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.
Discover the real Middle-earth with a guided tour of the Hobbiton movie set, as seen in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies.
Highlights:
Guided tour of The Shire film set at Hobbiton
See Hobbit holes, The Green Dragon Inn, the Mill, the Party Tree and much more
Explore the rural township of Matamata
Travel to Matamata, a quintessentially rural Kiwi town in the Waikato region of the North Island, well-known for its thoroughbred industry and dairy farming. Nearby, hidden in picturesque private farmland with spectacular views of the Kaimai Ranges, is the famous Hobbiton movie set, where Sir Peter Jackson filmed his award-winning 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' movies.
The charming countryside of The Shire, as described in JRR Tolkien's books, was painstakingly recreated on a working sheep and beef farm. The home of plucky little hobbits like Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin has been preserved since filming wrapped, and now draws visitors from around the world.
Visit Hobbiton and see where the movie magic was created with a guided tour. You'll get the chance to see Hobbit holes, the Mill, the Green Dragon Inn and many other structures created for the films, and learn how farmland was transformed into a living, breathing piece of Middle-earth.
Please note that coach travel is onboard our scheduled InterCity services and does not include commentary.
