World Travel Awards
NZ's Leading Tour Operator 2025
Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer
One island. Six great railways.
One name that means adventure.
Fully escorted journeys through New Zealand's South Island — by rail and luxury coach, at an unhurried pace.
World Travel Awards
NZ's Leading Tour Operator 2025
World Travel Awards
New Zealand's Leading Tour Operator 2025
NZ Owned & Operated
Pounamu Tourism Group
Sir Edmund Hillary, 1960
The Hillary Line
The name on the train is a story, not a slogan
These journeys carry the name of New Zealand's greatest adventurer — and they travel through the country that made him. Follow the line.
1919
Born 20 July, Auckland, New Zealand.
1948
First ascent of the south ridge of Aoraki/Mt Cook, in a party of four. The ridge was renamed Hillary Ridge in 2011.
1953
29 May: Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay make the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest.
2003
A bronze statue of Sir Ed is unveiled — by Hillary himself — outside The Hermitage at Mt Cook Village.
1919–2008
A nation's explorer. His spirit of adventure inspires every journey we run.
Today
Every tour visits the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at Aoraki Mt Cook. The Pinnacle Tour 2027 is hosted personally by Peter Hillary, departing 14 January 2027.
The line continues — on the rails of the South Island.
The Routes
Seven journeys. One island.
Pick a tour to light up its route, or tap any destination to see which journeys visit it.
Stylised route map
The routes at a glance
- Winter Editions (2026 & 2027): Christchurch return via Arthur's Pass, Greymouth, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Te Anau, Doubtful Sound, Invercargill, Dunedin, Oamaru and Aoraki Mt Cook.
- 14-Day Spring/Summer 2026/27: Christchurch loop via the West Coast, Queenstown, Te Anau and Milford Sound, the deep south and Aoraki Mt Cook — then the Coastal Pacific leg to Kaikōura and Blenheim.
- 14-Day Spring/Summer 2027/28: the same complete route; Milford Sound is an optional excursion from Te Anau.
- 11-Day Spring/Summer 2026/27: Christchurch return via Arthur's Pass, the glaciers, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Dunedin and Aoraki Mt Cook.
- 11-Day Spring/Summer 2027/28: the same route; Milford Sound is an optional excursion.
- The Pinnacle Tour 2027: Christchurch to Auckland — the West Coast (Punakaiki), Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Dunedin, Aoraki Mt Cook, Akaroa, Kaikōura and Blenheim, concluding with a flight to Auckland.
- Milford Sound: included on the 2026/27 Spring/Summer tours and the Pinnacle Tour; an optional excursion on the 2027/28 tours. Doubtful Sound: a feature of the Winter Editions.
Upcoming Journeys · 2026 – 2028
Find your journey
Two questions and we'll point you at the right tour — or browse all seven below, with live availability on every one.
Winter
Spring – Summer
The Pinnacle
The Rail Adventures
Six of New Zealand's great rail journeys. One collection.
The “Super 6” rail adventures anchor every Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer itinerary — including two southern sectors exclusive to these tours.
1 TranzAlpine
Christchurch to Greymouth across the Southern Alps via Arthur's Pass — alpine scenery, beech forest, braided rivers and wide Canterbury landscapes.
2 Kingston Flyer (Steam)
A heritage steam rail experience between Kingston and Fairlight at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu.
3 The Mainlander
Exclusive to Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer, The Mainlander brings two new southern rail sectors into the “Super 6” rail adventures.
4 Taieri Gorge
A remote rail journey through river gorges, historic tunnels and the Wingatui Viaduct — one of New Zealand's great railway engineering landmarks.
5 Coastal Pacific
The Pacific coast route between Christchurch, Kaikōura and Blenheim — remote beaches, mountains rising from the sea, and the Marlborough wine region.
6 Weka Pass Railway
Heritage carriages hauled by a vintage diesel-electric locomotive through the unique limestone landscape of the Weka Pass.
Each tour features its own signature set — from the “Famous 4” and “Big 5” to the complete “Super 6”. Compare them in the journey finder.
A Day Aboard
What a travelling day actually feels like
Not a checklist — a rhythm. Four moments you'll recognise from any Sir Edmund Hillary Explorer journey.
Morning
Coffee in hand as the TranzAlpine climbs through Arthur's Pass. The Southern Alps fill the window.
Midday
A cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak High Country Farm. Time slows to lake pace.
Afternoon
The open country of the deep south from the Taieri Gorge line — viaducts, tunnels, river gorge. Remote country, best seen from a carriage window.
Evening
Dinner with your group as the day winds down. Your tour leader walks you through tomorrow.
Peter Hillary · Lobuche Peak, 6,130m · 2018
The Flagship · One Departure Only
The Pinnacle Tour 2027 — hosted by Peter Hillary
Fifteen days. One small group. Premium 5-star hotels, helicopter flights, jet boat safaris and the Kingston Flyer in steam — hosted personally by Peter Hillary: mountaineer, author, and son of Sir Edmund Hillary.
From the Southern Alps to the deep south and on to Auckland, this is the South Island without compromise — and the closest you can travel to the Hillary story itself.
Discover the Pinnacle Tour Traveller Reviews
Word of mouth, straight from the train
“I would describe this as a world-class tour.”
“
Outstanding — and we've toured many times before. Excellent tour leaders, top-class hotels throughout.
Verified traveller review “
Fabulous tour with iconic South Island train journeys. Well organised with so many varied excursions.
Verified traveller review “
Don't think about it — do it. Definitely worth it. The experience of a lifetime.
Verified traveller reviewHear it from our travellers
Plan Your Journey
Take the brochures with you
Every itinerary, day by day — hotels, inclusions, rail adventures and departure dates for all seven tours across 2026–2028. Download the collection, compare at your own pace, and talk to our New Zealand–based team when you're ready.
Prefer to talk it through? Call our New Zealand team on +64 3 974 1812 — you'll get a person, not a queue.
Prefer to book directly? Use the direct booking form.
