Auckland to Wellington by train
Clearly (or sadly) train travel in New Zealand is more of a novelty than a legitmate form of transportation. Auckland and Wellington do offer extensive commuter rails, however, when travelling further there is only a single service that runs once daily in summer and alternate days the rest of the year (newly implemented in a restructuring post bankruptcy).
The train left Auckland at 8:10am (scheduled for 7:25am). It lasted 13 hours (scheduled for 12 hours). It featured an extremely friendly, helpful and informative staff. In fact if not for the staff it probably would have been most certainly unenjoyable (picture families with little children wired up on sugar running around a train car for 13 hours). The views, however, we fantastic. And I decided I wouldn't need to bring my camera and checked it. Sigh.
I sat next to an older gentleman who spoke infrequently, however, when doing so imparted nice tid bits about New Zealand and the areas we were travelling through. The train also stopped at National Park near Mt. Tongariro, Mt. Ngauruhoe (featured as Mt. Doom in LOTR) and Mt. Ruapehu for 45 mintes (double drat on the camera). However because of this stopover I am now working my plans in to come back here and hike around the mountains on my way back to Auckland.
Despite the lateness and inefficieny of the train I would highly recommend it as a great way to see the scenary and enjoy a relaxing trip between Auckland and Wellington.