Travel on trains with comfortable seating, air conditioning, and wide panoramic windows. Enjoy the food and beverage service while listening to the informative commentaries. Train speed normally does not exceed 100 kilometres ( 60 miles ) per hour.

North to South Island travel is on the Interisland Line, the most reliable operator. Ships feature restaurants, bars, information centres & even movie theatres. Relax on board and witness the spectacular scenery pass by on the 3 hour interisland crossing.

Example train trip: Mainland by Rail

Cruise across Cook Strait on the Interislander to the Marlborough Sounds and Picton. Farewell the ferry and ride the Tranz Coastal train over the wine producing soils of the Wairau Valley. Returning to the coast hug the rugged seashore to Kaikoura, renowned for its lobster fishing and whale watching. Skirt the Hundalee Hills to reach Christchurch. On arrival uplift a vehicle for your South Island travel.

Departing Christchurch travel south across the Canterbury Plains with a back drop of the Southern Alps to your right. Cross over New Zealand’s finest salmon fishing rivers before arriving Oamaru. Here you may wish to visit the towns collection of fine whitestone buildings. Continue south past the picturesque Blue Skin Bay and traverse over Killmog Hill to reach Dunedin. This afternoon you may wish to join the Taieri Gorge Railway New Zealand’s spectacular historic rail journey - crossing giant viaducts and passing through ever changing scenery.

This morning is free to explore Dunedin and the Otago Peninsula renowned for its abundant wildlife. Traverse Saddle Hill to Mosgiel and the Taieri Plains. Round Lake Waihola and continue over the rolling South Otago farmland to Gore. Leaving the main highway it is on to Lumsden and Mossburn before reaching Te Anau.

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