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.
Experience Auckland's history, culture and scenic highlights with a half-day morning tour, followed by a trip to Kelly Tarlton's SEA LIFE Aquarium.
Travel through the city centre, along notorious Karangahape Road and fashionable Ponsonby, and over the Auckland Harbour Bridge, enjoying views of the Hauraki Gulf and city skyline. See the Viaduct Harbour and Auckland's famous Queen Street before continuing to the Auckland Domain. The city's oldest park, the Domain is situated on a 62,000 year-old volcano and is home to tropical gardens, duck ponds and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
Take a short morning tea break (own expense) in Parnell Village, where historic buildings have been transformed into trendy boutiques and specialty shops, then continue your tour of Auckland along the scenic waterfront route of Tamaki Drive to Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Park, high above Mission Bay. Enjoy panoramic views of the city and harbour from this tranquil spot, a monument to one of New Zealand's most beloved Prime Ministers.
Following the city tour we visit Kelly Tarlton's SEA LIFE Aquarium. This underground visitor attraction enables you to experience something truly unique. Come face to face with New Zealand's rich marine environment, including sharks, stingrays, seahorses and other incredible sea creatures. Enjoy an informative encounter with your favourite animals, and journey through the underwater viewing tunnel, the first of its kind in the world.
The Kelly Tarlton's Antarctic Ice Adventure gives you a rare opportunity to get close to New Zealand's only colony of Antarctic penguins. Come within arm's length of the 80-plus colony of King and Gentoo penguins as they waddle on the ice and play underwater. Or journey back in time to Captain Robert Falcon Scott's Antarctic hut and see authentic artefacts from Scott's expeditions. Learn about their discoveries and find out what it was like living in Antarctica, the coldest place on earth!
Free WiFi available on board
