TranzAlpine Train

Mountain sightseeing route: Christchurch - Greymouth

The most famous train view light in South Island, namely the famous TranzAlpine, is 223.8 km long and lasts 4.5 hours. It passes through the Southern Alps and connects Christchurch and Greymouth. The distinctive landscapes along the way include the Staircase viaduct, Arthur's Pass National Park and Otira Tunnel. A total of 19 tunnels and 4 viaducts are crossed, including the 73 meter high Staircase Viaduct. There is an outdoor sightseeing carriage on the train, and you will have a panoramic view of the beautiful scenery outside the window. The train passes through the horticultural and agricultural areas of the Canterbury Plain. In Springfield, the train will leave the trunk road, enter the crisscross Waimakariri River basin, and then meander westward along the northern boundary of Korowai Torlese Tussocklands Park. When the train approaches the veritable Staircase town, with the help of a series of magnificent viaducts, the climbing journey of the Southern Alps will begin in your expectation. When the train runs in Craigieburn Valley, more and more mountain landscapes begin to appear: dry grass, gravel ramps and steep mountains rising from the bottom of the valley. After arriving at the Arthur Passage, the train will stop for a while, so you can take this opportunity to stretch your muscles on the platform. In fact, the Arthur Passage is a good stop. The town is located in the beautiful alpine national park, where there are many hiking trails, which can not only meet the needs of families for leisure hiking, but also meet the requirements of professional mountain explorers for several days of hiking. After leaving the Arthur Passage, the mountain line passes through the 8.5km long Otilla Tunnel and arrives at Otira Gorge, which is located in the west of the great divide. In contrast to the dry beech forest in the east and the crisscross rivers, the landscape in the west is dominated by verdant vegetation and swift rivers. On the way to Greymouth, the beautiful Lake Brunner is also a great landscape that can't be missed.