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Itineraries |
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 Travel
Day 1: Auckland to Wellington
Depart: 7.45am - Arrive: 6.25pm
Travel by the Northern Explorer train at Auckland and head
south passing through the farming landscape of the Waikato region to
the rugged bush country ascending to the Volcanic Plateau via the
famous Raurimu Spiral, passing the the Volcano's of Mt Ngauruhoe and
Mt Tongariro for a stop at Tongariro National Park.
From Tongariro National Park you
pass Mt Ruapehu the home of the North Island skifields of Whakapapa
and Turoa, the ski town of Ohakune before descending through stunning river gorges to
the rolling farming landscape of the Palmerston North region to
Wellington - the Harbour Capital for an overnight stay in New
Zealand's capital city for a 1 or more nights stay.
This service operates Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
Travel
Day 2: Wellington to Kaikoura
Depart: 8.30am - Arrive 3.20pm
Travel on a Cook Strait ferry from Wellington, with it's picturesque harbour,
for a day time sailing, crossing
Cook Strait the separates the North to South Islands, before entering the magnificent Marlborough Sounds. The
3 hour (92 kilometers) ferry journey is aboard the ferry “Kaitaki',
a modern ship with a range of on board facilities from eateries, a
shop, two movie theaters, a games arcade, a large bar with live
entertainment, numerous passenger lounges, 3 open air decks and a
friendly on board crew to assist you. Your Interislander journey
ends at Picton located in a sheltered marine harbour where you will
have time to experience this charming small town. From Picton you
board the Coastal Pacific train traveling South along the eastern coast
of the South Island, passing through the local Marlborough
vineyards, Lake Grassmere Salt Ponds and stopping at
Kaikoura - famous for viewing
whales and dolphins, for a 1 or more nights stay.
This service operates daily between 23 September 2016 to 30 April
2017
only
Travel
Day 3: Kaikoura to Christchurch
Depart: 3.28pm - Arrive 6.20pm
The next day you board the Coastal Pacific train at Kaikoura Station to
travel south following the stunning coastline before heading inland
through the Canterbury Plains to the Garden City of
Christchurch or a 1 or more
nights stay.
This service operates daily between 26 September 2015 to 1 May 2016
only
Train services does not operate on Christmas Day - 25 December.
This travel journey would suit a
4
Day Freedom Rail Pass
Please note - You must purchase a scenic train and ferry pass before you can make
any travel travel sector reservations/s.
You can add to your scenic train
and ferry pass travel, a
35 Hour 'Hop On/Hop Off' bus/ferry pass for travel to or from Greymouth to Queenstown, Milford Sound, Te
Anau, Invercargill and Christchurch or a
25 Hour 'Hop On/Hop Off' bus/ferry pass for travel from Auckland to Paihia in the beautiful Bay of Islands
including a the 'Hole in the Rock/Dolphin Viewing' cruise, Waitomo
Caves (guided tour of the glow worm caves is additional) and the
thermal wonderland of Rotorua or alternatively purchase
'Point to Point'
coach tickets, for other onward travel from Greymouth, Christchurch, Wellington,
Palmerston North, Hamilton, Rotorua or Auckland
to other scenic destinations within New Zealand.
There are a range of optional independent touring travel packages
from
Christchurch to Queenstown to Christchurch
- ranging from 3 days to 7 days, if you wish to continue
your journey to Queenstown via the West coast of the South Island or
via Dunedin. |
