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TranzAlpine Train Journey: Breathtaking Views from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass
4.8
253 Ratings
Christchurch
Embark on a breathtaking journey from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass on the TranzAlpine train. Experience stunning landscapes, lush forests, and majestic mountains on this perfect day trip for nature lovers and adventure seekers.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Christchurch Cathedral - After pick-up from your hotel at 7.30am, your guide will drop you to the train station in Christchurch for one of the greatest train journey’s in the world. Travel on the TranzAlpine train & admire the stunning scenery through panoramic windows & open air viewing decks. Disembark the train at Arthur’s Pass National Park where you will meet your guide again.
- Otira Viaduct Lookout - Then drive down to Otira Viaduct which provide impressive views of red flowering rata in summer months & grab the opportunity to spot the inquisitive Kea (alpine parrot) well known for its cheeky nature.
- Devils Punchbowl Walking Track - Your guide will then recommend you some popular walks in the National Park with incredible views.
- Arthur’s Pass National Park Visitor Centre - After your walk enjoy 1 hours free time for lunch at a local cafe & explore the village of Arthur’s Pass.
- Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area - On your return journey, travel by road in a luxurious minivan with a few scenic stops on the way. Take a coffee break & capture stunning mirror images at Lake Person. Then wander through majestic presence of limestone rock formations at Castle Hill Conservation Area. Stretch your legs one last time at Lake Lyndon that regularly freezes in winter months. Return back & drop-off to your location in Christchurch.
What's Included
- Bottled water
- National Park fees
- Transport by air-conditioned late model Minibus
- Fully guided tour except the walks
- TranzAlpine Train from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass
- Small group
- Pickup and drop-off from selected Central Christchurch Hotels
What's Not Included
- Lunch
Additional Information
Embark on a scenic expedition on the TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass, renowned as one of the most picturesque train journeys globally. Soak in the captivating sights of the Canterbury Plains, Southern Alps, the glacier-fed Waimakariri River, verdant beech woodlands and awe-inspiring panoramas. Traverse hiking trails in Arthur’s Pass National Park featuring impressive mountain vistas & untouched waterfalls. Reflect on nature’s beauty at Lake Pearson & meander among the grand limestone formations at Castle Hill. An ideal day excursion for those passionate about nature, hiking & thrilling adventures.
- A small amount of walking is involved.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
- Fully guided tour except the walks in the National Park & Castle Hill.
Location
Christchurch Bus Interchange
Colombo Street
Your guide will pick you from outside FreshChoice Supermarket (located at 71 Lichfield Street) which is across the road from Bus Exchange.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(253 Ratings)
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Jennifer_w
Jun 8, 2024
TranzAlpine Train and More - The TranzAlpine train portion of the journey was gorgeous, but our train car was quite noisy, so if you're expecting a quiet, relaxing journey, you may be disappointed. There is an observation car at the front of the train which is open to the elements, but it was always so crowded, it wasn't worth it to me to try to worm my way into a space. Our tour guide, AJ, was excellent. He was very knowledgable and we learned a lot from him. Arthur's Pass was beautiful, and the hike to the Devil's Punchbowl was worth the 450 steps we had to climb to get there. The hike around the Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area was also lovely.
Review provided by Viator
Dang_t
Jun 2, 2024
Amazing view - Wonderful trip. The guide is very knowledgeable and friendly. I would highly recommend the tour to anyone visiting NZ
Review provided by Viator
Lutheranladysandiego
May 26, 2024
Misty Day Did Not Dampen Our Delight - This was the only day of our three-week trip that had a slight rain. However, the views from the train were still gorgeous and our guide provided us with an abundance of options to enjoy the area. This is the location for much of the Lord of the Rings filming. That alone should be an incentive for many. We loved the abundance of waterfalls, lakes and streams. The alpine rain forest was beautiful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Czstreet
May 25, 2024
Incredible Journey - This trip was perfect. The train offered fabulous scenery, the hikes were not strenuous, and the guide was excellent. Each stop offered a whole new experience. It's a long day but so worth it. I would highly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Thwinh_b
May 25, 2024
Amazing experience - Amazing sceneries throughout the journey well organised by the tour guide.
Cafe on the train provided delicious snacks while enjoying the tour on the train. The food during out lunch break at restaurant in Arthur village was awesome. We left Christchurch at 7 am and arrived back there at 5:30 pm. We thoroughly enjoyed the our family friendly tour.😊💓
Review provided by Viator
Max_o
May 20, 2024
Great views, great guide - Friendly and knowledgeable guide shepherded us through memorably beautiful scenery in and around Arthur’s Pass
Review provided by Viator
Dishan_s
May 13, 2024
Excellent - Everything was well organized. Our tour guide AJ did a fantastic job. Train ride was wonderful. Best part was the hike at Aurthurs pass and Castle hill. Well worth the price.
Review provided by Viator
Boya_w
May 23, 2024
Great tour guide. Nice view on the bus tour. Train was boring. - Our tour guide was very nice and friendly, but the tour and the view on the train was a bit average… in fact the bus tour later on we saw much better views (personally). Not sure what the other travellers think but we did not like the train.
Review provided by Viator
Laura_b
May 19, 2024
Trip to Narnia and beyond... - My two grown son's and I enjoyed this day very much.
Our guide was very informative including pointing us to the waterfall church in Arthur's Pass during our lunch and our stops for the Narnia filming sites. The only thing that would have made our day perfect would have been bigger seats with more legroom for our bigger bodies (6'2" and 6'6").
Review provided by Viator
Scott_v
May 18, 2024
Kiwi rail doesn’t do the right thing - This is not a review of Viator because they did an excellent job, but my wife suffered a broken bone the night before the trip at the Kiwi rail has refused to give us a refund or even let us book at a later date. They basically told us to go pound sand. Did everything they could and set multiple emails to get a refund. So if you’re going to take the Arthur’s trip, make sure you have travel insurance because no matter what happens they are not going to give you a refund.
Review provided by Viator
