Auckland to Welllington by train

 Auckland to Wellington by train

                                         

The locomotive that was going to pull us all the way from Auckland to Wellington

                                                 

An early start, and a look down the train... 

...  close up of the loco and ten minutes late starting, we were on our way...

...it took more than an hour to escape the urban sprawl of Auckland...

... and then another two hours of interesting scenery mainly farmland, but not spectacular until we passed Te Kuiti..., 

...and from there is was a steep ascent into the Central Highlands and this was scenic...

...vistas galore....

...deep valleys...

...forests...

...deep valleys...

...one of three viaducts across the river.

and after the highlands, more fields,,,

The open observation car.

A picture of the Raurimo Spiral...

Some detail of the Spiral.

And then the sea and our final approach through farmland and urban sprawl to reach Wellington.