The Great Journeys of New Zealand
KiwiRail's tourism brand for scenic rail and Cook Strait ferry journeys across New Zealand.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The Great Journeys of New Zealand is the tourism division and passenger-experience brand of KiwiRail, New Zealand's state-owned rail and ferry operator. It markets scenic travel rather than conventional commuter or freight transportation, combining long-distance sightseeing trains with Cook Strait ferry services under one tourism-oriented identity. The brand was introduced in May 2017, replacing KiwiRail Scenic Journeys and bringing the operator's scenic rail and Interislander ferry activities into a more unified proposition. The brand's rail heritage extends through several earlier operating identities. New Zealand's government railway system operated long-distance passenger services for much of the twentieth century before the railways were corporatised in the 1980s and restructured in the early 1990s. Long-distance services were subsequently marketed as InterCity Rail and then, after the 1995 rebranding of Tranz Rail, as Tranz Scenic. Tranz Scenic became a separately incorporated subsidiary in 2001. Following Toll Holdings' acquisition of Tranz Rail in 2003 and the New Zealand Government's purchase of Toll's rail and ferry assets in 2008, the business became part of KiwiRail. KiwiRail repositioned its long-distance passenger operations for the tourism market in 2011 under the KiwiRail Scenic Journeys name. This change was accompanied by new AK-class passenger carriages designed to provide broad views of the landscape and to improve the sightseeing experience. The former Tranz Coastal became the Coastal Pacific, the Overlander was eventually replaced by the Northern Explorer, and the TranzAlpine retained its established name. These services connect major destinations while traversing highly scenic routes, including the South Island's mountainous interior and the coastal corridor between Christchurch and Picton. The 2017 brand architecture connected the scenic train portfolio with Interislander, KiwiRail's Cook Strait ferry operation. The resulting offer presents train-and-ferry travel as an integrated way to experience New Zealand, including journeys between Auckland, Wellington, Picton and Greymouth. The brand is therefore broader than a conventional rail operator: its value proposition is based on scenery, comfort, distinctive routes and the journey itself as a tourism experience. The operating portfolio has changed over time. Earlier services such as the Northerner, Overlander, Bay Express, Geyserland, Kaimai Express, Southerner and Lynx Express were withdrawn at different points because of patronage, commercial or operational considerations. The Capital Connection remains a KiwiRail-operated long-distance commuter service but is not part of The Great Journeys of New Zealand brand. KiwiRail also experimented with Silver Fern railcar excursions under Explore By Rail, although those excursions were discontinued by 2017. The brand faced a major service interruption during the COVID-19 period. In 2021, KiwiRail suspended the Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific, leaving the TranzAlpine as the remaining operating scenic train service for a period. The suspended services restarted from September 2022. The brand continues to focus on domestic and international visitors seeking scenic rail and ferry travel in New Zealand, with its principal assets being its routes, rolling stock, vessels and connection to KiwiRail's wider transport network.
History
New Zealand's long-distance passenger rail system developed from services operated by the New Zealand Railways Department from the late nineteenth century. The department operated alongside private railways such as the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company before the national railway system was corporatised as the New Zealand Railways Corporation in 1982. In 1986, the corporation became a state-owned enterprise. Studies commissioned during this period encouraged a stronger tourism orientation for long-distance passenger services, reflecting the limited commercial prospects of conventional intercity rail compared with the potential appeal of scenic travel. A major institutional change followed the New Zealand Railways Corporation Restructuring Act 1990. Core rail and shipping operations were transferred to New Zealand Rail Limited, a Crown transferee company established in October 1990. Its long-distance passenger services were marketed under the InterCity Rail name. New Zealand Rail Limited was privatised in 1993, when it was sold to TranzRail Holdings Limited. The company adopted the Tranz Rail name in 1995, and InterCity Rail was rebranded Tranz Scenic. Tranz Scenic was incorporated as a standalone company, Tranz Scenic (2001) Limited, in November 2001. Tranz Rail sold a 50 percent interest to Donald Gibson and Gary McDonald, who were associated with Australia's West Coast Railway. The transaction included long-distance passenger rolling stock and locomotives. The intended sale of the remaining interest did not proceed. Toll Holdings acquired Tranz Rail in 2003 and operated the New Zealand business as Toll NZ. Toll later acquired the outstanding share in Tranz Scenic in July 2004. In May 2008, the New Zealand Government agreed to purchase Toll NZ's rail and sea-transport assets for NZ$665 million, creating the modern KiwiRail organisation. KiwiRail subsequently developed a tourism-focused passenger proposition. In 2011, it introduced KiwiRail Scenic Journeys, supported by new AK-class carriages designed and built in New Zealand. The new carriages were intended to improve the viewing experience on scenic routes and were first introduced on the Coastal Pacific in November 2011. During this transition, the Tranz Coastal was renamed the Coastal Pacific and the Overlander was replaced by the Northern Explorer; the TranzAlpine name was retained. The passenger business underwent further review during the early 2010s. KiwiRail considered selling its remaining long-distance passenger services in 2012, but no buyer was found. The Overlander ceased operating in 2012 and was superseded by the Northern Explorer, which operated on a more limited timetable. Other historic services were withdrawn over time, including the Northerner overnight service, the Bay Express, Geyserland, Kaimai Express, Southerner and Lynx Express. KiwiRail also trialled Silver Fern railcar excursions under the Explore By Rail concept, but these excursions were discontinued by 2017. In 2017, KiwiRail consolidated its scenic rail and ferry tourism activities under The Great Journeys of New Zealand. The strategy linked the TranzAlpine, Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific with the Interislander Cook Strait ferry network. It was intended to promote connected travel across the country, including journeys that combine rail and ferry travel between the North and South Islands. The brand replaced the former KiwiRail Scenic Journeys identity while preserving the underlying services and their accumulated history. The COVID-19 period caused another operational interruption. In 2021, KiwiRail suspended the Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific, leaving the TranzAlpine as the principal continuing scenic train service. The two suspended services resumed from September 2022. The brand remains part of KiwiRail's passenger and tourism portfolio, with its differentiation grounded in scenic routes, panoramic travel, New Zealand landscapes and the integration of rail and Cook Strait ferry experiences.
- 2022
Suspended services resume
[1]The Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific restarted from September 2022.
- 2021
Two scenic train services suspended
[1]The Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific were suspended during the pandemic period.
- 2017
The Great Journeys of New Zealand launched
[1]KiwiRail combined its scenic rail and Interislander tourism activities under the new brand.
- 2012
Northern Explorer replaces the Overlander
[1]The Overlander ended operations and was superseded by the Northern Explorer on the Auckland–Wellington route.
- 2011
KiwiRail Scenic Journeys launched
[1]KiwiRail introduced a tourism-oriented passenger brand and began deploying AK-class carriages for scenic services.
- 2008
KiwiRail created
[1]The New Zealand Government acquired Toll NZ's rail and sea-transport assets and established KiwiRail.
- 2003
Toll Holdings acquires Tranz Rail
[1]Australian transport company Toll Holdings took control of Tranz Rail and operated the New Zealand business as Toll NZ.
- 2001
Tranz Scenic incorporated as a standalone subsidiary
[1]Tranz Scenic (2001) Limited was established as a separate operating company.
- 1995
InterCity Rail becomes Tranz Scenic
[1]The long-distance passenger brand was renamed Tranz Scenic during Tranz Rail's rebranding.
- 1993
Rail business privatised
[1]New Zealand Rail Limited was sold to TranzRail Holdings Limited.
Products and positioning
A premium, scenery-led New Zealand travel brand that treats rail and ferry transportation as destination experiences, connecting major cities and regions through iconic landscapes.
Scenic train
TranzAlpine
The TranzAlpine is a scenic South Island rail service associated with the Great Journeys brand. It provides a tourism-focused journey across the South Island's interior between Christchurch and Greymouth, passing through landscapes that include plains, river valleys and mountainous terrain. The service retained the TranzAlpine name through KiwiRail's earlier Scenic Journeys rebrand and the 2017 creation of The Great Journeys of New Zealand.
Scenic train · 2012
Northern Explorer
The Northern Explorer is a long-distance scenic train connecting Auckland and Wellington through the North Island. It replaced the Overlander in 2012 and operates as a tourism-oriented alternative to ordinary intercity transport, with the journey itself promoted as the principal experience. The service was suspended in 2021 and restarted from September 2022.
Scenic train · 2011
Coastal Pacific
The Coastal Pacific is a scenic South Island train service linking Christchurch and Picton along the east coast. It evolved from the former Tranz Coastal service and was renamed during KiwiRail's 2011 Scenic Journeys transformation. The route uses sightseeing-oriented rolling stock and forms part of the brand's core scenic rail portfolio. It was suspended in 2021 and resumed from September 2022.
Cook Strait ferry
Interislander
Interislander is KiwiRail's Cook Strait passenger-ferry operation and a central component of The Great Journeys of New Zealand's connected travel proposition. Its ferries link the North and South Islands and allow travellers to combine scenic rail journeys with a sea crossing between Wellington and Picton. The ferry brand predates The Great Journeys identity but was brought into the tourism division's integrated offering in 2017.
Rail excursion
Explore By Rail excursions
KiwiRail trialled special tourism excursions using refurbished Silver Fern railcars under the Explore By Rail concept. Examples included trips to Napier, Gisborne, the central North Island and a brewery reached through the Manawatū Gorge. The excursions were seasonal or event-based rather than regular scheduled services and had been discontinued by 2017.
Brand decisions
2021
Suspend two scenic train servicesStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 period disrupted tourism and passenger travel in New Zealand.
Action taken
KiwiRail suspended the Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific while continuing the TranzAlpine.
Aftermath
The two services restarted from September 2022.
2017
Unify scenic rail and ferry tourism under one brandStrategyBackground
KiwiRail operated scenic passenger trains under KiwiRail Scenic Journeys while its Cook Strait ferry business used the Interislander identity. The company sought to present rail and ferry travel as a connected New Zealand tourism experience.
Action taken
KiwiRail launched The Great Journeys of New Zealand and grouped its scenic train services with the Interislander ferry proposition.
Aftermath
The new brand replaced KiwiRail Scenic Journeys and became the tourism-facing identity for the combined rail-and-ferry offering.
Recent events
- 2022
Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific services restart[1]
Other
KiwiRail restarted the Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific from September 2022 following their suspension.
- 2021
KiwiRail suspends Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific services[1]
Other
KiwiRail suspended two of the brand's three principal scenic train services during the pandemic period. The TranzAlpine continued operating while the Northern Explorer and Coastal Pacific were temporarily unavailable.
- 2017
KiwiRail launches The Great Journeys of New Zealand brand[1]
Product launch
KiwiRail brought its scenic rail services and Interislander ferry operation together under The Great Journeys of New Zealand identity, replacing KiwiRail Scenic Journeys as the principal tourism brand.
Sources2 sources
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