During my last visit to New Zealand’s South Island I took a trip on the TranzScenic Tranz Alpine train from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass.
Don’t waste your money on it – do something else instead.
While the township of Arthurs Pass is a good base for trampers with various walks starting there I think catching the TranzAlpine train there isn’t worth it and the full day trip ticket costing $NZ194 Adult fare Christchurch to Greymouth return is a colossal rip off.
Perhaps I feel this strongly because I’ve seen so much better scenery in the more remote parts of South Island because other people on the train were much more excited than me taking photos by the dozen of fairly mundane scenery along the way.
Independent travellers would probably be better off catching a bus to Arthur’s Pass to go tramping and families will find much more value doing other activities like the Fox Glacier Helihike.
View a photo of a handpainted map of Arthur’s Pass inside the Train Station’s waiting room
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Having never seen New Zealand, I would probably be, one of these:
“other people on the train were much more excited than me taking photos by the dozen of fairly mundane scenery along the way.”
However, I hate to feel I’ve wasted my money, so if I ever make it to NZ, I’ll remember not to go on this TranzAlpine train.
I agree with you totally. I am from NZ and travelling by train to Greymouth is very dull. The best parts of the Southern Alps simple can not be seen from the inside of a train. One needs to get out and go hiking to see the amazing scenery. And I agree with your comment about Arthur’s Pass, it is a great base for some good hiking (tramping).
Thanks for the warning! It’s no fun getting hyped up about a vacation and then having it go bad…
I think there needs to be some sense of perspective to this. There are many visitors to NZ (including from as near to us as the other side of the Tasman) who will perhaps never see that aspect of the Southern Alps discussed here by Neerav Bhatt and blair, and who would never expect to.
They are happy to experience the condensed diversity of scenery for which NZ is internationally renowned and the ‘long-distance’ views of the gorges, the mountains (including snow!), and the railway infrastructure that conquered them.
They are also happy to do it from the comfort of a warm/cool comfortable train seat, replete with commentary. One might expect that most of these would view the fare as money well spent, and perhaps the international reputation of this trip as an iconic journey attests to this..?
I would counsel prospective overseas visitors who have a limited time in which to see NZ to seriously consider this train journey as a must-do!
The Transalpline is a great train journey – you simply can’t access the areas or views by a bus – train is the only way, and hiking is very strenuous and not without costs either (not to mention time consuming!) Myself and my family enjoyed the trip immensely from the comfort of our seats and it was a moemrable part of our journey through the south island.
It’s all a matter of what you prefer, but you should be able to get a cheaper ticket if you plan ahead. Running a train through remote scenic highlands doesn’t sound like a low cost endeavour to me.
I booked a ticket over the internet on the tranzscenic from what I thought was the actual homepage of Tranzscenic rail. It turns out I purchased from an agent and payed almost double the actual price. It seems Tranzscenic allow their agents to charge what they like – I would accept an agents mark up of ten or maybe even 20% percent. I did not realize I was purchasing from an agent until I had made payment. The agents site does not give any indication that it is anything but the authentic homepage of Tranzscenic rail. Im very dissapointed to have paid almost double what other people on the train paid and I had a terrible seat. This is the type of scam you would expect when travelling in a third world country.
When I finally have the chance to visit New Zealand I will definitely take your advice and avoid the Tranz Alpine Train. Enjoyed the hand painted map of Arthurs Pass. Thanks for sharing.
Hi,
Nigel from Tranz Scenic here. Hope you don’t mind me commenting. The TranzAlpine has cemented a reputation over many years as being one of the top train journeys in the world. The feedback we have had from the hundreds of thousands of passengers a year is almost as good as the views themselves. You’ll know what I mean when you hear a carriage full of passengers gasp out loud as the train leaves a tunnel and travels high over the Waimakariri River gorge.
The train also treats passengers to views you wouldn’t get another way – it often travels where the roads and tracks don’t go. It is obviously not to everyone’s taste, but is very affordable especially if you book direct on the Tranz Scenic web site as there are special low cost fares available. A number of travelers go from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass, go tramping for a few hours, then get the train back later the same day, for far less than the prices mentioned above.
Views are especially good at the moment, with low snow down to the tracks at places like Cass (the little red station made famous by the Rita Angus painting). Maybe I’m biased, but any of the scenic train journeys in New Zealand (the TranzAlpine, TranzCoastal and Overlander) are well worth it.
This train sounds exciting especially for people who live in countries where trains are rare/expensive. I am planning a trip to the south Island from the U.S and I was hoping to take at least 1 leg of the TranzAlpine but the prices are so high inspite of the “winter sale”. So there are some great deals but not available to people booking from outside NZ .
KiwiRail, this is unfair that the great fares are not allowed for people who really want to book them. Considering the bus/shuttle charges about N$35, asking for N$200 for Cch- Greymouth is a rip off, especially during winter.
The negative comments are so wrong …You should not be so negative as to put other people off from doing something . What maybe boring and dull for you may not be for some one else . New Zealand is a great place and has amazing scenery and yes you do need to get off the main routes to see the real beauty but dont post negative things unless it is really a rip off.
Gday all I love trains of most any and all types not eveybody wants to look at the trees and stuff so buy all means take a hike……..lol
Ill be doing as mant train trips as I can….. can anybody give me some hints on what trips there are steam etc… thanks Greg..
Sorry about my type-o spelling mistakes……
hey KiwiRail any ideas on rail travel???
Hi, Nigel from KiwiRail here again. While it is true that you might find cheaper travel, it is not the same thing. For one, Desi Girl’s post ignores that facts that the shuttle price is one way, the train fare (not completely accurate) a return and fully refundable. What’s more, the train is far more than mere travel – time and again international research has proved that people much prefer to travel in the air conditioned, smooth comfort of a train.
The TranzAlpine also has open air viewing carriages so you can take photos (or video) without reflection from glass windows and move from one side of the train to the other to get the best view. You’ll need to wrap up warm in winter, but it is a popular part of the train.
Train travel is a travel experience unlike any other.
Well said, Nigel. Some people are either very “sad” or spoilt. The negative comments about the trip seem to reflect this. My wife and I did the trip in July just after a snowfall. It was stupendous! As for finding alternative ways to see the scenery, there certainly are some. I have tramped and low-level climbed in parts of the Southern Alps and spent years in Search and Rescue there. I have also been to Greymouth by road. NOTHING about the road trip can compare with the fantastic scenery experienced from the train. I would, however, suggest that winter is the time to do it. Part of the appeal in the trip is standing in the observation car and taking photos in -8 degrees windchill and sharing the experience with peole you have never met. If that doesn’t appeal, then stay inside the carriage or stay home. But my in-laws have done the trip in summer and would do it again! I guess everything is in the eye of the beholder.
Graham
My family and I travelled on the TranzAlpine in 2007 and loved the journey. We may have been able to do it cheaper by bus but, quite frankly, you couldn’t pay me enough money to do a trip like that in a cramped bus. We may have got closer to the scenery by hiking, but not so practical with a four year old in tow.
We enjoyed the views from the train, and what is more the train was comfortable, lots of leg room, huge windows to look out of, buffet on board etc. I quite enjoyed braving the elements on the observation deck too, even though I’m not convinced putting it in the middle of the train is the best place.
For another impartial view on the trip (and much advice for people who prefer to see the scenery when they visit countries rather than the top side of clouds) please see here http://www.seat61.com/TranzAlpine.htm
PS Stumbled across this blog while planning for a Christchurch-Auckland trip by rail to be undertaken next year!
Sorry, disagree. Trans Scenic New Zealand offers a spectacular train ride from Christchurch to Greymouth over the Southern Alps. See this hubpage on the topic http://hubpages.com/hub/Tranz-Scenic-New-Zealand.
Neerev Bhatt, what a one sided view. I’ve been on this train twice and sure, if you sit in the carriage and stare out the window it can be a bit soul destroying. But hey , get out on the open air carriage and feel the breeze, smell the air and enjoy the scenery.
I think the best scenery is from Arthurs Pass anyway so do’t whine just about the route from greymouth only half way. You’re fortunate if you’ve seen the rest of the southern Alps. Some people aren’t and to have small window of opportunity to experience this wonderful part of NZ is a rare experience. Grant them that at least and we’ll accept that your comments were your opinion and we don’t all agree with you.