Depart Christchurch on the TranzAlpine train and travel to Arthur’s Pass, rated one of the world’s great scenic railway journeys. Your Canterbury Trails’ guide will check you on to the train and be there to meet you when you arrive at Arthur’s pass. Journey across the wide expanse of the Canterbury Plains and into the high country surrounded by rugged mountain ranges. After leaving the Canterbury Plains, the landscape dramatically changes into sub-alpine you head towards the spectacular Southern Alps. View the Waimakariri River and its unique braided riverbed system.

Enter Arthur’s Pass National Park where short walks can be made to experience forests, rivers and mountains vistas. Follow the old stage coach route and travel down the spectacular Otira Gorge, testament to the road builders of the 1860's and the route taken by the Maori in their quest for greenstone. View Cave Stream where it burrows underground in an area of limestone cliffs and gorges and see craggy outcrops and the setting of

mountains to the east and west. This area was also used for the filming of C J Lewis’ story – “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.

The incredible Castle Hill rocks, unique weatherworn rain smoothed outcrops of limestone are seen from the highway. The return journey to Christchurch includes a visit to the Waimak Gorge where the Waimakariri River enters the Canterbury Plains.

TranzAlpine train highlights…

Discover the beauty of rail travel with Tranz Scenic's unique train journey, the TranzAlpine. Discover New Zealand’s Southern Alps and the romance of travel by railway or as our American visitors say, travel on the railroad. The TranzAlpine scenic train journey travels between Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass and on to the West Coast. On your journey to Arthur’s Pass, you’ll see the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. Your train then climbs into the Southern Alps and arrives at Arthur’s Pass. Your train journey sets off from Christchurch - New Zealand's largest city on the South Island and the trip to Arthur’s Pass takes two and a half hours. There are 15 tunnels, and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 meters.

• Travel by deluxe minicoach
• Fully escorted with informative commentary
• TranzAlpine train journey from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass
• Delicious picnic morning and afternoon teas
• Lunch in a country hotel with spectacular mountain views
• Guided walks to explore the alpine and high country landscapes
• City accommodation pickup / drop off
• Depart Christchurch at 7.30am and return approximately 5.45pm

• Warm jacket, good walking shoes or hiking boots, sunglasses

Their aim is simple…

• to present our guests with the best possible experience of New Zealand that time will allow.

• to provide magical personal small group and exclusive private tours to show guests the wonders of the South Island.

• to offer tours for those who do not want to be part of large groups or who do not want to self drive, with first class service and the comfort that should be expected.

• taking small groups of independently minded travelers to the heart of what makes New Zealand unique

• designing their tours to encompass those things that make New Zealand truly unique – its ecology and natural history, the Maori mythology and history, the European history and of course, its incredible scenery

• believing in quality over quantity and so accordingly, their tour participation is usually limited to six to eight guests per tour

• providing  a highly personalized, interactive and spontaneous experience

• sharing with their guests the genuine hospitality of real New Zealanders

• priding themselves on their thoroughness, the personal touches and their attention to detail,

• operating the tours as “deluxe safaris”.

 Journeys of learning, discovery and adventure.