Northern Explorer train from Auckland to Wellington

Interactive map

Click a route for times, fares & info

New Zealand train map Dunedin-Queenstown by Taieri Gorge Railway Christchurch-Queenstown-Milford Sound by bus Christchurch-Dunedin-Invercargill by bus Christchurch-Greymouth on the Tranz Alpine train... Picton-Christchurch on the Tranz Coastal train... Wellington-Picton by Interislander Ferry Auckland-Wellington on the Overlander train...

See New Zealand by train

Whether you're an overseas visitor or a born-and-bred New Zealander, trains are the best way to travel between New Zealand's three main cities, Auckland, Wellington and (with a little help from the Interislander ferry) Christchurch.  Trains are also the way to reach the North Island's Tongariro National Park, the South Island's west coast at Greymouth, the whale-watching and dolphin-swimming centre at Kaikoura or the Marlborough vineyards at Blenheim.  See the route map opposite.

Unlike domestic flights, the trains take you at ground level past superb scenery that can't be seen by road, in civilised comfort that cramped and uncivilised long-distance buses can't match.  So ditch that short-haul flight and actually see New Zealand!

New Zealand's long-distance trains are operated by Kiwi Rail's passenger division, originally called Tranz Scenic but returned to public ownership in 2008 as KiwiRail Scenic and in 2017 rebranded yet again as Great Journeys of New Zealand.  Who knows what it will be called next year?  This page explains routes, train times, fares, the best way to buy tickets, and what there is to see on the journey.

Train times, fares, tickets

small bullet point  Auckland to Wellington by Northern Explorer train

small bullet point  Wellington to Picton by Interislander Ferry

small bullet point  Wellington-Christchurch by ferry & Coastal Pacific train

small bullet point  Christchurch - Greymouth by Tranz-Alpine train

small bullet point  Christchurch - Timaru - Dunedin - Invercargill

small bullet point  Christchurch - Queenstown - Milford Sound

small bullet point  Dunedin - Queenstown by Taieri Gorge Railway

Other useful information

small bullet point  Flights to New Zealand

small bullet point  Hotels & accommodation in New Zealand

small bullet point  Travel insurance, mobile data, VPN & other tips

small bullet point  Useful country information: currency, time zone...

Interactive route map

Click a route for info.

New Zealand train map Dunedin-Queenstown by Taieri Gorge Railway Christchurch-Queenstown-Milford Sound by bus Christchurch-Dunedin-Invercargill by bus Christchurch-Greymouth on the Tranz Alpine train... Picton-Christchurch on the Tranz Coastal train... Wellington-Picton by Interislander Ferry Auckland-Wellington on the Overlander train...


Useful country information

Train operator:

Long distance trains:  www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz.

Interislander Ferry Wellington-Picton:  www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/interislander

Auckland suburban trains, at.govt.nz/bus-train-ferry.  Wellington suburban trains, www.metlink.org.nz.

Taieri Gorge Railway: www.dunedinrailways.co.nz

Time zone & dialling code:

GMT+12 (GMT+13 from the last Sunday in September to first Sunday in April).  Dial code +64

Currency:

£1 = 2 NZ Dollars.   US$1 = 1.6 NZ$    Currency converter

Tourist information:

www.newzealand.com   Tripadvisor   Recommended guidebooks

Flights to NZ:

Scan multiple airlines to find the cheapest flights to New Zealand

Hotels in New Zealand:

Scan multiple hotel providers to find cheapest rates   Find backpacker hostels in New Zealand

Page last updated:

8 January 2024


  Auckland to Wellington on the 'Northern Explorer' train...  Photo James Chuang

Auckland to Wellington by train

The train ride from Auckland to Wellington over the North Island Main Trunk Railway is an amazing experience and one of my favourite journeys.  So ditch that domestic flight or nightmare bus journey and ride the Northern Explorer from downtown Auckland to central Wellington, in comfort at ground level.  Stop off if you like at the Tongariro National Park.  This is an epic 681 kilometre (423 mile) journey right across the interior of the North Island, taking you in a single day past every kind of scenery there is, from coastline to volcanoes to mountains, from lush green farmland to thick New Zealand rainforest.  The historic North Island Main Trunk Railway was completed in 1908 and includes such feats of engineering at the Raurimu Spiral, Turangarere Horseshoe & Makatote Viaduct.

For times, fares, information & photos, see the Northern Explorer page.


Wellington to Picton by ferry

New Zealand's Interislander is one of the most scenic ferry crossings in the world, easily the best way between the North & South Islands - a genuine experience, not a mere flight.  There are up to 5 daily sailings across the Cook Strait between Wellington and Picton, crossing time 3½ hours.  The 08:45 sailing from Wellington and 14:15 sailing from Picton connect with the Coastal Pacific train to/from Christchurch, see the Wellington-Christchurch timetable below.  The Cook Strait has a reputation for choppy seas, but in reality only a third of the crossing is actually in the Strait itself, most of it is in very sheltered waters, and in my experience it was rock steady on the big, modern and stabilised ferry Kaitaki.

Interislander sailings from Wellington:  06:15*, 08:45, 13:00, 15:45, 20:30**.

Interislander sailings from Picton:  07:30*, 11:00*, 14:15, 18:30, 20:35.

Crossing time 3½ hours.  * Not Mondays.  ** Not Saturdays.

Times vary by season, so check ferry fares & times at www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/interislander

In Wellington, the Interislander terminal is a long walk north of the railway station, but a free shuttle bus clearly marked Interislander leaves from platform 9 at the railway station 50 minutes before each sailing.  The journey time is 5 minutes.  Foot passengers must check in at the terminal at least 30 minutes before sailing time.  All heavy baggage is checked in so only hand luggage is carried on board.  Passengers connecting with the train to Christchurch can check in bags in Wellington all the way through to Christchurch.

In Picton, the Interislander terminal is 200 metres from the station.  All heavy baggage is checked in so only hand luggage needs to be carried on board.

The 08:25 sailing from Wellington & 13:15 sailing from Picton connect with the Coastal Pacific train to/from Christchurch.  You can book combined Wellington-Christchurch ferry & train tickets  online at www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz, but see the advice bee below to get the cheaper tickets.  Both these sailings are normally operated by the Kaitaki, the largest ferry in New Zealand waters.

The Kaitaki may look familiar to ferry travellers from Ireland or the UK.  She started life in 1995 as the Isle of Innisfree on the Irish Ferries Holyhead-Dublin and Pembroke-Rosslare routes, and later the P&O's Pride of Cherbourg on the Portsmouth-Cherbourg route.  The Interislander ferry company was started in 1962 by New Zealand Railways, hence its close connections with the train service to Christchurch.  Another ferry company also operates several daily ferries between Wellington and Picton, www.bluebridge.co.nz, but these ferries don't connect with the train to Christchurch.

Kaitaki Plus first class lounge:  For an extra NZ$80 paid on board, you can access the Kaitaki Plus lounge with quiet seating, power sockets, free WiFi, complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and a free light hot meal.  Over-18s only.  On the down side, the views from the lounge are slightly obstructed, and you may spend much of the crossing on deck, gazing at the scenery!

A voyage on the Interislander

Interislander ferry "Kaitaki" at Wellington   Interislander ferry "Kaitaki" nrothbound in the Tory Channel

The Interislander ferry Kaitaki at Wellington.

 

The sun bursts through the clouds out in the Cook Strait.

Interislander ferry "Kaitaki" enters the Tory Channel between Wellington and Picton   Interislander ferry "Kaitaki" in the Tory Channel

The Interislander ferry Kaitaki in the Tory Channel.

 

Another shot of the ferry in the Tory Channel.

Charlotte Sound from InterIslander ferry

A slow & beautiful cruise along the Tory Channel to the Charlotte Sound.

The ferry terminal at Picton, seen from the deck of an arriving ferry from Wellington   Interislander ferry "Kaitaki" at Picton

The ferry arrives at Picton.  The Edwin Fox museum ship can be clearly seen, Picton station is the small red-roofed cream-coloured building immediately to the right of it.  Above right, the Interislander ferry Kaitaki at Picton.

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Picton to Christchurch by train

The most comfortable and scenic way to travel from Wellington to Christchurch is to take the famous Interislander ferry and the connecting Coastal Pacific train.  Named TranzCoastal until 2011, the train has now regained its original name Coastal Pacific.

 Wellington ► Christchurch

 The Coastal Pacific

Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun

September-April*

 Wellington depart by Interislander ferry:

08:45

 Picton arrive by Interislander ferry:

12:15

 Picton depart by Coastal Pacific train:

13:40

 Blenheim

14:05

 Kaikoura

16:25

 Rangiora

18:45

 Christchurch arrive by Coastal Pacific train:

19:30

* Runs from late September until late April.  Runs every day in summer, February-April.  For exact dates see www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz.  The Coast Pacific used to run daily all year but was reduced to running in New Zealand's summer season only.  It was planned to restore all-year-round running in 2019, but this didn't happen.

One class of seating, cafe-bar, open-air viewing platform.

There are other Wellington-Picton Interislander ferry sailings, see www.greatjourneysofnz.co.nz/interislander, only the rail-connected sailing is shown here.  It leaves Wellington at 08:45 on some dates, and northbound times vary too, so always check for your date of travel.

 Christchurch ► Wellington

 The Coastal Pacific

Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun

September-April*

 Christchurch depart by Coastal Pacific train:

07:00

 Rangiora

07:30

 Kaikoura 

10:00

 Blenheim

12:10

 Picton arrive by Coastal Pacific train:

12:40

 Picton depart by Interislander ferry:

14:15

 Wellington arrive by Interislander ferry

17:45

 How much does it cost?

 Wellington to  Picton by ferry:

From NZ$ 60

 Picton to Christchurch by train: 

Summer fare NZ$ 159

Winter fare NZ$ 119

Children aged 2-14 travel at reduced fare.  Infants under 2 travel free.

How to buy tickets

What's the train like?

The Coastal Pacific uses new AK panoramic sightseeing coaches built in KiwiRail's Dunedin workshops in New Zealand in 2011-2012.  These replace the old rebuilt 1930s & 1940s carriages used until 2012. Photos courtesy of James Chuang

Auckland to Wellington on the Northern Explorer train   Seats in the new 'AK' carriages on the Auckland-Wellington 'Northern Explorer'

Comfortable seats, most facing direction of travel, some in bays of 4 around a table, all lining up with huge panoramic windows (note the roof skylights too!), with loads of legroom even if you're over six feet tall.  Seats are not always allocated at booking, but by the train manager before departure.  However, if you book by phone (or book online and then call KiwiRail's freephone number when you get to NZ and quote your booking reference) you can make a seating request.  For example, four friends or family travelling together could request one of the few bays of 4 seats facing each other around a table, keen photographers could request a seat close to the viewing platform.  Requests can't be guaranteed, of course, but it doesn't hurt to ask!  All your heavy baggage is checked in to the baggage van, only hand luggage may be taken into the seating coaches.  All seats in the new 'AK' cars have power sockets for mobiles, laptops or cameras (New Zealand voltage and plug, of course).  Larger photo.

New Premium class:  From October 2020, a new Premium class carriage was added to the Coastal Pacific, with extra-legroom extra-width reclining seats arranged 2+1 across the car width (the usual cars have seats 2+2 across the car) and included food & wine, served at your seat.

Cafe car on the Northern Explorer train from Auckland to Wellington   Auckland to Wellington on the Northern Explorer train

Cafe-bar:  In the centre of the train is a counter selling tea, coffee, wine, beer, spirits, snacks & light microwaveable meals at reasonable prices.  I can recommend a cream tea in the afternoon, and a glass of Sauvignon Blanc!  You can buy at the counter and take your food & drink back to your seat, but staff also come through the train taking orders for delivery to your seat.  Bring cash, as cards are sometimes not accepted if the credit card machine is out of cellphone range.  Larger photo.

Viewing car on the Northern Explorer train from Auckland to Wellington   Inside the viewing car on the Northern Explorer train

Open-air viewing platform:  At the Wellington end of the train (rear going north, behind the locomotive going south) is a large open-air viewing platform, ideal for seeing and photographing the scenery, with no glass in between you and it.  Children must be accompanied.  The viewing cars now have additional rails to prevent you leaning out.

What's the journey like?

Scenery seen from the Coastal Pacific train

The Coastal Pacific in the hills south of Blenheim, a photo taken from the open-air viewing car (taken before the train was re-equipped with the new AK carriages).

The Coastal Pacific train to Christchurch skirts the ocean

The train isn't called the Coastal Pacific for nothing.  Also taken before the train was re-equipped with AK carriages.

The Coastal Pacific train stops at Kaikoura...   A typical view from a Coastal Pacific window!

The Coastal Pacific stops at Kaikoura, the South Island's whale-watching and dolphin-swimming centre.

 

The view from the window, a stone's throw from the sea.

Spot the seals from the train!   Misty Pacific coastline seen from the Coastal Pacific train

...the train passes 98 km of wild misty coastline.  You can spot seals from your seat!

 

Taken from the open-air viewing car.  This photo shows new 'AK' cars.  Courtesy of Ivor Morgan.

Travel tips

About the journey

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Christchurch to Greymouth by train

The TranzAlpine is the most scenic train journey in New Zealand, and one of the most scenic train trips in the world.  Not surprisingly, it's become the most successful of all the Kiwi Rail Great Journeys passenger train services, very popular with tour groups because of the spectacular crossing of the Southern Alps between Christchurch and the South Island's west coast at Greymouth.  It's a fantastic trip, though in my opinion neither as epic or as historically-significant as the Auckland-Wellington Northern Explorer.

See the TranzAlpine page for times, fares & details.

Scenery from the TranzAlpine train

Fabulous scenery in New Zealand's Southern Alps, seen from the TranzAlpine.

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Christchurch to Dunedin & Invercargill

Once important cities, Dunedin and Invercargill have declined in importance and apparently no longer justify a proper train service to the rest of New Zealand.  The last Christchurch-Dunedin-Invercargill train service, the daily "Southerner" over the South island's Main South Line, was withdrawn in 2004.  Nowadays, anyone wishing to reach these towns must endure a long bus journey from Christchurch.  Here are the main bus services, although an additional bus may run on Fridays and Sundays.  Please check times before travelling at the bus operator websites,  www.intercity.co.nz.

 Christchurch ► Dunedin ► Invercargill  

 Bus service:

Daily 

Daily 

 Operator:

InterCity 

InterCity 

 Christchurch depart

08:00

14:25

 Timaru

10:35

16:55

 Oamaru

11:55

18:40

 Dunedin

14:15

20:20

 Invercargill arrive

18:30

-

 Invercargill ► Dunedin ► Christchurch  

 Bus service: 

Daily 

Daily 

 Operator: 

InterCity 

InterCity 

 Invercargill depart

-

08:25

 Dunedin

07:30

12:40

 Oamaru

09:25

14:55

 Timaru

11:20

16:10

 Christchurch arrive:

13:50

19:05

Fares & how to buy tickets

 Christchurch-Dunedin costs NZ$33-$46.  Christchurch-Invercargill costs NZ$35-$67.  You can check fares and book bus tickets online at www.intercity.co.nz.

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Christchurch to Queenstown & Milford Sound

There were never any train services to Queenstown, although historically you might have taken a slow train from Invercargill to Kingston (the preserved Kingston Flyer train uses part of this route), then a steamer across Lake Wakatipu to Queenstown, a route on which Queenstown's famous 100-year old working steamship Earnslaw would have worked.  Today, there are bus services operated by national operator Intercity.  You need to change buses and overnight in Queenstown if you are travelling to/from Milford Sound.

 Christchurch ► Queenstown ► Milford Sound   

 Bus service:

Daily 

Daily 

Daily 

 Operator:

InterCity 

InterCity 

InterCity 

 Christchurch depart

08:30

-

-

 Queenstown arrive

14:40

-

-

 Queenstown depart

-

06:55

07:40

 Te Anau

-

09:50

10:35

 Milford Sound arrive

-

12:50

13:35

 Milford Sound ► Queenstown ► Christchurch   

 Bus service: 

Daily 

Daily 

Daily 

 Operator: 

InterCity 

InterCity 

InterCity 

 Milford Sound depart

15:05

15:35

-

 Te Anau

17:15

17:45

-

 Queenstown arrive

19:30

20:00

-

 Queenstown depart

-

-

08:05

 Christchurch arrive

-

-

16:15

Fares & how to buy tickets

 You can check times, fares and book bus tickets online at www.intercity.co.nz.

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Dunedin - Queenstown by train

The Taieri Gorge Railway

The most rewarding way to travel between Dunedin and Queenstown was via the Taieri Gorge Railway's Track & Trail train/bus link, but sadly they no longer offer this train-bus combo (perhaps you could arrange a private transfer between Pukerangi & Queenstown using a Queenstown taxi service?).  However, you can still ride the Taieri Gorge Railway (www.dunedinrailways.co.nz), a preserved railway running daily year-round tourist trains through spectacular scenery over part of the old Dunedin-Cromwell branch railway.  Leaving from the beautiful and much-photographed 1906 railway station in Dunedin's town centre, it travels a few kilometres south over the South Island Main Trunk Line (still well-used for freight but sadly with no passenger service) before branching off inland through the scenic gorge that gives the line its name.  The train terminates at Pukerangi, 58 km from Dunedin, extended to Middlemarch on summer Fridays & Sundays, 76 km from Dunedin.  Highly recommended!  The Taieri Gorge Railway now also operates a tourist train called the Seasider along the main line between Dunedin and Palmerston.

Update:  The Taieri Gorge Railway ceased operating to Pukerangi, although now runs some seasonal trains on shorter runs, see www.dunedinrailways.co.nz

 Dunedin ► Queenstown

 Train+Bus service:

Daily

May-Sept 

Daily

Oct-April 

 Dunedin depart by train 

-

-

 Pukerangi arrive by train

-

-

 Pukerangi depart by bus

-

-

 Queenstown arrive by bus

-

-

 Queenstown ► Dunedin

 Train+Bus service: 

Daily

May-Sept 

Daily

Oct-April

 Queenstown depart by bus

-

-

 Pukerangi arrive by bus

-

-

 Pukerangi depart by train

-

-

 Dunedin arrive by train

-

-

* = The railway no longer offers an integrated bus connection.

 Fares

 Dunedin - Queenstown

 (combined track & trail fare)

No longer available

Fares & how to buy tickets

To check times, fares & buy tickets, contact the Taieri Gorge Railway on www.dunedinrailways.co.nz or call (03) 477 4449.

Dunedin station   Inside Dunedin station's main hall...

Dunedin's magnificent station.

 

Inside the main hall.

A trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway en route from Dunedin to Queenstown   Taking the Taieri Gorge Railway en route from Dunedin to Queenstown...

A scenic ride on the Taieri Gorge Railway, for the daily onward bus link to Queenstown.

Trestle bridge on the Taeri Gorge Railway   River gorge

  Rolling through a river gorge.

 

The Taeri Gorge Railway track and trail bus connection

Above right, the connecting bus meets the train and takes Track & Trail passengers to Queenstown.  Sadly this no longer operates.

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Guidebooks

Lonely Planet New Zealand - click to buy onlineRough Guide to New Zealand - click to buy onlineMake sure you take a good guidebook.  The Lonely Planets and Rough Guides are easily the best out there for the independent traveller.  Both guides provide an excellent level of practical information and historical and cultural background.  You won't regret buying one of these guides..!

Click to buy online at Amazon.co.uk

Lonely Planet New Zealand    Rough Guide to New Zealand

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Hotels in New Zealand

Find hotels at Booking.comMy favourite hotel search: www.booking.com

Booking.com is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally use it to book all my hotels in one place.  I've come to trust booking.com's review scores, you won't be disappointed with any hotel that scores 8.0 or more.  Crucially, booking.com usually lets you book with free cancellation, which means you can confirm accommodation risk-free before train booking opens and/or you can hold accommodation while you finalise your itinerary and alter your plans as they evolve - a feature I use all the time when planning a trip.  I never book hotels non-refundably!

Backpacker hostels

www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in many places in New Zealand at rock-bottom prices.

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Flights to New Zealand

Overland travel by train & bus around New Zealand is an essential part of the experience, so once there, don't cheat and fly, stay on the ground!  But a long-haul flight might be unavoidable to reach New Zealand in the first place.

1)  Check flight prices at Opodo, www.opodo.com

2)  Use Skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines...

skyscanner generic 728x90

3)  Lounge passes

Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think!  See www.loungepass.com

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Travel insurance & other tips

 

Staysure travel insurance

 

Columbus Direct logo

Always take out travel insurance

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

UK flag  www.staysure.co.uk offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.

UK flag  www.columbusdirect.com is also a well-know brand.

US flag  If you live in the USA try Travel Guard USA.

 

Maya.net logo

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility listMaya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.

 

Curve card

Curve card

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:  1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android.  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

 

Express VPN

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  Why you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explainedExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

 

Anker Powerrbank

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com.

 


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