Explore New Zealand’s stunning landscapes with Stephanie Pearson’s recommendation of a 17-day scenic rail journey through the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific, and TranzAlpine trains. Discover the country’s towering peaks, pristine beaches, and Maori culture through panoramic windows and partial glass ceilings.

The journey starts in Auckland and explores transcendent sites like the volcanic peaks of Tongariro National Park and Te Papa Tongarewa Museum. Guests ferry across the Cook Strait to the South Island and board the Coastal Pacific for a ride through world-class vineyards and along the jagged coast, stopping to whale- and dolphin-watch before ending in Christchurch. The last leg on the TranzAlpine starts on the lush Canterbury Plains then climbs over the Southern Alps, with views of white-capped peaks, rushing rivers, and alpine lakes.