A Great New Zealand Train Journey

We depart this morning for the start of our journey to Wellington.  Free pick up from your home if you live within the Tauranga City boundary or enroute. We travel over the Kaimai Ranges and very soon will have you at Hamilton railway station.

Here we will hop on board the Northern Explorer train bound for Wellington. Sit back and enjoy spectacular scenery as you pass through middle earth NZ.

Capture amazing views from the open-air viewing deck, or through panoramic sky view windows in the air-conditioned carriages. Sit back and relax with their delicious food and beverages from the licensed-on board cafe and listen to GPS triggered at-seat commentary as you journey through some of NZ’s most stunning scenery.

Short stops are made enroute at Otorohanga, Taumarunui, National Park, Ohakune, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu.

The Northern Explorer train offers extensive vistas from its large windows as you traverse through the country.  The National Park area is a highlight of extremes and surprises of snow blanketed mountains, ancient lava flows and dense Beech forests. The train passes over 25 major bridges and through 14 tunnels, before traversing the engineering masterpiece that is Raurimu Spiral just north of National Park. This allows the train to ascend 139 metres straight onto the Volcanic Plateau without having to make a long diversion.  Train and engineering fans from around the world come just to experience this part of the journey.

As we head south of Ohakune, spectacular view of Ruapehu come into view.  Make sure you head to the Open-Air Carriage to get the best ones. We descend from the Volcanic Plateau towards the farmland of the Manawatu district, but not before following alongside the Rangitikei River with its steep sandstone carved gorge and passing over five more impressive Viaducts.

As we near Wellington, the Northern Explorer follows the Kapiti Coast, with views out to Kapiti Island and the Tasman Sea. We curl around the edge of Porirua Harbour and Paremata before pulling into Wellington Railway Station in the early evening.

On arrival at Wellington Central station, we will whisk you to your accommodation. The hotel boasts a full dining restaurant and a casual lobby bar. This evening we will dine in house.  Afterwards you may choose an early night or a night out on the town – the choice is yours.

ACCOMMODATION: NOVOTEL WELLINGTON (DBB)

This morning you can sleep late, dine at leisure over breakfast – up get up & about early and spend the morning exploring or shopping. We have half a day available before we head to catch the Interisland ferry to Picton.  With a 1pm sailing – we need to check in by 12.15.

FREE MORNING!

There are some free things to see and do in Wellington.

• Te Papa Museum – always new things to see and to add to your knowledge.
• Educational tour of Parliament Buildings and the Beehive – Bookings essential.
• Visit Government House
• Ride the Wellington cable car up to the scenic lookout and check out the Cable Car Museum. The cable car ride is FREE for Gold Card holders after 9am.  If you take it just one way, It’s a nice walk back through the Botanical gardens.
• Art Galleries – City Gallery in Civic Square, or Bowen Galleries or Manky Chops on Cuba St if you are into quirky exhibits.
• Visit Old St Paul’s church for 19th century Gothic Revival architecture. It’s beautiful.
• Maybe you wish to do a walking tour. Wellington is a compact city, and you can easily take a Welly Walk – just ask me for the maps.
• If you are a writer, then you can take a Wellington Writer walk around the waterfront where you will find many talented writers who made Wellington their home at some point in their lives. You can even visit the birthplace of Katherine Mansfield.

Like to spend a little money to see and do something?

• Check out the amazing Wellington shops, many so different to our local ones.  There are plenty of places willing to take your money!
• The Space Place at Carter Observatory (Located at the top of the Cable Car)
• If you are a coffee & café connoisseur, then you must go up Cuba Street and sample some of the great Wellington coffee.
• Maybe you prefer tea:  Check out Martha’s pantry on Cuba Street – ‘serving the best high tea in Wellington since 2007’.  You will not be disappointed; every lady should treat themselves occasionally to high tea and pretty cupcakes.
• If you like animals, then a visit to the Wellington Zoo is a must.
• If your heart is for conservation than a visit to Zealandia – The Karori Sanctuary Experience is worth the visit.
• For Lord of the Rings or Peter Jackson fans, a visit to the Weta Workshop Experience is a must. Learn about the making of movie effects and props.

We will all meet up at midday and make our way to the Interislander ferry. Our sailing is booked for 1:00 pm.

There have been Interislander Ferries crossing the Cook Strait for more than 60 years, and today it’s our turn to make the scenic 3 ½ hour journey.  Wellington harbour will soon recede into the distance as we pass Pencarrow Lighthouse and cross over Cook Strait to the South Island.

Keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and whales.  We will enter the beautiful Marlborough Sounds via Tory Channel and cruise quietly towards the picturesque town of Picton, nestled near the head of Queen Charlotte Sound.

After disembarking, we will settle into our accommodation.  There is time to go out exploring if you wish as Daylight saving will be in place.  Watching the sun go down in this idyllic seaside town is just beautiful.

ACCOMMODATION: PICTON YACHT CLUB HOTEL – (DBB)

Picton is known as the Gateway to the Marlborough Sounds. We have the morning to relax and explore some more. Picton’s Foreshore Reserve is well worth a stroll.  The Heritage and Whaling Museum is an interesting place to while away an hour or so.

Picton also has plenty of shops, galleries, and cafés to tease open your wallets and tempt your tastebuds.  There would even be time for a morning cruise on Queen Charlotte Sound.

We will all head to the Railway Station and get ready for our next train journey, boarding the Coastal Pacific train, and departing for Christchurch at 1:40pm.

As we head south, you will soon see row upon row of grape vines as the train passes through the rich wine growing area of Marlborough, famous for its Sauvignon Blanc.  Passing by Lake Grassmere, you will see the shallow pools that provide more than 60% of New Zealand’s salt.

This is a magnificent scenic journey, and the Pacific Ocean soon comes into view on one side of the tracks, with the Kaikoura ranges rising above you on the other.

The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake created havoc along the coastline, closing the railway for two years and changing the landscape dramatically. Nature has adapted – the scars are healing; the seals are back in huge numbers and sperm whales dive in the Kaikoura Canyon offshore. Pass through 20 tunnels on the journey, most of these among the cliffs located either side of the Kaikoura plain.  The tunnels were so difficult to build that the original railway took more than 70 years to complete.

A 10-minute stop is made at the town of Kaikoura, buzzing with tourists again after the setbacks of the last few years. On the way again, keep an eye out for the Okarahia Viaduct. As you cross, gaze down at the beach below and take in the views of the Pacific Ocean in one direction and the Okarahia valley in the other.

The mountains soon give way to the Canterbury Plains – New Zealand’s largest area of flat land and dotted with farms and small communities.  it’s quite a lengthy journey but the scenery is unbeatable.  This is a world class journey.

Due to lateness of the train, we will have our evening meal onboard as we travel.

We will disembark at 7:30pm.  Our transport will be waiting and ready to deliver us to our accommodation where we stay for next 3 nights. I am sure you will all sleep well tonight. 😊

ACCOMMODATION: Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square – 3 nights

This morning you may dine at your leisure – a beautiful buffet breakfast is provided in-house.

The Novotel hotel is situated in the middle of Christchurch city for your convenience.

Today you are free to do as you wish. We are extremely close to the main junction of the city Tram – this vintage attraction provides a wonderful Hop On / Hop Off service all around town centre and a full narration is provided from one of the lovely locals. If you want to know what’s new in Christchurch city, or the best places to visit – they will tell you. Christchurch is one of the world’s most unique destinations, combining urban regeneration and innovation with heritage, culture, and exhilarating activity.  Come and explore it for the day – there really is lots to do at this time of year.

The Botanical Garden will be in full bloom and just beautiful, and you might like to sit back and enjoy punting on the Avon.

This city is like a flower bursting forth – year by year- with many new exhibits, artworks & wonderful architecture, whilst trying to maintain & keep some of the old. It is blessed to be a purpose planned & built city post the earthquake some 12 years ago and oozes with charm & character.

ACCOMMODATION: Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square

Climb aboard and transverse to the Wild West Coast on the famous TranzAlpine Rail journey – one of the world’s greatest.

Today we’re off on the TranzAlpine – one of the world’s great train journeys.  Crossing from the East Coast to the West Coast, through some of the most spectacular alpine scenery possible.  We pull out of Christchurch railway station at 8:15am and head off across the Canterbury Plains.  After stopping briefly at the farming settlement of Darfield, we turn off the Main Trunk Line at Rolleston and start following what was originally a Maori trail through the mountains to the West Coast.  Today it’s the Midland Line and takes us through the spectacular Southern Alps.  Further stops are made enroute at Springfield, Arthur’s Pass and Moana (L. Brunner).

The section from Springfield to Arthurs Pass is the area that the TranzAlpine is most famous for and is known the world over for its engineering difficulties.

The winding Waimakariri River will be our companion as the train hugs the cliffs high above the gorge.  Four viaducts and 15 short tunnels were built to negotiate the next part of the journey from Kowai up to the Craigieburn area that encompasses Arthur’s Pass. The 72 metre Staircase Viaduct is the most dramatic of these.  Come out of one short tunnel and cross the Waimakariri River far below, before entering another tunnel.  Make sure you visit the open-air carriage to get the most of the never-ending photo opportunities.  The crossing of the Waimakariri River Bridge, with the river winding into the mountains in both directions is one of those moments. The Otira Tunnel through ‘The Great Divide’ is the boundary between the eastern part of the journey and the West Coast.   On our final descent towards Greymouth, follow alongside winding rivers and green bush clad mountains.  Lake Brunner appears, surrounded by ancient Beech Forest and mysterious swampland.  From here, it’s a short hop to the town of Greymouth, the largest town in the West Coast region.

We have an hour to wander around here before beginning the return journey.  A wander along the walkway beside the Grey River and out to the river mouth is both scenic and informative.

Or perhaps grabbing a taxi to Monteiths Brewery for a beer will be more to your liking.  It’s a good spot for lunch as well or check out one of the other cafés in town.  All too soon, you will be back on board the TranzAlpine, ready to re-trace our journey back to Christchurch.

The scenery takes on a totally different aspect in the opposite direction so keep the camera handy and make use of the open-air carriage if you haven’t been there already.

Before you know it, we will be pulling back into Christchurch Railway station, and making our way back to our hotel for our dinner.

ACCOMMODATION: Novotel Christchurch Cathedral Square

After a long day yesterday, it will be nice to have a leisurely start to your day. You get to sleep late again this morning if you wish as breakfast is available through to 10am.

Some of you may prefer to rise early and pop out for some last-minute shopping, or perhaps you never got to see the Cardboard Cathedral.

Around 10:30am we will make our way towards the airport via a stop at the Antarctic Centre.  This place is very special, and I believe all New Zealanders should take time to visit. It is amazing. This is an exhibition space purpose-built to educate and entertain. It conveys the scale of the continent while providing fascinating and awe-inspiring details. Personally experience the blizzard room and then ride the  Hagglund (ice buggy)

Once we check in at the airport you have time for a light lunch while we wait to board our plane home.

Our Air New Zealand flight departs at 1:50 pm and flies non-stop to Tauranga, arriving at 3:45pm where your Zealandier Tours coach will be waiting at the airport to transport you home.

I trust you have enjoyed a wonderful train adventure throughout the country over the past six days.