Duration: 1 Day
Price: from NZ$219 One-Way
Departure From: Christchurch or Picton
Departure Date: Daily from mid December to early May.
Tour Type: Day Tour
Tour Operator: Kiwi Rail
Physical Grading: 1/5
ENQUIRE NOWJoin the Coastal Pacific and explore the stunning Kaikōura coastline, famous for its marine mammals and whale watching, through the idyllic Canterbury Plains to the Garden City of Christchurch.
Travelling between Christchurch and Picton, the Coastal Pacific journeys breathtakingly close to the Pacific Ocean, where the roaring sea meets enormous bush-clad mountains. The Coastal Pacific isn’t just a scenic New Zealand train trip, when combined with the Interislander Ferry it is the perfect way to connect between Wellington, Blenheim, Kaikoura and Christchurch.
If you are travelling north, the Coastal Pacific train departs Christchurch Railway Station in the early hours of the morning, arriving in Picton at lunchtime. Once you reach Picton you can take the Interislander ferry to Wellington and board the Northern Explorer train to Auckland to carry on your train journey through the North Island.
The Coastal Pacific train runs once daily taking just over 5 hours to traverse 348km and is an incredibly memorable experience. The journey is quite flexible so you can alight along the way and enjoy exploring the enticing destinations you travel through. Contact LOCO for all your travel arrangements including pre and post journey options
The Coastal Pacific has recently brought in two distinct service levels to their train journey. Both classes are worthy of what you pay, and both a thoroughly enjoyable way to make the most of your Coastal Pacific train experience.
Glide through the heart of New Zealand’s beautiful scenery in Scenic Class carriages, with epic landscape views filling your window while you relax in your seat.
In Scenic Class you’ll experience spacious reclined seats with generous amounts of legroom and comfort, panoramic windows, glass shelves and skylights. And to heighten your comfort, state-of-the-art airbag suspension has been used to guarantee a smooth ride across our rugged New Zealand terrain.
While onboard, you might like a stroll to the Scenic Cafe carriage where you’ll find a great selection of hot and cold snacks, drinks and ice creams. Indulge in a freshly brewed specialty tea or barista coffee married with a sumptuous cake? Or perhaps toast your special journey with a bottle of bubbles?
The Scenic Cafe opens for coffee and breakfast before the train departs and continues serving throughout the day. You can take a seat in the Scenic Cafe carriage and feast upon the views whilst eating. But you are also welcome to return to your seat to dine and drink if you would prefer. The day is yours to do as you choose!
During the hot summer months, the Open-air Viewing Carriage is a great place to get some fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors while on the move. You can whittle away the hours chatting and gazing out upon spectacular scenery and wildlife. It is also that perfect place for capturing those magical views on camera.
Learn the stories of our land while you travel by plugging into the Scenic Class Audio Commentary at your seat. The commentary provides a seamless stream of stories, narratives and facts about the places outside your window and is available on all three Scenic Class services, including the Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine.
Inside the refined Scenic Plus Class carriages, it’s more than just a journey. You’ll be treated to fresh food, captivating commentary, great hosting and spectacular views, all delivered to your seat while you ease back and enjoy the journey. There really is no better way to discover New Zealand.
At the heart of the Scenic Plus experience is the refined Scenic Plus Class carriage, with huge panoramic windows, glass shelves and skylights, bathing you in those gorgeous coastal and mountain landscapes.
With freshly prepared food inspired by the fields that glide past your window and regional wines to match, you’ll be immersed in the flavours of our land. As you admire the views our Scenic Plus hosts will recount the stories and histories of the passing landscapes and landmarks.
When you step off the train, you will have experienced some of the best New Zealand has to offer.
There are five official stops on the Coastal Pacific train journey:
To maximise your Coastal Pacific rail journey experience, we strongly recommend you consider taking a stop on the way and enjoying a break in some of New Zealand’s most popular destinations. Kaikoura and Blenheim are both incredibly popular destinations and don’t overlook Picton which offers access to some amazing locations throughout the top of the South Island.
LOCO Journeys can create an independent itinerary that suits your needs including Coastal Pacific train, accommodation, car-hire (if required), and activities of your choice.
For more details on the following points, please continue below;
For more information about this tour, price queries and updates on specials, please Enquire Now.