Christchurch to Franz Josef One Way Day Tour with TranzAlpine

Overview

Available languages

English

12 hours

Mobile ticket

Travel from Christchurch to Franz Josef on one of New Zealand’s most iconic journeys, combining the legendary TranzAlpine train with a fully guided West Coast road trip. Glide through the Southern Alps by rail before meeting your Cheeky Kiwi guide and heading deep into glacier country. From turquoise gorges and wild black-sand beaches to rainforest-fringed lakes, this day is packed with bucket-list scenery. Small groups, passionate guides, and unforgettable landscapes, this is the West Coast done right.

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Public transportation options are available nearby

Specialized infant seats are available

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

The remaining time is spent travelling between locations

Children aged 7 years and below are required to travel in a child safety car seat. You can hire seats ($20NZD per seat) or you can provide your own

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

TranzAlpine Train

Your adventure begins with a transfer to Tower Junction to board the TranzAlpine. Settle in and enjoy panoramic carriages as you journey through river valleys, alpine passes, and the heart of the Southern Alps.

5 hours • Admission Included

Greymouth

Meet your Cheeky Kiwi guide and continue west by road. Greymouth is the Coast’s main hub and your gateway to wild beaches, rainforest and glaciers, where you'll stop for lunch. Note: As the train is operated by a third party, delays of up to 30 minutes are possible.

1 hour • Admission Not Applicable

What‘s Included

Picnic lunch

Luggage allowance - 1 large & 1 small per person

Tranzalpine Train

Water available & snacks provided

Coffee and/or Tea

Drop off in Fox Glacier

Restroom on board

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

Christchurch to Franz Josef One Way Day Tour with TranzAlpine

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

27 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Great train journey and one way trip down the coast
Lake J,,Feb 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The TranzAlpine was a lovely and scenic rail journey. Joel was an engaging guide and the trip was well-organized. Great scenery and convenient for a one way trip down the coast.
Luxury travel at its finest!
gaylen2026,,Jan 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Luxurious and scenic! Didn’t expect such a delightful and tasty trans-alpine transit. Do it! Elegant and tasty, plus a sunny day helped!
Recommended if you don’t want to drive.
Traveler02509711317,,Jan 3, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The chauffeur was friendly and reliable. If you’re taking the train exchange the phone numbers with the chauffeur, make’s it easy when you get off the train.
Excellent experience and beautiful scenery
José Pablo O,,Jan 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The experience was very pleasant. Rosie picked us up in time and left us in time to catch the train. The train ride was spectacular and then the car ride was good, making an excellent stop for walking in Hokitika.
Great tour
D2405AKjessicaf,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The journey from Christchurch to Franz Josef with TranzAlpine train was an outstanding experience, made even better by Shar’s excellent guidance throughout the day. Shar was a confident and safe driver, which made the long scenic journey comfortable and relaxing. He was friendly, approachable, and knowledgeable, adding to the overall enjoyment of the trip. The route itself was breathtaking, with plenty of opportunities to appreciate the changing landscapes along the way. Importantly, the day was well paced, allowing us enough time to reach Franz Josef and fully enjoy seeing the glacier at the end of the day. Overall, it was a memorable and well organised trip.
I loved the walk
Mariana R,,Dec 23, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The tour was great, we saw special places, the guide was very attentive, attentive and friendly, super recommend and would do others if I had more time in NZ
Alpine train and tour to Franz Josef
netchixtraveler,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Cheeky Kiwi guide Carl was excellent! He picked us at our hotel, dropped us at the Alpine train and continued on with our luggage to Greymouth, where he greeted us again with boxed lunch. He was our driver/guide to Franz Josep providing stories and plenty of information & knowledge about the region & NZ. We had varied stops and a beautiful gorge hike along the way. The train was well worth doing - stunning views, panoramic windows & an open car for photo taking. It rained a fair amount & we still had a great day! We’d highly recommend the tour & Carl!
Fabulous Day Tour!
V6763VHsueh,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Paul was a fantastic guide from the moment we met, right through until he dropped us off in Franz Joseph. His commentary kept us interested and entertained throughout. We loved the train journey and particularly enjoyed the Hokita Gorge walk. Lunch was delicious! It was a wonderful day, thank you!
Thanks for the unforgettable trip
joonyoungc598,,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
I had a great time on my trip to Franz Josef from Christchurch. It was unforgettable. Thanks for making me having a wonderful time.
Amazing tour from start to finish!
floraruggiero,,Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
The experience includes pick-up and the iconic scenic train ride across the famous Arthur’s Pass, followed by a guided journey along the West Coast all the way to Franz Josef. Willehm was fantastic from the very beginning of the tour until our arrival in the mountain town. All the stops along the way were beautiful and well chosen. Lunch was included, along with snacks and water — everything was perfectly organized! Highly recommended.