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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 from Auckland heading
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
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 1 or more nights stay.
The Auckland to Wellington train service operates Monday, Thursday and
Saturday.
Travel Day 2: Wellington to Christchurch
Depart: 9.00am - Arrive: 6.45pm
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 Cook Strait ferry journey
ends at Picton located in a sheltered marine harbour where you will
have time to experience this charming small town.
From Picton travel on the Coastal Pacific train 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. From Kaikoura you
travel south following the stunning coastline and the northern
Canterbury Plains to the Garden City of
Christchurch for 1 or more
nights stay.
This service operates daily between 23 September 2016 to 30 April
2017
only
Travel Day
3: Christchurch to Greymouth Day Excursion
Depart: 8.15am - Return: 6.05pm
Travel between Christchurch and Greymouth, from one coast of
New Zealand to the other and return on the TranzAlpine train. 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, as
you ascend through the Southern Alps to the alpine village of
Arthurs Pass. From Arthurs you descending through the Otira Tunnel
to the lush beech rain forests to the West Coast to Greymouth. After
a hour stopover in Greymouth, The TranzAlpine train departs
Greymouth heading east heading east to the Southern Alps ascending
up through the Otira Tunnel to the alpine village of Arthurs Pass
slowly descending to the Canterbury through river valleys of the
Waimakariri River, crossing the Canterbury Plains to
Christchurch for 1 or more
nights stay.
Or
Christchurch to Greymouth
Depart: 8.15am - Arrive: 12.45pm
Today travel between Christchurch and Greymouth, from one coast of
New Zealand on the TranzAlpine train. 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, as
you ascend through the Southern Alps to the alpine village of
Arthurs Pass. From Arthurs you descending through the Otira Tunnel
to the lush beech rain forests to the West Coast to
Greymouth. – a
great base for visits to
Punakaiki and the always popular glaciers. From
Greymouth you can
add to your Scenic Rail 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.
Travel Day
4: Christchurch to Wellington
Depart: 7.00am - Arrive: 5.30pm
This morning you board the Coastal Pacific train travelling north
travelling through the north Canterbury plains before heading east
to the coast and north along the rugged coastline the separates the
majestic Kaikoura Ranges from the sea to Kaikoura famous for viewing
whales and dolphins. From Kaikoura your journey takes you north
along the coastline before turning inland passing Lake Grassmere
Salt Ponds and the wineries of Blenheim to the Picton – the gate way
of the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. At Picton, you board your
Interislander ferry for your 3 hour (92 kilometre) journey on board
the ferry “Kaitaki', a modern ship with a range of on board
facilities from eateries, a shop, two movie theatres, 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. through the some of the Marlborough Sounds and out to
Cook Strait before entering picturesque harbour of
Wellington – The Harbour
Capital and New Zealand's capital city, for 1 or more nights stay.
This service operates daily between 23 September 2016 to 30 April
2017
only
Travel Day 5: Wellington to Auckland
Depart: 7.55am - Arrive: 6.50pm
This morning you board the Northern Explorer train heading along the
Wellington's coast line to the rolling farming landscape of the
Palmerston North ascending up through stunning river gorges of the
central North Island to the volcanic plateau passing Mt Ruapehu to
National Park for a short stop. From National Park, your journey
takes you along the volcanic plateau passing the the Volcano's of Mt
Ngauruhoe and Mt Tongariro before descending down the famous Raurimu
Spiral to the rugged bush country and rolling framing
landscape of the Waikato region and onto
Auckland – the city of sails.
This service operates Tuesday, Friday
and Sunday only.
Train services does not operate on Christmas Day - 25 December.
This travel journey would suit a
5
Day Freedom Rail Pass or a
7
or 14 or 21 Day Scenic 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. |
