Why travel with us
We want to connect with those who love scenic travel, care about Aotearoa New Zealand, and want their adventures to leave a lighter footprint.
• A person travelling on the Coastal Pacific from Christchurch to Picton, saves an estimated 73 kilograms of carbon emissions compared to travelling in a standard petrol car.
• In FY25, we achieved an 18% reduction in carbon emissions for our TranzAlpine passenger services compared to FY24.
• A person travelling on the Northern Explorer from Auckland to Wellington emits around a third of the carbon of a flight.
Stronger connections for a better New Zealand
KiwiRail’s Rautaki Whakauka Sustainability Strategy 2025-2028 guides us in making every scenic journey more responsible, resilient, and rewarding.
Great Journeys New Zealand believes a sustainable business contributes to a vibrant economy that also works for the environment and our society.
Our three pillars of sustainability
KiwiRail are building a better future through the central pillars of its strategy:
1. Economy (whanaungatanga or sense of connection)
• Investing in low-carbon transport
• Making rail more climate-resilient
2. Environment (kaitiakitanga or guardianship)
• Reducing emissions
• Improving waste minimisation & management
3. Society (manaakitanga or care and protect)
• Creating safe, diverse workplaces
• Partnering with iwi
See the impact
Travel with care. Every journey leaves a footprint.
With Great Journeys of New Zealand’s carbon calculator, travellers can easily understand the emissions impact of their travel choices, even before they board.
Carbon Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate how much you could reduce your carbon emissions by travelling with Great Journeys New Zealand.
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What this means for you
When you travel with Great Journeys:
• You may be choosing a lower emissions way to travel to explore Aotearoa compared to petrol cars and planes
• You can use our trains to get to Ngā Haerenga New Zealand Great Rides Cycle Trails
• You’ll see sustainability in action – reusable coffee cups and drink bottles are welcomed onboard
• You’ll hear our crew sharing stories of the whenua (land) with pride through Tiaki Promise storytelling
Highlights we're proud of
Great Journeys has already begun ways to have an impact across the motu (country).
• Serving a paddock to plate (farm to table) menu in Scenic Plus
• Adopting recycling systems to reduce waste to landfill
• Moving passengers to regional events like Garden Marlborough and the Climate Futures Summit
• Reducing emissions on the TranzAlpine by removing the second locomotive
• Minimising single-use headphone waste by developing a ‘bring your own device’ system for commentary
• Hosting a Matariki Māori New Year event train to honour our Tiaki Promise
• Planning for the arrival of new more efficient locomotives in the South Island
Travel that feels good
By travelling with Great Journeys New Zealand, you’re not just seeing the country - you’re joining a shared commitment to protect and celebrate it for generations to come.
Whether you’re winding through alpine valleys or crossing the plains, your journey could be avoiding emissions otherwise produced by petrol cars or planes.
Thanks for travelling with care - and helping us move toward a more sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand.