Arthur's Pass Discovery and TranzAlpine Train - Small Group Tour
Overview
Available languages
9 hours
Mobile ticket
In the heart of the Southern Alps, Arthur's Pass National Park has an incredible diversity of flora and landscape. Experience a breathtaking journey aboard the TranzAlpine Train winding it's way through the magnificent Waimakariri Gorge. Join short guided walks to rainforests, rivers and mountain vistas. Traveling in a small group, maximum eight participants, allows for an intimate and informative experience. Return to Christchurch in one of our luxury vehicles.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
A percentage of the tour price is used for the conservation of New Zealand's wildlife, environment and it's endangered species
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
We will pick you up from your hotel and then drop you at the train station for the trip to Arthurs Pass on the TranzAlpine. Our guide will then meet you at Arthurs Pass, take you for lunch and a short walk before driving you back to Christchurch in a luxury vehicle.
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
What‘s Included
Light refreshments
Travel by TranzAlpine train
Local guide
Guided walks of Arthur's Pass National Park
Air-conditioned vehicle
Hotel pickup and drop-off from centrally located Christchurch hotels
Lunch at a country cafe
Cruise port pickup is not available
Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
TranzAlpine Train
Journey across the wide expanses of the Canterbury Plains into high country surrounded by rugged mountain ranges. After leaving the Canterbury Plains, the landscape dramatically changes into sub-alpine we head towards the spectacular Southern Alps. View the Waimakariri River and its unique braided riverbed system. Enter Arthur’s Pass National Park where short walks can be made to experience forests, rivers and mountains vistas.
Arthur's Pass National Park Visitor Centre
Follow the old stage coach route and travel down the spectacular Otira Gorge, testament to the road builders of the 1860's and the route taken by the Maori in their quest for greenstone. View Cave Stream where it burrows underground in an area of limestone cliffs and gorges, craggy outcrops and a setting of mountains to the east and west. This area was also used as for the filming of C.J Lewis’ story – “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”. The incredible Castle Hill rocks, unique weatherworn, rain smoothed outcrops of limestone are seen from the highway. Lunch at a country hotel, included in cost of tour.
Options
Arthur's Pass National Park with TranzAlpine Train Tour from Christchurch
Pickup included
Reviews
257 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Amazing trip
D1948MHjaneg,
Nov 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Ole our driver was a fabulous host for the day and I can highly recommend this company. Starting with a safety briefing with clear protocols as we were going into an Alpine area, the tour felt thoroughly professional but also friendly and informal. As someone who is not super fit with an arthritic knee, Ole read the situation well and managed to guide us to appropriate walks without limiting our experience of the amazing views. Great lunch at Grassmere sheep station too. A very enjoyable day - would highly recommend this tour.
A must do trip!
Relax29701481009,
Nov 25, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An amazing trip and Grant was an amazing guide - he even arranged perfect weather for us! The train ride was highly enjoyable with great views and an interesting commentary. Grant met us at Arthur’s Pass, as arranged, and his knowledge really enhanced the rest of our trip - the highlight being the climb to the Devil’s Cauldron. We highly recommend this trip and, if you’re lucky, you’ll get Grant as your guide!
Hugo = great guide!
M8587MAstephanief,
Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our guide Hugo was fantastic. A really knowledgeable and charasmatic man who made the tour a great day. We were taken to a gorgeous ranch for lunch and Hugo did a great job planning a walk for my husband and I, as well as planning separate activities for the other couple with us.
Train, mountains, walks, incredible views and excellent food with a great guide
Guide47969828749,
Nov 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent trip with our entertaining and knowledgeable guide Ollie from Canterbury Trails. Took in the Transalpine to Arthur's Pass, a short steep walk to an impressive waterfall, wonderful lunch at Grasmere station and another walk to Castle Hill rocks. We were blessed with blue skies and incredible photo opportunities. The walks were at a sensible pace with no pressure. The setting for the lunch was superb. Ollie even produced a cup of tea and biscuits after the afternoon walk. A very highly recommended trip.
YouGo with Hugo!
Flyer42075087355,
Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fantastic day, from start to finish! Our guide (Hugo) was knowledgeable, outgoing, friendly and easy going. Simply a terrific day!
Arthur's pass
helendG8524VN,
Nov 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Thank you Ollie and Canterbury trails for a wonderful trip up to Arthur's pass and amazing lunch stop. Geoff and Helen..
Great day in NZ!
Q2431HBpaulr,
Nov 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What a great tour today! It covered a number of different things including the scenic train ride, wonderfully narrated small bus ride back, with scenic and short hiking stops. Our guide Grant was fantastic! He was extremely knowledgeable about everything including many questions from our six person group. He was also pleasant and very well spoken. Lastly, the lunch at Grasmere was top notch for both the food and quaint decor.
Best personalized tour in New Zealand
fhdash,
Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the privilege of doing the two tours with Daniel as our guide: 1. Arthurs pass and trans alpine train ride and 2. whale watching tour. Daniel drove us to the train station and was very attentive to ensure we were on the correct train and made it to our seats. After the train ride Daniel was waiting for us on the platform with a smile. During the drive back he stopped at two locations for a hike and to experience the floral and fauna, the amazing views up close. We also stopped at Castle hill rock formation which is also amazing. Danial was very knowledgeable and eager to share facts and stories of the areas. He stopped at beautiful locations so we could get pictures. On the Whale watching trip we didn’t see a whale but Daniel made the trip very comfortable and we enjoyed his company. We highly recommend this company for a more personalized tour. We do not want to sit on a coach bus with 30 other people and this is the way to go ! This was our favorite tour in New Zealand and Daniel was the best!
Amazing
Lynn and Margo P,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Normally, We do not write reviews of our trip excursions, however on Oct 1st we experienced an memorable trip on the Arthur's Pass & Tranzalpine tour. Our guide, Hugo picked us up and delivered us to the train station. What started as a rainy snowy day turned into a beautiful sunny day at Arthur's pass. Hugo is a very knowledgeable & experience guide. He showed us to many breathtaking landscapes and explained the history of the area. We had a lovely lunch at The Alpine Cafe, afterwords we enjoyed a 1/2 hr hike. At the conclusion of the hike we stopped to take pictures on a bridge where Unbeknownst to us the eye piece fell off our camara. We discovered this upon our return to the hotel. 2weeks later Hugo was back on that same bridge and there lay the camara eyepiece. Hugo messaged us and arranged to mail us the eyepiece. 10 days after arriving back in Canada the eyepiece was delivered. Thank you Hugo for a day we will remember and for going above and beyond the guidelines of a tour guide. We would highly recommend this tour.
Pure Joy
claudiawM4461IY,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had the most delightful 3 days with our guide, Dave Sandford. Our first day was a tour of Christchurch. It happened to snow in the higher elevations so we diverted to a charming stone cafe where we had the world’s best fig scones … Dave’s knowledge of Christchurch was both entertaining and informative. Our second day he drove us to the small French village of Akoroa. There we took a 2 hour boat cruise and got to see penguins, seals and a few saw a couple of tiny dolphins. We then had an exquisite lunch. Our 3rd and final day with Dave was on the famous TranzAlpine train ride. Dave met us at the train station and we proceeded to drive back to Christchurch with some very interesting stops along the way. Dave was not only very kind and personable, he also has a wide breadth of knowledge about all that Christchurch area has to offer. If anyone is lucky enough to come to Christchurch and has Dave as a guide, you will not be disappointed. Thank you Canterbury Trails & Thank you Dave.
From NZ$895.00
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Operated by Canterbury Trails