Northern Explorer

*Northern Explorer*
	Northern Explorer train set at Paekākāriki
Overview
Service type	Inter-city rail
Status	Operating
Locale	North Island, New Zealand
Predecessor	Overlander
First service	25 June 2012
Current operator(s)	Great Journeys New Zealand
Former operator(s)	KiwiRail Scenic Journeys
Route
Termini	Wellington; Auckland
Stops	7
Distance travelled	681 km (423 mi)
Average journey time	10 hours 55 minutes northbound ; 10 hours 35 minutes southbound
Service frequency	3 per week in each direction, 6 trips total
Line(s) used	North Island Main Trunk
On-board services
Seating arrangements	Airline style, alcove, and lounger
Catering facilities	On-board café
Observation facilities	Large windows in all carriages
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks ; Baggage carriage
Technical
Rolling stock	New Zealand AK class carriages, ; DFB locomotives
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

The Northern Explorer is a long-distance passenger train operated by the Great Journeys New Zealand division of KiwiRail between Auckland and Wellington in the North Island of New Zealand, along the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT). Three services operate per week in each direction between Auckland's The Strand Station and Wellington railway station.^[1] The Northern Explorer replaced the Overlander from 25 June 2012.

It was suspended in December 2021,^[2]^[3] after suspension in August for COVID-19 lockdown.^[4]^[5] However, it restarted on 25 September 2022.^[6]

^ "Northern Explorer Timetable". The Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
^ "Project Restart '22". Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 1 February 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
^ "Urgent calls for long-distance passenger services to stay as KiwiRail cuts operations". Newshub. Archived from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
^ "KiwiRail suspends scenic trains until next year amid 'difficult' tourism market". Stuff. 8 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
^ "Covid-19: Forty-eight hours to get home and other travel rules for NZ's level 4 lockdown". Stuff. 17 August 2021. Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
^ "Even Greater Journeys for 2022!". Great Journeys of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 July 2022. Retrieved 15 April 2022.