We are going to do a trip around the top part of the South Island. Travelling from Auckland to Wellington on the Northern Explorer. Then flying from Wellington to Christchurch, where we are picking up our Maui Motorhome. Up to Hanmer Springs, over to Greymouth on the west coast. Up to Murchison, Kaiteriteri then through Nelson up to Okiwi Bay, down to Havelock, through Blenheim down the east coast to Kaikoura. Back to Christchurch flying home on the 30th November.
The night before we left we stayed in a airbnb in Parnel 300 metres from where we caught the train.
Looking out of the lounge over to the old Auckland railway station
The gardens in front of the old Auckland railway Station.
Left our B&B at 6.45am for a 300metres walk to the train station which I know was early for a 7.45am departure but Peter can’t be late!!! We have a good position in the train second carriage with the cafe being the next carriage very convenient. We only have to walk through the first carriage to get to the outside viewing carriage right behind the engine. I guess I will be popping out there frequently for photos. It took us two hours just to get to Pukekohe thought we would never get there at this slow pace but at last he has put his foot down. Reaching about 90km. We are off to Wellington 🤗. We have just been told that we had to go slow up to Pukekoe due to the relaying of new railway sleepers which have to be bedded in. This means that we will arrive later into Wellington.
Hope this old girl gets us there
Second carriage B seats 7a,7b more people did come just that we were so early!!
Having coffee in the cafe.
We also ordered the lamb shanks for dinner. Later.. they were delicious the best shanks I have tasted yum
Open carriage for taking photos
Looking out of the open carriage
We are well on our way some photos taken outside but as I couldn’t stand out there all day further down there are a mixture of photos taken outside and through the carriage not so clean windows.
You will be able to see the difference
Great colour of gorse a lot of the way, taken from the outside carriage.
Mt Ruapehu.
Weather closing in
Out on the west coast approaching Wellington
Kapiti Island
Out in the outside carriage going through a tunnel
Passing another train standing in the outside carriage.
Nearly there Wellington Harbour.
Well we have made it, we arrived over an hour late at 8.15pm due to several unexpected delays on the way. We really enjoy the experience and had lots of fun, thanks Jen. The day seemed very busy. By now it was dark so ordered an Uber taxi to take us straight to the Ridges Hotel at the Airport where we will be leaving from tomorrow morning at 10am to fly to Christchurch. By the time we got to our room we were walking all over the place couldn’t get our balance after all the swaying in the train. Really unsteady. Still swaying in bed but went straight to sleep. Having a lot of trouble with the blog website hence not posting it today. Will try again tomorrow morning so it will all be done in a rush.
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