TOP OF THE SOUTH ISLAND
RAIL TOUR
This Budget 7 Day Tour covers the top of the South Island and gives you the option of Whale Watching in Kaikoura, also included is Nelson and Abel Tasman National Park, and the famous Punakaiki Pancake Rocks, Franz Josef Glacier also included in this tour is the Famous TranzAlpine Train journey and Tranz Coastal Train
TOUR CODE BUDTSIRAIL
TOUR COST nz$1095 PER PERSON SHARE TWIN.
TOUR COST SINGLE nz$1475
Day 1
Christchurch – Franz Josef Glacier
This morning you Journey to the West Coast on board the Scenic TranzAlpine Train, rated one of the top six train journeys in the world. Please see below. The Tranz Alpine scenic train journey travels between Christchurch and Greymouth , from one coast of New Zealand to the other. Your jouney takes you across the fields of the Canterbury Plains and farmland, before ascending through the spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. Your train then climbs through lush beech rain forest from the river gorge to the alpine settlement of Arthur's Pass on leaving the township the train passes through the Otria Tunnel to Westcoast and on to Greymouth
All carriages include both one way seating and tabled group seating allowing you to experience the amazing views while enjoying the company of other passengers on-board. An open air viewing carriage allows you to get even closer to the stunning scenery and provides many opportunities to photograph your favourite spots. There’s a lot to look forward to!
Your journey continues along the rugged West Coast to Hokitika the centre for thousands of miners during the historic gold strikes of the 1860s, then we continue further south to the Westland National Park – home of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.
Day 2
Franz Josef Glacier
Come and explore the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, where you'll find the ancient Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glaciers nestled amidst primeval rainforest. Here the lakes, rivers, forests and beaches of an untamed, yet accessible wilderness, are as pure as you will find anywhere. There is a shuttle bus which runs on a regular time table to the glacier lookout. (Own cost)
Why not try a scenic flight which encompasses the two famous glaciers and many more besides. These frozen rivers of ice can travel up to 3 metres per day down the mountain valleys OR perhaps a heli-hike on the glacier after an exciting scenic flight, you land high up on the glacier and undertake a two hour guided hike amongst some of the most pristine and awe-inspiring glacier scenery available.
Day 3
Franz Josef Glacier - Greymouth - Punakaiki
Today your tour continues along the rugged West Coast to Greymouth, the centre for thousands of miners during the historic gold strikes of the 1860s. We then continue northward along the Coast to visit the pancake rocks at Punakaiki – These sedimentary rocks have been hammered by the sea, and wind erosion forming layered rocks giving a look of a large stack of pancakes. Paparoa National Park Spectacular cliffs and caves typify the West's rugged coastline, with one of the best known features being pancake rocks and blowholes at Punakaiki. These fascinating limestone formations put on a spectacular spouting display on a high tide with a strong westerly swell.
Day 4
Punakaiki – Nelson
We continue northward along the Coast to Westport, after following the Buller Gorge we travel through the Golden Downs Forest, passing Brightwater, the birth place of Lord Rutherford, the New Zealand science pioneer who split the atom. We arrive in Nelson this being our first city of New Zealand.
Day 5
Nelson
Welcome to the wonderful world of the Abel Tasman - New Zealand’s smallest, sunniest and most popular national park. Abel Tasman, the Dutch explorer, was the first European to visit New Zealand. In 1642 he anchored his two ships in Golden Bay near the present park. The Abel Tasman National Park was opened in 1942, on the 300th Anniversary of Tasman’s voyage. This park is located at the top of the South Island and is best known for its gentle coastal walk, golden beaches, towering granite domes and honeycomb cave systems.
Today you have the option of having a rest day or an optional tour of touring the rich apple growing areas of Richmond, Mapua, Tasman and Redwood Valley to Motueka and then on to Kaiteriteri Beach, a hidden jewel in the top of the South Island. A boxed lunch is provided today as we board our sightseeing boat to cruise close into protected southern bays as we travel past Split Apple Rock and the various seal colonies, then the scenery changes; Onetahuti marks the beginning of the northern beaches- large sweeps of golden sand separated by picturesque bush headlands. We then return to Kaiteriteri for our bus journey back to Nelson. OUR COST is nz$145p.p. and includes a lunch box
Day 6
Nelson – Kaikoura
This morning depart Nelson and travel over the Whangamoa Saddle and the Rai Saddle before reaching Blenheim, here you have a short break to go for a walk around the city centre before your journey continue down the rugged East Coast to Kaikoura on board the TranzCoastal train as it journeys between the delightful town of Blenheim and Christchurch, the South Island’s largest city. This journey is a scenic feast of New Zealand, with the Kaikoura mountain ranges on one side of your train and the rugged Pacific Ocean coastline on the other.
Along the way we stop at village of Kaikoura, where, if you're touring New Zealand, you can break your journey to take in the whale watching or dare to get closer and swim with the dolphins.
One of the world's most scenic train journeys, the TranzCoastal travels through 22 tunnels and crosses 175 bridges, one of them being New Zealand’s only road-rail bridge. As on the TranzAlpine, the TranzCoastal includes an open air viewing carriage where all your senses are awakened with the clean, fresh, sea air.
Day 7
Kaikoura – Christchurch
This morning you have the option of going whale watching. Every Whale Watch tour is a unique experience and the sightings vary. Giant Sperm Whales are the stars of the show and year-round residents. A typical Whale Watch tour may encounter New Zealand Fur Seals, pods of Dusky Dolphins and the endangered Wandering Albatross. Depending on the season you may also see migrating Humpback Whales, Pilot Whales, Blue Whales and Southern Right Whales. Kaikoura often hosts the world's largest dolphin - the Orca - and is home to the world's smallest and rarest - the Hector's. Kaikoura also attracts the largest concentration and variety of seabirds on mainland New Zealand including 13 species of Albatross, 14 varieties of Petrels and 7 types of Shearwater. Tour departs at 10.00am and returns approx 2.00pm. we will book your whale watch cruise, but clients need to pay on the day, (due to weather conditions) Cost approx nz$140 per person. This afternoon re join the Tranz Coastal train to continue your journey to Christchurch. Your tour concludes on arrival at Christchurch railway Station
TOUR COSTS INCLUDE
Tranz Alpine Train Journey
All transport based on public transport
Free time at Franz Josef Glacier
Free time in Nelson
Option to go Whale Watching in Kaikoura
Trans Coastal Train Journey
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