Today we took what was described as one of the most beautiful rail journeys in the world … the TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth on the West Coast, passing through the Southern Alps including Arthur’s Pass.
As it was spring, we could see the mountains were still beautifully snow-capped. It was sunny and the snowy peaks were very nicely illuminated.
We took the return journey an hour after we arrived as it was the only way we could fit it into a standard weekend. At this time of year, the light was weakening by mid-afternoon and the scenery was nowhere as bright. The waters of the Waimakariri River weren’t as blue as in the morning and neither were the skies.
For this time of year, I’d recommend travelling ex-Christchurch if you can only do the journey in one direction.
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- On the Canterbury Plains heading towards the Southern Alps.
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- Our first good look at the Southern Alps at stop.
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- The mighty Waimakariri Gorge.
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- The mighty Waimakariri Gorge.
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- The mighty Waimakariri Gorge.
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- Heading towards the Southern Alps.
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- The Southern Alps in the background.
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- The Southern Alps in the background.
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- The Southern Alps in the background.
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- Many people believe this to be the quintessential New Zealand scene.
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- The Southern Alps in the background.
