THE TRANZ ALPINE

Christchurch to Greymouth

World famous as New Zealand's premier alpine train, the Tranz Alpine takes you through the heart of the mighty Southern Alps, from the vast brown landscapes of the South Pacific Ocean in the east to the lush green pastures greeting the often grumpy, Tasman Sea in the west.

Departing Christchurch the Tranz Alpine gathers pace across the Canterbury Plains as it gently climbs to the foothills. Leaving the sprawling moisture starved landscapes of Canterbury you traverse glacier fed rivers pushed wide from the rush of snow melt each spring.

Rolling through high country sheep stations the train begins its climb into the stomach of the Southern Alps with towering peaks, steep rock faces and deep valleys creating a dramatic landscape before arriving at Arthur's Pass, the highest train station of the journey.