgeous farm-fresh vegetable frittata with spiced breakfast beans. The others went for the little bacon version with a mini bacon scroll on the side. Very cute, delicious, gone in seconds. Oh, and the mimosas. It was officially that kind of morning. And that's when the curved track magic started. You know I live for these shots. The train curling around lush green hills, gliding over tiny bridges, cows dotted across the fields like sprinkles on a green cake. Pure joy. I know I say this often, but this stretch is ridiculously pretty. Rolling farmland, rivers, endless greenery, and yes, a lot of cows. We're gliding through the Rangitikei Valley now. A dramatic stretch of steep cliffs, green hills, and winding rivers. And this part of the journey is pure architectural magic. The train crosses five enormous viaducts as it follows the gorges of the Rangitikei River. And then suddenly, the land opens up. The volcanoes appear, wide, raw, and ancient. On a clear day, if you're lucky, you'll see them rising out of the landscape. And seeing it from the train feels so calm, in a way that driving never does. There's no rushing, no navigation, just watching the country unfold. And then, suddenly, the mood shifted. We noticed a massive plume of smoke in the distance. Fires burning in Tongariro National Park. Apparently the blaze had started the night before, and some hikers even had to be airlifted out. Such a surreal contrast. Breathtaking beauty on one side, and this eerie, smoky stillness on the other. One of the best parts of this train is this outdoor viewing platform. It's absolutely stunning out here. You get to feel like you're really up close and personal with the nature. And it's a really nice way to get some fresh air after drinking multiple, multiple wines, I must say. So they have a limit out here of 20 people. And yeah, it's never too busy. You've always got a spot to check out the views. And this is basically where I stand to get all the curved shots. I stand right at the back here, and this is where I look at the train turning around the corner. Mum, are you excited for some dinner? We have just eaten so much on this train. So much. And the food is absolutely beautiful. It's so fresh. It's beautiful. They spoil us like you wouldn't believe. Absolutely spoil us. But yes, I am looking forward to dinner. Then comes one of the most fascinating pieces of railway engineering in the country. The Raurimu Spiral, a looping section of track built in the early 1900s that allows the train to climb the steep slopes of the plateau. The train curves, it climbs, turns back on itself, slowly spiraling its way up the mountain. It's one of those moments when you realise just how cleverly this railway was built. And the best part of this trip wasn't the scenery, even though it was awesome, or the multiple soy lattes. It was sharing it. Sharing stories, sharing memories, sharing moments where everyone goes quiet at the same time. Just staring out the window. 12 hours sounds long, but on this train with the right people, it didn't feel long at all. More than 1,200 kilometres of railway, dozens of tunnels, hundreds of bridges, and somehow it feels like there's so much left to explore.