We took the spectacular Overlander train from Palmerston North up to Auckland, taking in a full range of New Zealand scenery and some incredible feats of engineering.
Click on a picture for a larger version.

Palmerston North

Station

Marton, the country's malting centre

The old Hunterville station, now a beautiful garden

Rangitikei River valley

I'm sure it is only the train the sheep are running from

Crossing the viaduct pictured
here

Climbing towards Waiouru

Ruapehu

The plateau here is a big root vegetable growing area

Tangiwai

Pulling into Ohakune

Not in the tourist brochure

Rest stop in National Park

Viewing platform

Ngauruhoe

Really...

Waiting at the top of the Raurimu Spiral...

a steep winding descent

Tracy in a tunnel

Tim in another tunnel

Looking up the spiral

The southbound train waiting for us

Last view of Ruapehu

Interesting place for a car

High on the Whanganui River

Waikato, a major farming area