Christchurch

Arthur's Pass and TranzAlpine Train Day Tour from Christchurch

Christchurch, New Zealand
Arthurs Pass Day Tour including TranzAlpine Express Train from Christchurch
Likely to Sell Out

From $253.74

Select Date and Travelers

up to 6 days in advance

  • 9 hours 30 minutes
  • Pickup offered
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Explore the Canterbury Plains and Southern Alps on this Arthur’s Pass day tour from Christchurch. Travel through the pastureland of the Canterbury Plains to Springfield with your guide. Hop aboard your TranzAlpine train and journey through the Waimakariri Gorge. Explore the alpine village of Arthur’s Pass in the Otira Gorge and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. Visit a sheep farm, and admire native birdlife in the foothills of the Southern Alps.
  • Journey on the TranzAlpine express train
  • Enjoy lunch and afternoon tea
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off by coach included

What's Included

  • Tranz Alpine train journey Christchurch to Arthurs Pass one-way
  • Lunch (if option chosen)
  • Afternoon tea
  • Local guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • Gratuities

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:30 AM

Pickup details

We pickup from most Hotels, Motels & Backpackers in Christchurch City Center Some Air BnBs if central city

What To Expect

Canterbury Region

30 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

TranzAlpine Train

2 hours Admission Ticket Included

Otira Viaduct Lookout

1 hour Admission Ticket Free

Devils Punchbowl Walking Track

45 minutesAdmission Ticket Free

Arthur's Pass

1 hour Admission Ticket Included

Toby Hill Farm

1 hour Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
  • Infants must sit on laps
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Tour may operate in reverse - so Tranzalpine train from Arthur's Pass to Christchurch
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 50 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 6 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 6 full days before the experience’s start time.
  • Any changes made less than 6 full days before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • For a 50% refund, you must cancel 2–6 full days before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 2 full days before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

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Featured review
andrine_d
The train ride and spectacular views was awesome. The sheep shearing demo and sheep rounding by Nid the dog was informative and entertaining. Jude, our tour guide was friendly and helpful during the trip. The lunch was great.

Reviews

4.5
104 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 104 reviews
Good
Kathleen_B, Mar 2024
Sad, rivers empty no rain for months. Don’t like filling in these bits if I can’t be positive . Nothing more to say unless you want me to tell you that I was disappointed
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Kiaora and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with us!
Fantastic day!
Sandra_C, Mar 2024
An amazing day. The train windows were large so all passengers could see the views from their seats and there was an outdoor viewing carriage if you wanted to brave the weather on the day. The onboard commentary was informative. Our guide for the return bus trip was knowledgeable and we enjoyed short walks in Arthurs Pass and Castle Hill. Lots of photo opportunities.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Kiaora Sandra and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with us!
Huge potential but reality under delivered
Judith_D, Mar 2024
Poor value for money. Would recommend train without add ons only. Food in Arthurs Pass General Store poor with extras in the tour price not worth it.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Judith Davidson travelled with us yesterday. Unfortunately, the weather was not favourable, wet and cold in the Alps and Judith forgot to bring a jacket, which we always advise to do on this tour. The weather being very changeable in the mountains. According to the driver this impacted severely on Judith's day. You can see from all the great reviews for this tour that Judith's comments are by far the exception.
An experience to remember
Audrey_W, Mar 2024
The grandeur of it all & the clarity of the light, The train ride back to Christchurch was the real highlight
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Kiaora Audrey and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with us!
Great day, wonderful weather
sdallicat, Mar 2024
Loved seeing Mt. Cook and Lake Tekapo. I like the drive to Mt. Cook better than the second part back to Christchurch. Overall, a great way to get from Queenstown to Christchurch.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Kiaora and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with us!
Awesome day and wonderful experience!
William_K, Mar 2024
We had a great day traveling in New Zealand to Arthur’s Pass and stopping along the way to do multiple excursions! The day was wonderful and our tour guide Scotty was the best! We would recommend to anyone wanting to have a fun day seeing multiple sites and scenery!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Kiaora William and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with Scotty!
Great trip
Judith_M, Mar 2024
Our guide was very amicable and funny with numerous stories. It was Peter! However I would prefer the train journey in the morning and the van back!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Kiaora and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with Pete! The direction of journey on the train is dictated by the trains availability at the time of booking, which is beyond our control.
We had a wonderful time! ...
Diane_H, Mar 2024
We had a wonderful time! Pete did an excellent job of commentary, being hospitable, humorous, kind, and driving us safely on our tour! Thank you Pete - you are a dear!!!
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Kiaora Diane and thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with Pete!
Great Scenery!
Maureen_K, Feb 2024
Value for money? We were under the impression we were going on the train to Greymouth Returning back to Christchurch. Very disappointed! But a nice day out!
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Maureen Kelling booked our Arthurs Pass Day Tour including TransAlpine Train through Trip Advisor / Viator. The day tour booked is clearly described on all booking platforms and booked by hundreds of customers monthly as a day tour which includes a one-way TranzAlpine Train journey from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass with a high country farm experience with afternoon tea and an optional lunch. Why Maureen believed she was spending the entire day on the train travelling from Christchurch to Greymouth and return is a mystery. Yes the scenery is spectacular. We are very disappointed in being poorly reviewed as a result of the reviewer not understanding what she had booked.
Great trip to southern alps area
Madhu_K, Feb 2024
The farm visit, train ride, castle hill walk and the walk to waterfalls at Arthur’s pass were all great
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Kiaora Madhy thanks for leaving a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with us!
Great Experience
Dianne_W, Feb 2024
Great mix of scenery and local agriculture. Carmen was a very sweet guide and made sure everyone had a great experience and comfortable. Posted videos on my YouTube channel Everybody Needs a Goat for sheep fans.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Kiaora Dianne and thank you for leaving a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with Carmen... wow amazing videos!!
Arthur’s pass day tour
Sid_F, Feb 2024
Great day out with carmen, she went out of her way to make us safe and happy loads of fun and information only downside was the train begin delayed by an hour, otherwise a good day out….thank you
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Kiaora Sid and thanks for leaving a review. I'm pleased to hear you enjoyed your day with Carmen!
Tour operator canceled tour.
Samuel_S, Feb 2024
I never went on this experience because the tour operator cancelled it when I asked to confirm the pickup details after I had already arrived on holiday. This was a “confirmed” reservation on Viator and the tour operator canceled it due to not having a certain number of guests. I had to make other plans. This was cancelled by the tour operator. Buyer beware - “confirmed” doesn’t actually mean you will go on the tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2024
Samuel Stroud made this booking via a third party online travel agent. He was immediately advised that the booking was being held on a standby basis pending minimum numbers and was advised of the dates either side of his booking where minimum numbers had been reached and that the tour was operating. He was aware from the time of booking up until the day prior to travel that minimum numbers had not been achieved . Minimum numbers are required to keep the cost per person at a reasonable level. If minimum numbers were not in place the cost of the tour would be much, much higher.
Great trip
Osman_A, Jan 2024
Great to experience Great guide and driver l Once in a lifetime experience Forcing 100 characters should not be the requirement
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Kiaora and thanks for leaving a review. I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us!
Trans alpine train to Arthurs pass
Susan_W, Jan 2024
Pouring with rain in Arthur’s pass when we arrived. Difficult to get good pictures of scenery from train and was much better on the bus return
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Thank you for your review, it was unfortunate that the weather was raining on the day you travelled and impacted on your tour. Unfortunately, the weather is something that is beyond our control.
Great trip!
Nancy_A, Jan 2024
It was a long day and very enjoyable. Unfortunately, we had a very cloudy and rainy day and the views were not as good as they could have been. We did do the Devil's Punchbowl hike to the waterfall which was wonderful and the sheep barn experience was also great! Our guide, Carmen, was wonderful and full of information! Would highly recommend this trip.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Kiaora Nancy and thanks for leaving a review. I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Carmen!
Spectacular and relaxing
Madhavi_B, Jan 2024
Train ride to Arthur Pass and drive through the pass was amazing! Our tour guide took good care of us
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Kiaora and thanks for leaving a review. I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour with us!
Good trip to Arrowtown n Toby Hill Farms
Molly_D, Dec 2023
Pete was a very good coach n driver. Good explanation. Very calm and understanding. Since it was a bright sunny day it was more enjoyable.
Response from Host, Jan 2024
Kiaora Molly and thanks for leaving a review. I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Pete!
Do not book/ unreliable and unprofessional
DRT_D, Nov 2023
The trip was cancelled 2 days before departure. They said they will cancel and asked me not to do anything but then they charged the full amount and has not given me the refund even after requesting. It’s being more than 10 days and I am still waiting for a refund. I don’t understand why they took money in the morning and cancelled in the afternoon.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
The customer was advised at the time of booking that the tour had not reached minimum numbers. The tour was not cancelled at the last minute as it was never operating unless minimum numbers were achieved which they were not. We are a land based tour operator and our tours are available to book through Viator which is a third party online travel agent. No payment has ever been received by Leisure tours, you made your payment to Viator and it is Viator that need to refund you. We only ever receive payment after a tour has been completed. Some consideration and understanding needs to be applied by the reviewer. From our end, Viator has been instructed to refund you in full, and there is no reason why you should not have been refunded. Please follow up with Viator as this negative review is for Leisure tours, not Viator. We trust that you will do the right thing and remove this once you have.
Awesome day adventure!
Janese_C, Nov 2023
Tania was awesome. This was a great day tour. Our group of 14 were so nice. Tania took really good care of us from the picking up to dropping off and all in between.
Response from Host, Nov 2023
Kiaora Janese_C and thanks for leaving a review. I'm very pleased to hear that you enjoyed your day with Tania
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