Christchurch to Auckland on Interislander ferry Kaitaki & KiwiRail Coastal Pacific&Northern Explorer
Also includes some photos I took during my trip.
KiwiRail Coastal Pacific Train from Christchurch to Picton.
Interislander Ferry Kaitaki from Picton to Wellington.
KiwiRail Northern Explorer Train from Wellington to Auckland.
Price for trains and ferry NZ$401
Music taken from YouTube creators library
Maps taken from google earth
What's it like to take New Zealand's WORLD FAMOUS Ferry?
Watch this New Zealand Travel Guide to get a sense of what it’s like to travel the 58 miles over three+ hours from New Zealand’s South Island to the North Island in the comfort of New Zealand’s Interislander Ferry, the Kaitaki..
Join us as we travel across the Cook Strait from the Picton at the top of the South Island to New Zealand’s bustling capital of Wellington on the North Island aboard the Kaitaki ferry!
This is only the second time we’ve made a video highlighting a ferry and it was incredible!
Kiwirail runs this ferry as part of its Great Journeys of New Zealand brand, which is an apt name. They also run the TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific, and Great Northern trains. The schedules line up to make it possible to travel by rail and ferry all the way from Christchurch to Auckland and back using these services.
We splurged for the lounge access to make this a luxury travel experience. That means you get to see the Kaitaki Plus Lounge where we indulged in the range of food and drinks they make available. You’ll have to be the judge of whether it’s worth the increased price for you. For the latest pricing and schedules, check out this website:
You’ll also see the other amenities onboard, including the restaurants, bars, food, and drinks.
And, if you stick around to the end, I’ll even rate it using the JebScore!
0:00 Introduction
2:19 Interislander Ferry Booking
3:12 Interislander Kaitaki Ferry Tour
5:50 Queen Charlotte Sound
7:50 Cook Strait
9:17 Jebscore
Watch our first Ferry Video here:
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Music:
Waste Our Time (Instrumental Version) - BLAEKER
Just Carry On (Instrumental Version ) - Windshield
Dreaming of You (Instrumental Version) - Chyara
My California (Instrumental Version) - Pastis
Stay For Now (Instrumental Version) - Ray
Carry On (Instrumental Version) - Kadant
Racing For Life (Instrumental Version) - Duty Division
Welcome onboard Kaitaki!
With three lounges, an eatery, bar, cafés, and a number of viewing decks taking in the sights of the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, Kaitaki aims to please.
We took the opportunity to refurbish a couple of areas onboard, including the new Island Bar and Café and Pelorus Jack Lounge.
Cruise in style this summer and sail to the other side with Interislander!
New Zealand by Rail - part 4: Northern Explorer Scenic Train Wellington - Auckland by KiwiRail
Part Four of our New Zealand by Rail series;
We are travelling on the TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific and Northern Explorer Trains all the way from Greymouth on the South Island to Auckland on the North Island;
KiwiRail Train: Northern Explorer
Formerly known as: The Overlander
From: Wellington Railway Station
To: Auckland Strand Station
Region: North Island
Country: New Zealand
Route via North Island Main Trunk Railway (NIMP): Paraparaumu, Palmerston North, National Park (Tongariro / Mount Ruapehu), Hamilton
Engineering buildings: Hapuawhenua Viaduct, Raurimu Spiral
Car No: C
Travel Class: Economy Class
Seating Car Model: New Zealand AK class (built by Hillside Workshops in Dunedin)
Price: NZD 123 (approx. EUR 71)
Scheduled travel time: 10 hours and 40 min
Departure: 07:55
Arrival: 18:35
Distance: 682 km
Travel season: November 2010
Train operator: The Great Journeys of New Zealand (KiwiRail)
Diesel Locomotive Wellington - Auckland: KiwiRail General Motors DFCclass (DFB 7186)
Part 1 (TranzAlpine Train Greymouth - Christchurch):
youtu.be/lI2F9uBIbAc
Part 2 (Coastal Pacific Train Christchurch - Picton):
youtu.be/MZXXv_gA77U
Part 3 (Interislander Ferry Picton - Wellington):
youtu.be/liQoI4Nkm2Y
Part 4 (Northern Explorer Train Wellington - Auckland):
this video!
Bongo by KV
Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0
New Zealand by Rail - part 2: Coastal Pacific Scenic Train Christchurch - Picton
Part Two of the New Zealand Railway Journey from the South Island to the North Island; travelling on the scenic Intercity trains TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific and Northern Explorer via Christchurch, Picton, and Wellington;
Scenic Train: Coastal Pacific
From: Christchurch (Ōtautahi), Canterbury Region, South Island, New Zealand
To: Christchurch (Waitohi), Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand
Route via Main North Line: Rangiora, Kaikoura on the Pacific Ocean, Blenheim
Car No: B
Travel Class: One Class
Seating Car Model: New Zealand AK class, built by Hillside Workshops in Dunedin
Price: NZD 80.58 (approx. EUR 44)
Scheduled travel time: 6 hours and 15 min
Departure: 07:00
Arrival: 13:15 (actual arrival time: 13:20)
Distance: approx. 348 km
Travel season: December 2019
Train operator: The Great Journeys of New Zealand, tourism division of KiwiRail
Diesel Locomotive Christchurch - Picton: One General Electric DX Class U26C 5172 (built by GE Transportation in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States in the early 1970s)
Song: Markvard - Everybody
Music provided by Vlog No Copyright Music.
Video Link:
New Zealand by Rail - part 1: TranzAlpine Scenic Train Greymouth - Christchurch
Part One of the New Zealand Railway Journey from Greymouth to Auckland; travelling on the scenic Intercity trains TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific and Northern Explorer via Otira Tunnel, Arthur's Pass, Springfield, Christchurch, Picton, Wellington, Palmerston Nord, National Park, and Hamilton
Scenic Train: № 804 TranzAlpine
From: Greymouth (Māwhera), West Coast Region, South Island, New Zealand
To: Christchurch (Ōtautahi), Canterbury Region, South Island, New Zealand
Route via Midland Line: Moana, Otira, Southern Alps, Arthur's Pass, Broken River, Staircase Viaduct, Waimakariri River, Springfield, Darfield, Rolleston
Car No: E
Travel Class: One Class
Seating Car Model: New Zealand AK class, built by Hillside Workshops in Dunedin
Price: NZD 121.38 (approx. EUR 71)
Scheduled travel time: 5 hours and 26 min
Departure: 14:05
Arrival: 18:31 (actual arrival time: 18:46)
Distance: approx. 223 km
Travel season: December 2019
Train operator: The Great Journeys of New Zealand, tourism division of KiwiRail
Diesel Locomotives Greymouth - Christchurch: Two General Electric DX Class U26C 5460 and 5333 (built by GE Transportation in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States in the early 1970s)
Push Diesel Locomotive Otira - Otira Tunnel - Arthur's Pass: DXC 5229
Ocean by KV
Creative Commons — Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0
Interislander 2020 Wellington to Picton on Kaitaki
The journey from Wellington to Picton the the Interislander Ferry Kaitaki.
KiwiRail NORTHERN EXPLORER Train | Auckland to Wellington, NZ
KiwiRail NORTHERN EXPLORER Train | Auckland to Wellington, NZ
Join us as we journey Auckland to Wellington on the north island of New Zealand.
The north island of New Zealand is picturesque as the lush greenery of the landscape changes. There are more than enough sheep to count on this trip. (New Zealand has more sheep than anywhere else on the planet)
The Northern Explorer passenger train consists of coach cars, an open air observation car as well as a bistro cafe with a wide variety of food and drinks. Along the way, step off the train and explore the towns of yesteryear gone by. If you are planning a trip to the bottom of the world, consider adding stops along the route of the Northern Explorer.
Are you a Lord of the Rings fan? Did you know that most of the movie was filmed in the little village of Hobbiton on New Zealand's North Island? In fact, many motion pictures were filmed in New Zealand.
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Scenic Highlights of the Interislander journey
The Interislander ferry is the longest running Cook Strait ferry service in New Zealand. Interislander sails between Wellington (North Island) and Picton (South Island). Our Interislander ferry is known as one of the most beautiful ferry journeys in the world and one of New Zealand's most iconic tourism experiences.
Interislander is one of the unmissable Great Journeys of New Zealand. It connects to our scenic rail experiences; the Coastal Pacific, which runs from Picton to Christchurch, and the Northern Explorer which journeys through the heart of the North Island.
Find out more at
Follow us on Facebook @Interislander or Instagram @Interislander_nz
Coastal Pacific Train Journey between Christchurch and Picton, New Zealand
A stunning journey from Christchurch to Picton, between the rugged Pacific coastline and the steeply rising Kaikoura mountains. Experience spectacular views of the Marlborough wine growing region and the patchwork farmlands of the Canterbury Plains.
Discover more at
Day Twenty-Six - Christchurch to Wellington via Coastal Pacific and InterIslander Ferry
We travel via train and ferry to Wellington to the dingiest of hostels and receive some bad news
New Zealand by Rail - part 3: Interislander Ferry Picton - Wellington via Cook Strait
Part Three of the New Zealand Railway Journey from the South Island to the North Island;
travelling on the scenic TranzAlpine, Coastal Pacific, Northern Explorer trains and Interislander Ferry;
Ferry: Interislander
From: Picton Harbour (Waitohi), Marlborough Region, South Island
To: Wellington Ferry Terminal (Te Whanganui-a-Tara), Aotea Quay, Wellington Region, North Island
Route via: Marlborough Sounds, Cook Strait
Ship: DEV Aratere
Built by: Astillero Barreras, Spain in 1998
Price: NZD 66.00 (approx. EUR 39)
Scheduled travel time: 3 hours and 30 min
Departure: 14:15
Arrival: 17:45
Distance: approx. 73 km
Travel season: Dec 2019
Ferry operator: Interislander, The Great Journeys of New Zealand, KiwiRail
Background Music Landscape has been composed by Kyle H.; the copyright lies with Kyle H.:
Soundcloud link:
New Zealand by Rail:
part 1 (TranzAlpine Train Greymouth - Christchurch):
part 2 (Coastal Pacific Train Christchurch - Picton):
part 3 (Interislander Ferry Picton - Wellington):
this video
INTERISLANDER KAITAKI - Ship Tour/Review 2017
Welcome aboard the Interislander Kaitatki from Wellington to Picton, today I'll be going through the cafes, cabins, outdoor viewing areas, and the stairs.. but they're boring.. nevermind. Hope you enjoy the video!
Click here to receive your monopoly dollars:
Also I hope you guys like the new design, please tell us what you think in the comments below (:
Music:
K-391: Deep Blue
Ultimate: My Dear
Interislander Cook Strait to Kaitaki
The Warratahs onboard Kaitaki
Our iconic music video 'Cruisin' on the Interislander' was released 32 years ago - and it was an absolute privilege to welcome the original artist of the song - The Warratahs - back for a day full of entertainment, fantastic music, and plenty of smiling faces onboard.
To our people and our customers - THANK YOU! It's been a pleasure to take you safely across Cook Strait for 60 years, and we look forward to the many more to come.
#interislander60years
Riding on the Interislander-Kaitaki . DVDs Full Set $ 30.00 from www.kbvideosandevents.com
Crossing the COOK Straight between New Zealands South and North Islands. On the ferry Kaitaki from Picton to Wellington.With about 1 and half hours sailing in the Marlborough Sounds, out of a 3 Hour + trip.
Scenic train from Christchurch to Picton | The Great Journeys of New Zealand
The Coastal Pacific isn't just a scenic activity, combined with the Interislander Ferry it is the perfect way to connect between Wellington, Blenheim, Kaikoura and Christchurch. The Coastal Pacific runs once daily taking just over 5 hours from the Christchurch Railway Station to Picton.
By Train from Christchurch to Wellington New Zealand 11-2000
By the Coastal Pacific train (Name in year 2000 TranzCoastal) from Christchurch to Picton. Then crossing the Cook Strait with the InterIslander Ferry to Wellington on the North Island of New Zealand. Nov. 2000. . In Christchurch we will see the Tramway Restaurant a 4* Restaurant in a tram circling the town in the evening while dining.
Picture taken with an Olympus digital Camera D490z built 1999 and very low resolution compared to cameras which we are now using.
Scenic views from Wellington to Christchurch via ferry and train
Scenic Highlights of the Coastal Pacific train
With the sea stretching to the horizon in the east and the Kaikōura mountains stretching to the sky in the west, the Coastal Pacific journey between Picton and Christchurch is one of the most astonishingly beautiful in New Zealand.
The Coastal Pacific is a seasonal train, running from Spring through to Autumn.
Find out more at
Follow us on Facebook at GreatJourneysof NZ or Instagram, @greatjourneysofnz