The onboard café was also reasonably well stocked with snacks and drinks – and the staff were just l

Let me preface this review with this statement: The Overlander is the most scenic train journey I've ever taken. Snaking its way between New Zealand's most interesting cities, its largest, Auckland, and its capital, Wellington, The Overlander is quite simply the best way to travel on the North Island. Having battled significant economic troubles, this train service now thankfully runs (almost) every day, with an early morning departure from Auckland, arriving in Wellington in the early evening. Unless you're really in a hurry, you should try to do this journey when visiting New Zealand.
We made it to Auckland's rent car ireland brilliant (but very small ) underground Central Station at 0700, 25 minutes before scheduled departure. Picking up a cup of coffee to bring onboard, we descended to the quite amazingly decorated platform area where boarding was well underway.
The Overlander looks a bit like a toy train; it's got only a few carriages – and one of them is a baggage wagon. The train is fronted by a trusty and sturdy looking locomotive and the passenger rent car ireland carriages are towards the back of the train.
A friendly Maori train inspector checked our tickets and asked us to leave our bags with a porter. With coffee in hand, as well as a small daypack, we boarded the train and found our seats. We were seated in the last carriage.
We waved the impressive skyline goodbye and settled into our comfortable seats. The cabin is one big compartment and feels very airy. It's clearly not the newest of trains (nor is the upholstery and interiors particularly well kept ) but this doesn't really rent car ireland matter. The windows are large (and clean) and there is ample legroom. I felt very comfortable.
All carriages feature the same large windows – but at the back of the train is an "Observation Carriage" with a  mix of seating including lounge style seating. The lounge style seating is arranged at the very rear oif this glass backed carriage enabling a great view of the scenery.
And what scenery; I know that Kiwis and regular travellers to New Zealand will agree that the South Island has the most spectacular vistas and nature in New Zealand. However, I was gobsmacked with what I experienced through the windows, here onboard the train on the North Island.
I honestly rent car ireland don't think that the tourist rent car ireland literature even give real credit to the magnificence of the scenery here; sweeping views of rolling hills and farmland, the volcanic plateau, beautiful river gorges – a mix of true wilderness and small townships pass by outside.
Much fuss was made about the Raurimu Spiral which the train passes with much fanfare – I didn't rent car ireland find it that interesting, to be honest. But I did enjoy the brief stop we made at "National Park Station" – with ever more gorgeous views of the nature scenery, it was lovely to get off the train, eat a snack and stretch your legs.
The onboard café was also reasonably well stocked with snacks and drinks – and the staff were just lovely, every single one of them. However, once it got dark, as we were approaching Wellington, the attraction of the Overlander rent car ireland subsided; and I was happy when the train pulled into Wellington Central Station.
Our arrival to Wellington was bang on time, at 1925. There was a short wait for the bags to be unloaded – but as the train is so small, there was none of the typical scrum on the platform as you experience with other long train journeys.
This is a journey not to be missed; the experience is one to treasure for a lifetime. Furthermore, The Overlander allows you the ability rent car ireland to enjoy some of the North Island's most beautiful scenery from the comfort of a train car.
I loved how small the train was and how friendly the staff onboard all were. However, the highlight is absolutely the incredible landscapes passing by outside. The Overlander gets our full recommendation, no doubt.