Travelling on the TranzAlpine train is a scenic rail journey from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass and Greymouth passing though the Southern Alps from one coast of New Zealand's South Island to the other.

From your carriage you’ll see the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, followed by the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. 

The TranzAlpine train travels west, crossing the Canterbury Plains, ascending up through the Southern Alps to the alpine village of Arthurs Pass for a short break before descending to the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, through lush alpine beech rain forests to Greymouth.

Your journey is 223.8 kilometres long and takes just four and a half hours. There are 16 tunnels, and 5 viaducts, the highest being the Staircase standing at 73 metres.

The TranzAlpine carriages have advanced air bag suspension system for quieter and smoother travel, un-tinted, non-reflective, panoramic side and roof windows to capture the dramatic coastal and mountain views of the magnificent South Island, GPS triggered journey commentary in five languages at your seat via headphones, plus information displays and overhead HD video and are centrally heated/air conditioned for passenger comfort.

Each carriage has onboard washroom/toilet facilities, with '2 Seat-Aisle-2 Seat' seating either as forward facing seats with head rests or 'Table Group' (4 people around a table) seating allowing to experience the amazing views of the magnificent South Island, through panoramic side and roof windows, while enjoying the company of other passengers.

The TranzAlpine train has a café carriage offering a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and light meals and an open air viewing carriage allows you to get even closer to the stunning scenery and provides many opportunities to photograph your favourite spots.

You can add to your train and bus travel, connecting scenic bus services from Franz Josef or Fox Glacier to Wanaka and Queenstown or coach and ferry travel from Nelson to other South and North Island destinations.

You can explore New Zealand with a scenic train and bus travel pass that allows you to travel by scenic train and on New Zealand's largest bus, coach and scenic coach travel network, that includes inter-island ferry travel between Wellington in the North Island and Picton in the South Island, at you own pace, at any time in any direction. You can choose your own route, stop when you like, and travel as many times as you wish within the validity of this flexible pass - hop on and off where and when you wish.

You can book accommodation that is near Christchurch Railway Station for TranzAlpine train services to and from Christchurch.