Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer

07/11/2024

A magnificent selection of images from the recent "Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer" Rail & Coach Tour that departed on 21st October!
Credit: Denise Erikson

05/11/2024

We are incredibly excited to announce the new “Winter Edition” series of the "Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer" Rail & Coach Tours.
Experience New Zealand’s beautiful deep south, “cloaked in snow”.
A 12-Day Tour departing Christchurch (return) between June to September 2025.
New Product Launch Offer starting at NZD 6,995 per person sharing.

16/10/2024

We are delighted that our Sir Edmund Hillary “Explorers” will now experience the newly opened, spectacular section of track to Pukerangi, on the extended Taieri Gorge journey in Dunedin.

09/08/2024

The "Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer" tour is owned & operated by Pounamu Tourism Group. Exciting times indeed!

Thank you Otago Daily Times for this press coverage today - exciting times ahead!
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/getting-trains-back-tracks

Saturday, 10 August 2024
Getting Trains Back On Tracks - By Ani Ngawhika

News - Dunedin

New carriages have appeared on the tracks at the Dunedin Railway Station. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
New carriages have appeared on the tracks at the Dunedin Railway Station. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
A South Island tourism company is looking to invest in Dunedin Railways Ltd.
Pounamu Tourism Group (PTG) and Dunedin City Holdings Ltd (DCHL) have begun talks about Dunedin Railways Ltd, but these discussions are still in their early stages and a finalised proposal is not expected for some time.

New carriages, which are parked at the Dunedin Railway Station, have been bought by PTG as part of its move to the South.

PTG managing director Paul Jackson said its intentions were to increase international tourism charter bookings with Dunedin Railways "by tenfold" over the next three years.

Dunedin Railways had been struggling with calls for it to close after racking up hefty losses, but the Dunedin City Council delayed any decision on its future.

The plan was to continue working with the existing Dunedin Railways management team and staff, as they had the necessary "culture and expertise" to guide the transition into a successful, fully operational and commercially sustainable business.

PTG would also recognise community initiatives and the local Dunedin market, helping to create a "steady flow" of international and domestic tourists.

"We feel that there is room for the rail enthusiast groups and we can make provision for special trains and activities."

However, it was vital to create a commercially successful operating model, including the "expertise and engineering skills" available with the existing Dunedin Railways.

The existing team was "passionate and raring to go".

He could not disclose further details of the proposal while discussions were at such an early stage.

"We are in discussions with DCHL chairman Tim Loan and general manager Peter Hocking ... we will submit our proposal in the coming weeks to DCHL who will then follow the process and submit it to Dunedin City and DCC."

The new carriages would operate on the main railway line, allowing the existing Dunedin Railways fleet to focus on providing additional services in the Taieri Gorge.

"It goes without saying that [the] Taieri Gorge is important and will continue as part of our model.

"However, we will be looking to also boost trips to Waitati and Oamaru and there are potential plans afoot for Invercargill and other destinations, as long as we can make the business case work."

PTG would pay for repairs to the refurbished British Rail Mark 2 carriages at Hillside Workshops in South Dunedin.

"The carriages are the first step and just one part of a larger puzzle, which will be presented to DCHL and DCC.

"Once we have followed due process, we will be in a position to share the exciting details about our robust plans at a later stage."

Pounamu Tourism Group, a privately owned group, runs train journeys in and around the Marlborough area.

It started in 2017.

Mr Loan said DCHL had a "good relationship" with PTG and looked forward to working with them on future projects.

"We’ve operated with Pounamu for some time; they work with us in terms of the cruise ships, in particular.

"I think it’s exciting they’ve bought the carriages and looking to get them refurbished ... they’re a partner we enjoy working with."

The project was funded entirely by PTG.

"Pounamu Tourism Group believes in the future of Dunedin Railways and in the current team at Dunedin Railways, which is why we are seriously considering this investment.

"Our involvement will add value and will unlock additional potential."

19/04/2024

30/10/2023

26/10/2023

Our new turntable in operation for the first time in Kaikoura to collect our guests on The Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Rail & Coach Tour of the South Island...for the home stretch of their journey to Marlborough today.
Photo credit: Tommy Secker

22/10/2023

We are proud to release our new season dates for the epic Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Rail & Coach Tours departing in 2024/2025 - join us on your "journey of a lifetime!" To view new tour dates >> www.siredmundhillaryexplorer.com/2023/2024/2025-season

11/08/2023

Great news, Explorers! As our current tours for this coming season have now sold out, we have added a 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 for explorers that prefer not to wait until the following season. The Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Rail & Coach Tour will now also depart from Christchurch on 𝟮𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰. The wait is over, book now! >>> For more bookings & further details, please visit our website below.

Journey with us from Christchurch into the deep south of New Zealand for a journey of a lifetime and experience the postcard perfect vistas and dramatic alpine scenery that this part of the world is renowned for using a combination of Train & Luxury Coach.

20/04/2023

Tour passengers enjoying the incredible viaduct view today along the remote and rugged landscape route of the world-famous Taieri Gorge with Dunedin Railways.

Photo credit: Debbie Kirton

18/04/2023

Enjoy this arial footage taken of the "Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer" Rail & Coach Tour being hauled by DA1431 & Ab608 between Omihi & Waipara as we journey South towards Christchurch.

Video Footage credit: (Callum Forsdick)

17/04/2023

A selection of fantastic images from the Tour heading down South taken between Picton, Kaikoura & Christchurch over the past few days - hauled by Ab608 & DA1431.
Thank you, Tommy Mortimer, for sharing your images with us!mortimer.photo

10/04/2023

Our team is counting down the days until the next group of “explorers” embark on the April 2023 “Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer” Rail & Coach Tour – a journey of a lifetime!

Photo Credit: Karen Rankin

23/02/2023

We are delighted to announce that The Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Rail & Coach Tour now includes the “Big Five” rail experiences of the South Island!

From October 2023, the “Big Five” will now all be included in your tour…TranzAlpine • Kingston Flyer (Steam) • Taieri Gorge • Coastal Pacific • Marlborough Flyer (Steam).

Your incredible 13-day journey begins in Christchurch traversing the Southern Alps via Arthur’s Pass, to the west coast, down to Franz Josef, Queenstown, Milford Sound, across to Dunedin, heading back up to Aoraki Mt Cook, Christchurch, Kaikoura, Marlborough and across the Cook Straight to Wellington.

The journey of a lifetime!

For tour dates and more details, please click here:
www.siredmundhillaryexplorer.com

09/11/2022

Wait for it....wait for it.....Toot Toot! Yesterday's glorious afternoon coastal approach to Kekerengu for a picnic lunch.

28/10/2022

Our 2022 tour group is southward bound! What a magnificent welcome yesterday into Kaikoura with a dusting of snow on the Kaikoura ranges.

Photo credit: Tommy Secker

23/10/2022

3-2-1…we are on the final countdown until the first group of “explorers” embark on the October 2022 Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer Heritage Rail & Coach Tour.

Our team is busy finessing detailed preparations in anticipation for the journey of a lifetime!

22/05/2022

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