TranzAlpine Train

All aboard the TranzAlpine for a front-row seat to New Zealand's most dramatic landscape, the Southern Alps. The TranzAlpine begins in Christchurch and travels northwest through the fertile fields of the Canterbury Plains alongside the Waimakariri River before ascending into the mountains and crossing the mighty Staircase Viaduct. The TranzAlpine continues through the West Coast's subtropical rainforests after passing through the magnificent mountains of Arthur's Pass National Park. The journey concludes in Greymouth, a historic former gold mining town.

One of KiwiRail's Great Journeys of New Zealand is the four-and-a-half-hour trip between Christchurch and Greymouth on the South Island of New Zealand.

The train leaves Christchurch at 8:15 a.m. and travels through farmland, past sheep and cattle, and then on to the Southern Alps. After about an hour, the ascent into the mountains begins, with steel bridges crossing deep gorges, short tunnels, and the highest viaduct, 240 feet above the spectacular Waimakiriri River Gorge. After a brief stop at Arthurs Pass station, the journey continues through one of New Zealand's longest tunnels, across a deep valley, and across another river with waterfall views. The train returns to Christchurch after a one-hour stop in Greymouth, making the coast-to-coast round-trip about a 10-hour journey.

The ride is enjoyable and comfortable thanks to the reclining seats, the panoramic windows, and the skylights. Food, snacks, beer, wine, and spirits are available at the café-bar. The right side of the train offers the best views as it travels toward Greymouth, and Kiwi Rail Great Journeys offers unlimited rail passes.

Country: New Zealand