There are journeys, and then there are occasions. Great Journeys New Zealand’s WOW Train VIP experience sits firmly in the latter camp a rail adventure that treats travel not as a means to an end, but as part of the spectacle itself.
After selling out back-to-back seasons in 2024 and 2025, the WOW Train is officially back on track for 2026, pairing the drama of the World of WearableArt® with some of the country’s most scenic rail routes. Bookings are now open, and if history is any guide, hesitation will be punished.
Two departures anchor the 2026 program:
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Thursday 24 September 2026, departing Auckland
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Friday 2 October 2026, departing Christchurch
Both journeys culminate in Wellington for the World of WearableArt Show, an arena spectacular that boasts a remarkable 96 per cent ticket buyer satisfaction rate, a figure most live events can only dream of.
This is not simply transport with a show tacked on. Delivered in partnership with World of WearableArt, the WOW Train VIP experience has been carefully curated as a rolling preview of the main event. From the moment passengers step aboard, the tone is unmistakable: considered, creative and quietly indulgent.
Guests travel through landscapes that feel purpose-built for slow appreciation of the North Island’s vast interior from Auckland, or the coastal drama of the South Island paired with the Interislander crossing from Christchurch. Along the way, selected WOW garments are displayed onboard, allowing travellers to view the craftsmanship up close while expert commentary unpacks the creative process behind the designs.
Then there’s the food. A one-off menu designed exclusively for the journey reinforces the sense that this is a rare thing, not a rerun or a reheat, but a bespoke experience with a beginning, a middle, and a show-stopping finale.
Each two-night package includes accommodation in Wellington, a Gold ticket to the WOW Show, and return flights, a seamless, end-to-end offering that removes the usual friction of event travel. Passengers also receive a WOW goodie bag, because no great journey should end empty-handed.
For Great Journeys New Zealand, the success of the WOW Train is no accident. Executive Tracey Goodall says the partnership reflects both organisations’ commitment to creating experiences that feel unmistakably local and genuinely special.
“As a proud partner of World of WearableArt, we’re thrilled to be continuing these much-loved packages into 2026 after the incredible response to our sold-out seasons,” she said.
“At Great Journeys New Zealand, we love creating experiences that give Kiwis the chance to see their own country in a new way. The WOW Train experience is a perfect example; it brings together our breathtaking rail journeys and the magic of one of the country’s most renowned events. We’re excited to continue to bring our guests these experiences that celebrate both travel and creativity.”
That sentiment is echoed by World of WearableArt chief executive Meg Williams, who sees the train experience as an extension of WOW’s theatrical ambition.
“Our eight-year long partnership with Great Journeys New Zealand allows us to take WOW beyond the stage and create something truly special for audiences travelling to the show,” she said.
“Together, we’re able to deliver a seamless, end-to-end experience that reflects the creativity, innovation and sense of occasion that WOW is known for.”
The Auckland departure travels aboard the Northern Explorer, carving through the heart of the North Island before returning by air. Christchurch guests enjoy a multi-sensory journey via the Coastal Pacific train and Interislander ferry, an itinerary that has become a highlight in its own right.
Packages start from $2,199 NZD per person (twin share), with options to customise accommodation and inclusions. Seats, however, are strictly limited, a polite way of saying that if you’ve been thinking about it since last year, you’re already behind.
In an age of rushed itineraries and transactional travel, the WOW Train reminds us of an older, better idea: that getting there should be just as memorable as arriving.
For details and bookings, visit greatjourneysnz.com.
