Best of the West Coast, 7 days/6 nights plus 3 day short break mini "Tranz Alpine" Tours

       Best of the West Coast Rail Tour - 7 days/6 nights

CHRISTCHURCH (1 night) - GREYMOUHth- POUNAMU PATHWAY - SHANTYTOWN - HOKITIKA (3 nights) - HOKITIKA GORGE -TREETOPS WALK -  FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER - LAKE MATHESON - ROSS GOLDFIELDS - ECO CRUISE (Summer only)  - REEFTON - DENNISTON - WESTPORT - NILE RIVER RAILWAY - PUNAKAIKI (1 night) - CHRISTCHURCH (1 night)

Commence Christchurch first sunday of every month year round (Minimum 2 passengers). Locally hosted on the West Coast.

2025. June 01, July 06, August 03, September 07, October 05, November 02, December 07

2026. January 04, February 01, March 01, April 05, May 03  

5 days/4 nights commencing Christchurch railway station monday morning Day 2 and ending Christchurch railway station Day 6 at 7pm.. Minimum 2 passengers.

This tour can commence any day 17 July 2025 - 11 May  2026 for minimum of 4 passengers.

 

Day 1. Sunday          ARRIVE CHRISTCHURCH  

Arrive Christchurch and you will be transferred to your accommodation.

 Day 2.  Monday.        CHRISTCHURCH - HOKITIKA

Transfer to the rail station.

8.15am. Depart Christchurch railway station aboard the  "Tranz Alpine" express for one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world across the Canterbury Plains climbing through the foothills of the Southern Alps criss crossing the Waimakariri River on the way to Arthurs Pass for a brief break. Travel through the Otira tunnel and descend into the rainforest of the West Coast. Pass Lake Brunner and the Grey River and arrive Greymouth 1.05pm.   

You will be met by your local guide  and visit Shantytown. Ride the train (usually diesel hauled), pan for gold, and recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era. On to Hokitika and catch up on Hokitika in its prime during the gold rush era.

Three nights accommodation and breakfast at the Beachfront Hotel, Hokitika.

Day 3. Tuesday.   HOKITIKA                  (B)  

This morning we go back to nature at the Hokitika Gorge for a short walk among the breathtaking scenery.  Enjoy  a leisurely Eco boat cruise (Summer only)  on the Lake Mahinapua waterways originally used by pioneers, gold diggers, and early explorers. Drive south to the West Coast Treetop Walkway for an exhilirating treetop adventure  high in the ancient Rimu and Kamahi trees with great views (weather permitting) of Lake Mahinapua, the Southern Alps, and Tasman Sea.

Day 4. Wednesday. FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER AND LAKE MATHESON   (B)

Full day excursion to Franz Josef Glacier with visit to the glacier lookout and free time for helicopter flights to land on the glacier. Visit beautiful Lake Matheson and the Ross Goldfields Museum.

Day 5.     Thursday.       HOKITIKA - REEFTON - DENNISTON - WESTPORT - PUNAKAIKI     (B)

Drive north to Reefton. Visit the Reefton Distillery Co with a little tasting and the Bearded Mining Company for a visit to a recreated miners hut and cup of billy tea. Drive to the Denniston lookout and on to Denniston to see the famous incline and discover the history of the area,. See the  Visit the Westport coal museum and Cape Foulwind seal colony before arriving at the Scenic Punakaiki Hotel.

Day 6.  Friday.             PUNAKAIKI -  GREYMOUTH  - CHRISTCHURCH  (B

Visit the historic gold mining town of Charleston for a ride on the Nile River railway through the rainforest. Explore the Punakaiki Rocks and Paparoa National Park. 

Return to Greymouth for a short tour and time to explore. Rejoin  the "Tranz Alpine" train departing 2.05pm to recross the Southern Alps to Christchurch where arrival is scheduled for 7pm. Passengers on the 7 day tour will be transferred back to your hotel (Accommodation at the airport Novotel for early departures Saturday. 5 day tour ends on arrival at Christchurch Railway Station. 

Day 7. Saturday.    CHRISTCHURCH DEPART     (B)

Passengers on the 5 day tour will be transferred to the airport.                    

 

Tour cost per person:  

01 June - 07 September, 2025 and 03 May, 2026. 

7 day tour. 2 per room $2,990. Single room $3,700

5 day tour. 2 per room $2,590. Single room $3,190

 

05 October 2025 - 04 January, 2026.

7 day tour. 2 per room $3,390. Single room $4,250

5 day tour. 2 per room $2,890. Single room $3,520

 

01 February - 05 April, 2026.

7 day tour. 2 per room $3,590. Single room $4,500

5 day tour. 2 per room $2,950. Single room $3,700 

 

"SCENIC PLUS" SERVICE INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE CARRIAGE AND SERVICE, MEAL, AND REFRESHMENTS IS AVAILABLE ON ONE OR BOTH JOURNEYS BUT MUST BE RESERVED ON YOUR INITIAL RESERVATION - extra cost $220 per person per one way journey

 

Tour cost includes (7 day tour):

**  Arrival and departure transfers and 1 night accommodation and breakfast in Christchurch before and after the West Coast. 

**  Return travel from Christchurch to Greymouth aboard the "Tranz Alpine" train. 

**   All travel on the West Coast by driver escorted mini or midi bus. 

**  6 nights accommodation and breakfast 

**    Admission fees to: Shantytown, Treetops walk,  Waterways cruise (summer only), Reefton Distillery, Coaltown Museum, Pounamu Pathway, Nile River rail ride

 

5 day tour includes all of the above except transfers, accommodation, and breakfasts in Christchurch before and after the West Coast. Tour starts and ends at Christchurch Railway Station.

 

THE RAIL  CONNECTION - "Northern Explorer", Interislander, and "Coastal Pacific 

THE FAST TRACK

2 days/1 night. Depart Auckland 7.45am and Hamilton 10.05am Saturday, Arrive Wellington 6.25pm.  1 night with breakfast close to Wellington Railway station, Sunday. "Interislander to Picton,  "Coastal Pacific" to Christchurch. Ttransfer to Christchurch accommodation,

Tour cost per person   

 01 June - 30 September, 2025 and 30 April, 2026.     2 per room $990. Single room $1,190

01 October, 2025 -  31 January, 2026. 2 per room $1.190. Single room $1,490

01 February - 31 March, 2026.  2 per room $1,350.  Single room $1,650.

Upgrade to SCENIC PLUS - "Northern Explorer"   $250. "Coastal Pacific" $220, "Tranz Alpine" $220

Upgrade to "Interislander" Premium Lounge $90

 

EXTEND THE EXPERIENCE.

Depart Auckland and Hamilton thursday for Wellington. Enjoy 3 nights exploring Wellington, or 2 nights Wellington and 1 night at Picton or Kaikoura arriivng Christchurch sunday.

 

 

BUBBLE BUSTER  RAIL SHORT BREAK. 3 days/2 nights

Locally hosted on the West Coast. Rail and ferry connections to and from Auckland and Hamilton. This tour is flexible. Stay longer if you wish or extend to Franz Josef Glacier and Queenstown, or north to Nelson.

CHRISTCHURCH - SHANTYTOWN - HOKITIKA - TREETOPS - PUNAKAIKI - POUNAMU PATHWAY - CHRISTCHURCH. 

Depart Christchurch every friday and saturday until 12 July, 2025. DAILY 17 July 2025 - 11 May, 2026. except 23 and 25 December - minimum 2 passengers.

Day 1.            CHRISTCHURCH - HOKITIKA

8.15am.  Depart Christchurch railway station aboard the  "Tranz Alpine" express for one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world across the Canterbury Plains climbing through the foothills of the Southern Alps criss crossing the Waimakariri River on the way to Arthurs Pass for a brief break. Travel through the Otira tunnel and descend into the rainforest of the West Coast. Pass Lake Brunner and the Grey River and arrive Greymouth 1.05pm.   

You will be met by your local guide  and visit Shantytown. Ride the train (usually diesel hauled now), pan for gold, and recapture something of the atmosphere of the gold rush era. Overnight in Hokitika and catch up on Hokitika in its prime during the gold rush era.        

Day 2.   HOKITIKA                  (B)  

This morning we go back to nature at the Hokitika Gorge for a short walk among the breathtaking scenery. .Continue to the West Coast Treetop walkway for an exhilirating treetop adventure high in the ancient Rimu and Kamahi trees with great views (weather permitting) of Lake Mahinapua, Southern Alps, and Tasman Sea Free afternoon to enjoy Hokitika. Spend time in the museum, visit a jade carver, glassblower, and gold centre, or wander the rugged beach. 

Day 3.   HOKITIKA - PUNAKAIKI - POUNAMU TRAIL - CHRISTCHURCH (B)

Drive north to Greymouth for a short tour then on to the amazing Punakaiki pancake rocks in the Paparoa National Park.  Return to Greymouth to to visit to the Pounamu Highway rejoin the "Tranz Alpine" for your journey across the Southern Alps to Christchurch arriving 7.00pm. Our arrangements end on arrival at the station.

Tour cost per person 01 May -- 30 September, 2025

2 per room   $1,790.  Single room  $1,990

Tour cost per person 01 October 2025 - 31 January 2026

2 per room $1,990. Single Room $2,290

Tour cost per person 01 February - 31 March 2026.

2 per room $2,150. Single room $2,380

 

"SCENIC PLUS" SERVICE INCLUDING EXCLUSIVE CARRIAGE AND SERVICE, MEAL, AND REFRESHMENTS IS AVAILABLE ON ONE OR BOTH JOURNEYS BUT MUST BE RESERVED ON YOUR INITIAL RESERVATION - extra cost $220 per person per one way journey

 

 

Tour cost includes  

** Return travel on the "Tranz Alpine" from Christchurch to Greymouth and back.  

** Transfers from Greymouth to Hokitika and back and sightseeing to Shantytown, Treetops, and in Hokitika.. 

** 2 nights accommodation and breakfast in Hokitika.  

** Admissions to Shantytown, and Treetops walk.  

 

 

Copyright © 2025 New Zealand Tours

Website crafted by bocapa