Travel Update: Coastal Pacific unscheduled maintenance between Blenheim and Picton 18, 21, 22, 23, 24 September 2023

 

Due to unscheduled maintenance between Blenheim and Picton, our train is unable to travel on a small section of the line while repairs take place. We are very pleased to advise that the Coastal Pacific service will go ahead as planned however a 25-minute portion of your journey, between Blenheim & Picton, will be replaced by Bus.

If you are starting your journey from Picton, you are able to check in at the train station as usual and will be advised by train staff on the location of our private bus transfer.

For those doing a day return from Christchurch, you will have your break time in Blenheim. The station is in the centre of town, so lots of time to explore.

 

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Waitomo & Hobbiton Experience Auckland to Auckland ICAWHA1 (0800-1900)

Two of New Zealand's most popular attractions can be found in the Central North Island: the Hobbiton Movie Set and the amazing Waitomo Caves. Now you can see both of them in one day on one great value InterCity day tour from Auckland!

Sit back and enjoy the lush rural scenery as you head south from Auckland central to a magical Middle-earth location: the private farm outside Matamata which has become famous worldwide as the filming location for Hobbiton in Sir Peter Jackson's award-winning Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie trilogies.

Take a guided tour of the Hobbiton Movie Set and learn about how this breathtaking film set was created in impressive detail.  You'll see Hobbit Holes (including Bilbo's house at Bag End), the Party Tree, the Green Dragon Inn, and hear behind-the-scenes secrets from filming.

After your tour, sit down to lunch at the Green Dragon Inn (included in your tour) and enjoy a feast worthy of Bilbo's birthday party!

Then cross the countryside to the township of Waitomo and head underground into a world of stalactites, stalagmites and twinkling lights: the Waitomo Glowworm Caves.

During your 45-minute tour of this natural wonder, you'll travel through underground tunnels and see vast caverns made from incredible limestone formations. Learn about how the caves were created over millions of years, and experience the magic of an underground boat ride through the Glowworm Grotto - gliding silently through the darkness while glowworms twinkle overhead.

After your Hobbiton and Waitomo Caves day tour, return to Auckland, arriving in the early evening.

Tour highlights

  • Full day return bus tour from Auckland to Hobbiton and Waitomo
  • Guided tour of Hobbiton Movie Set
  • Includes lunch at the Green Dragon Inn
  • Guided tour of Waitomo Glowworm Caves
  • Free onboard WiFi

Please note that bus travel is onboard our scheduled InterCity services and does not include commentary.

Waitomo & Hobbiton Experience Auckland Return
Sun 28 Aug
Mon 29 Aug
Tue 30 Aug
Wed 31 Aug
Thu 01 Sep
Fri 02 Sep
Sat 03 Sep
Service is unavailable today, please select further day.