1 Day Arthur's Pass National Park & TranzAlpine Train

Tour Itinerary

In the heart of the Southern Alps, Arthur’s Pass National Park has an incredible diversity of flora and landscape. They range from Eastern Beech clad hills and tussock valleys to the luxuriant rain forest in the west. The highest mountains have glaciers and surrounding them are tussock basins, flowering herbs and alpine grasses

Your guide will collect you from your hotel and take you to the train station where you will join the world famous TranzAlpine train. Journey across the wide expanses of the Canterbury Plains into high country surrounded by rugged mountain ranges. After leaving the Canterbury Plains, the landscape dramatically changes into sub-alpine we head towards the spectacular Southern Alps. View the Waimakariri River and its unique braided riverbed system.

Enter the National Park where you disembark at Arthurs Pass station where you will be met by your guide for series of short walks to experience beech forests, rivers, waterfalls 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.

After lunch at a high country pub we journey back to Christchurch via Cave Stream where it burrows underground in an area of limestone cliffs and gorges, craggy outcrops and a setting of mountains to the east and west. This area was also used as 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 and a sacred site for the Maori’s.The return journey to Christchurch goes over the sub-alpine Porter's Pass and then crosses the Canterbury Plains.

Tour Inclusions:

• TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass village
• Return by deluxe mini coach
• Fully escorted with informative commentary
• 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
  

Tour Departures:

• Frequency: Departs daily
• Departure Point: Free pick up & drop off from inner city accommodation
• Departure Time: at 7:30am
• Duration: 10.5 hours approximately
• Return Details: Tour returns at 5:45pm
• Closed: Christmas Day

Important Information:

• This tour must be booked at least 72 hours in advance of travel.
• Confirmation for this product will be received within 24 hours of booking, subject to availability.
• Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated.
• Complete operator information, including opening times and local contact telephone numbers are included on your e-voucher.

Enhance Your Visit To New Zealand:

If you are interested in one of our independent coach tours, escorted coach tours or self drive tours and have day or two up your sleeve, why not add this trip to your visit? Simply let us know when you enquire about your other tour and we will include this trip in our quote.

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