The Northern Explorer train passes Mount Ngauruhoe. Credit: Kiwi Rail The Northern Explorer is a 423-mile scenic rail journey between Auckland and Wellington that crosses volcanic plateaus, river gorges, and towering viaducts.The 11-hour trip passes through Tongariro National Park and landscapes featured in The Lord of the Rings, including those that represented Mount Doom and the Anduin River.An open-air viewing carriage lets passengers experience the scenery without glass barriers, making it one of the most immersive train rides in the world. Passing through volcanic plateaus and rugged river gorges between Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, the Northern Explorer is one of the most beautiful train journeys in the country—if not, the world. Originally part of the North Island Main Trunk railway, the 423-mile route passes through the North Island's most spectacular topography and climbs over 2,600 feet in elevation.…