Tranzalpine & the North by Magic Bus

Tour Itinerary

TranzAlpine Train: Christchurch to Greymouth

PLAINS, SOUTHERN ALPS, BEECH RAINFORESTS

This trip has been named as one of the world's great scenic rail journeys. You will travel between Christchurch and Greymouth, from one coast of New Zealand to the other. This four and a half our journey takes you across the Canterbury Plains and farmland then continuing on through spectacular gorges and river valleys of the Waimakariri River. The train climbs into the Southern Alps stopping at Arthur's Pass Village for some fresh alpine air before heading down through beech rainforests to the West Coast town of Greymouth. Words really don't do this fantastic journey justice whether in winter snow or during summer.

Approximate arrival time into Greymouth is 12.45pm.

Hop off the train today and stay at: Arthur's Pass

GREYMOUTH - FRANZ JOSEF

GLACIER HIKING, GOLD, UNTOUCHED WILDERNESS

This morning we travel further down the West Coast before stopping in the township of Hokitika, famous for its often crazy local cuisine and Pounamu (Greenstone). Traces of the 'gold rush' times of the that brought thousands upon thousands of wannabe miners and gold panners to the area in the mid 1800s are still evident in the historic town of Ross, we'll even give you a chance to try some panning yourself and find some of your very own New Zealand gold. Heading further south we enter Westland National Park, an area containing numerous scenic lakes, dense forests, many of the Southern Alps highest peaks and two amazingly accessible glaciers. Time for more adventure! We arrive into the alpine village of Franz Josef in time for those who want to partake in a fantastic introduction to an enthralling world of ice. The new Ice Explorer is a short heli hop from the township which takes you into the remarkable Pinnacles area of the glacier. Here your guide will navigate you through a maze of ice and explain the dramatic environmental changes over the last few years. Those not taking part in the Ice Explorer today can be taken to the glacier lookout before being dropped at accommodation. If glaciers aren't your thing, another option here is to go kayaking on the scenic Lake Mapourika, surrounded by stunning mountain peaks. Tonight, relax the night away in the Glacier Hot Pools.

Approximate arrival time into Franz Josef in winter is 12.00pm and summer is 1.00pm.

Hop off the bus today and stay at: Hokitika

FRANZ JOSEF - WANAKA

WATERFALLS, MIRROR LAKE, MOUNTAINS

First up this morning we will pass through Fox Glacier, another small village nestled next to a huge and dramatic glacier. Fox Glacier is also the home of one of New Zealand's most picturesque spots; Lake Matheson. Often referred to as the 'Mirror Lake', it is famous for its reflections of the Southern Alps which dominate the skyline - perfect for those picture postcard photos. As we head inland through Haast and further away from the west coast the scenery changes from dense forest to boulder-filled river beds, cliff faces and incredibly powerful waterfalls. Make sure you snap a photo of the Gates of Haast - a truly amazing valley littered with huge boulders. After this the scenery will take another change and we head into the vast plateaus and many lakes of the Central Otago region. Make sure you have your cameras ready as we pass Lake Hawea and shortly after Lake Wanaka. At the head of the lake is the town of Wanaka. This is where we stop for the night - but not before we've taken you to Puzzling World - an amazing mind bending experience that will push your limits and one that you're sure to love.

Hop off the bus today and stay at: Fox Glacier, Makarora

WANAKA - QUEENSTOWN

UNLIMITED ADVENTURE, GREAT NIGHTLIFE, PANORAMIC VIEWS

This morning we head out of town and get you set for a huge day of adventure and exhilaration. Firstly we drop into the birthplace of Bungy jumping, the Kawarau Bridge. The bridge, which is 42 metres above the Kawarau River, is the site of the world's first commercial bungy jump. We dare you to jump - something you will never forget! From here we make our way past Lake Hayes and into Arrowtown. Arrowtown has an amazingly rich history and as such we'll give you the time to explore the quaint shops, the Chinese settler's village and historic buildings in town. In autumn the colours are amazing. From Arrowtown we'll head onto Arthur's Point; which is situated on a bend in the Shotover River. This is also the home of the world renowned Shotover Jet, and also the launch point for whitewater rafting. Be sure to get out onto the river if you've not yet had enough excitement in your day! We head into Queenstown early in the afternoon where there are endless activity options, from mild to wild. We have allowed two nights in Queenstown (but many people prefer to stay longer) to soak it all up.

Approximate arrival time in Queenstown is 1.30pm.

QUEENSTOWN - LAKE TEKAPO

Lake Pukaki, Salmon & Stargazing

Life slows down a little as we leave Queenstown behind us. We head of through Cromwell and onto the alpine environment of the Lindis Pass. Lindis Pass is an amazing road winding its way through some of New Zealand's most spectacular scenery and in winter is often blanketed by snow! As we make our way into McKenzie Basin we stop off in Twizel. This small town serves as a gateway to New Zealand's highest mountain; Aoraki Mount Cook. If you want to go and check it out your driver will arrange a connection bus for you. Our next stop of the day is the High Country Salmon Farm - this fantastic attraction will get you up close and personal with the salmon and give you a chance to hand feed them and even buy some to take away for your dinner! The tranquil Lake Tekapo is over overnight destination, a small town located at the end of the lake by the same name. There is a lot on offer here including an optional day trip to Mt Cook village, kayaking on the lake, fantastic sightseeing flights of the Southern Alps or the sedate visit to the idyllic Church of the Good Shepperd. Tonight, don't miss the chance to view the Southern Hemisphere stars up close. Tekapo is a great place to get together with your fellow travelers and share a group meal.

Approximate arrival time in Lake Tekapo is 1.45pm

LAKE TEKAPO - CHRISTCHURCH

PUNTING, DEVELOPMENT & RE-START MALL

After leaving the shores of Lake Tekapo, we travel around the edges of the stunning Mackenzie Country crossing over Burkes Pass and the foothills of the Southern Alps. We then pass through the picturesque towns of Fairlie and Geraldine, stopping here for a short time. Be sure to jump off at Geraldine if you want to try your hand at rafting some of the wildest white water in New Zealand with Rangitata Rafts. The bus then heads across the Canterbury Plains, the largest area of flat land in NZ and a huge contrast to our previous days travel! We will briefly look around Christchurch on the way into town but we will leave the exploring up to you! Be sure to check out Christchurch's amazing new 'unique' Re-Start Mall. This astonishingly creative mall is made entirely of shipping containers and one of the cities exciting new urban developments following the earthquakes that damaged much of the cities buildings in 2010/11. We would also definitely recommend all passengers consider travelling on the double-decker Discover Christchurch bus tour - it will give you an amazing insight into the cities recent challenges and let you see how amazing the people of this area really are - simply ask your driver about this if you are interested. If you are up for some fun tonight we would also suggest you check out SO- MO; which is a vibrant area of Christchurch alive with bars, restaurants and cafes! Approximate arrival time into Christchurch is 1.00pm.

Hop off the bus today and stay at: Rangitata

CHRISTCHURCH - KAIKOURA

Garden City, Whale Watching, Seal Colonies

Upon leaving the Christchurch we follow the rugged coastline up to Kaikoura. There is so much to do in the amazing seaside town that you will need to plan your time well or possibly even stay an extra day or 2 to fit it all in and experience the amazing natural wonders of whale watching or dolphin/seal swimming; make sure you don't miss out! The name 'Kaikoura' translates to 'meal of crayfish' so back on dry land make sure you try some fresh Crayfish or indulge in a traditional

New Zealand fish & chip dinner here, it's is regularly voted one of the best places in the country to do so! The sea is teeming with fish and you might even want to jump on a fishing trip and try to catch your own dinner!

Kaikoura has been awarded the international tourism standard 'Green Globe', a process developed to reduce the environmental impact of the community and the visitors and ensures that Kaikoura stays clean, green and beautiful.

Approximate arrival time in Kaikoura is 12.00pm.

CHRISTCHURCH - KAIKOURA

WHALE WATCHING, SEAL COLONIES, GREEN GLOBE COMMUNITY

Upon leaving the Christchurch we follow the rugged coastline up to Kaikoura. We have allowed 2 nights in Kaikoura so you don't miss out on the chance to experience the amazing natural wonders of whale watching or dolphin/seal swimming; make sure you don't miss out! The name 'Kaikoura' translates to 'meal of crayfish' so back on dry land make sure you try some fresh Crayfish or indulge in a traditional New Zealand fish & chip dinner here, voted one of the best places to do so! The sea is teeming with fish and you might want to jump on a fishing trip and catch your own dinner!

Kaikoura has been awarded the international tourism standard 'Green Globe', a process developed to reduce the environmental impact of the community and the visitors and ensures that Kaikoura stays clean, green and beautiful. Approximate arrival time in Kaikoura is 3.00pm.

KAIKOURA - PICTON - WELLINGTON

WINE COUNTRY, MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS, COOK STRAIT

Before leaving the Kaikoura Coast this morning we stop at Ohau Point, where there is a large seal colony. If the season is right you may be lucky to see the baby seals playing in a nearby waterfall. They are very curious little creatures and will get up close and personal with you!

After we travel inland through famous hilly pastures and wine country of Marlborough via the small and friendly township of Blenheim. We continue on to Picton, the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds, in time to catch the early afternoon ferry across to Wellington (price of ferry not included in some passes). If you are travelling to Nelson, stay onboard the bus and you will arrive into Nelson late this afternoon. Approximate arrival time in Wellington is 4.30pm.

Hop off the bus today and stay at: Blenheim

WELLINGTON - TAUPO

RARE BIRDS, TUI HQ, DESERT ROAD

Today we head north out of Wellington travelling over the Rimutaka Ranges. The height of the ranges provides you with some great views of the countryside. Continuing north we travel through Masterton and some lush Wairarapa farmland before we reach Pukaha Mt Bruce - a wildlife sanctuary. This amazing complex is home to kiwi, tuatara and other critically endangered native New Zealand wildlife. It is even home to Manukura - an amazingly rare white Kiwi. Born in May 2011 she is already a favourite for all visitors. After leaving Mt Bruce we head on to Mangatainoka; the home of Tui beer. This is a true iconic 'Kiwi' landmark. We will stop here for lunch so take time to taste the beer, eat some 'Kiwi tucker' and even learn some of the 'His-Tui' of the brewery. After lunch we'll head off through the Manawatu and up to the Tongariro National Park. This unique barren landscape forms part of New Zealand's only official 'desert', the Rangipo Desert - where we stop for spectacular photos of the National Park and the mountains.

For film buffs, this scenery is also another welcome to Lord of the Rings country, with amazing photo opportunities of the Tongariro National Park, live volcanoes and the Tolkien inspired 'Mt. Doom'. We drive through Turangi before following the lake into Taupo arriving mid afternoon. If you are finishing your trip in Auckland, we recommend you spend at least 1 night in Taupo to enjoy the many activities such as taking a jet boat ride on the Waikato River or Bungy jump above it. Experience one of the best thrills in NZ, skydiving from 15,000 feet you can see both coasts of the North Island and the sprawling Lake Taupo. It's without a doubt the best way to see the Central Plateau. Taupo is also the starting point for any passengers heading off to New Zealand's Art Deco Capital Napier.

Hop off the bus today and stay at: Turangi

If you are travelling north from Christchurch and finishing your trip in Auckland we recommend you catch the Waitomo Wanderer from Taupo or Rotorua. This will give you the chance to visit the famous Glowworm Caves which are over 30 million years old. Here you can view the amazing caverns and glowworms or be daring and have a go at one of the many activities Magic has on offer such as black water rafting, or abseiling into the caves (this is something you certainly won't have the chance to do too often!)

TAUPO - MOUNT MAUNGANUI - AUCKLAND

BEACHES, SURFING, CHILLING OUT

Departing Taupo we stop off just out of town to walk to the mighty Huka Falls throwing over 200,000 litres of water each second - it's a stunning sight, no wonder it's New Zealand's most visited natural attraction. The name Huka is the Maori word for 'foam', which is appropriate as the falling water and rapids certainly resembles it. We then head in to Rotorua at approximately 8.30am. Leaving Rotorua behind we carry on to the north-west, stopping off for a short wander through the Magic Forest and to learn a little about conservation. The next stop is Tauranga and then onto the chilled out beach town of Mt Maunganui where you have enough time to grab something to eat, or relax on the beautiful beaches and soak up the atmosphere of this iconic Kiwi holiday destination. We recommend you stay an extra night to relax, join the sun-seekers and hit the surf; which is enhanced by an artificial reef. Leaving Mt Maunganui we will see a glimpse of rural New Zealand as we pass through small pioneer towns such as Katikati, the 'mural' town of New Zealand, and Waihi, where the gold rush which began in the 1800's still continues today. We travel on through the incredible bush lined cutting of the Karangahake Gorge to Paeroa, where some unique landmarks pay homage to the iconic 'Lemon & Paeroa'. In Thames, those travelling to the Coromandel will connect onto their service and start their journey around the peninsula where you will see stunning native bush, a beach where the water is boiling hot and one of the most beautiful coves in New Zealand. For those who are heading on to Auckland, we continue on to meet the southern motorway, traverse the famous Bombay Hills and then deliver you back into the city. We recommend you stay a few nights in Auckland to do some of the sights, such as jumping off the Skytower, bungy jumping from the Auckland Harbour Bridge or catching a ferry to a nearby island. Approximate arrival time into Auckland is 3.30pm.

If Auckland is the end of your journey, why don't you drop into the Magic office and share your travel stories with us, tell us what a great time you had and bring in some of the photos you've taken along your way. You never know, with your photo's you could win you back the cost of your pass.

Hop off the bus today and stay at: Rotorua, Mt Maunganui or Thames