Itinerary 6 (2 day ex Christchurch)

Itinerary 6

 

2 days & one night Ex Christchurch - extra days can be added.

Day 1  

8:40am. Your adventure starts with a check in at the Christchurch Rail Station by 8:40 am. for your departure on the Tranz Alpine Train at 9:00am.

9:00am. Depart on the Tranz Alpine Train. This Train Adventure is regarded as one of the top 6 train tours in the world! Travel across the chequered Canterbury Plains into the magnificence of the snow covered Southern Alps which are looking stunning at this time of the year. Enjoy the panorama windows along with a meal and glass of wine from the dining car. Crossing one of New Zealands highest viaducts you enter a world of mountain peaks and deep river gorges that takes us onwards through our countries longest tunnel into the West Coast. Friendly people amoungst some of the worlds most stunning scenery sets you up for two days of fun and adventure.

1:25pm Arrive at the Greymouth Rail Station where you will be meet by a representative from the Wild West Adventure Company. Look out for a person with holding your name on a card. From the station you will be taken out for an afternoon tour of fun and adventure. The choice here is yours. You will have chosen from the group of great adventures listed on the attatched sheet enclosed.

6:00pm At about 6:00pm we will take you from the conclusion of your first adventure to your nights accommodation and dinner.

Day 2

8:30am At approximetely 8:30am (exact time is determined by which adventure you choose) you will be picked up from your accommodation along with your luggage to your second choice of adventure.

12:45pm After your second adventure and some lunch you will be dropped off at the Graymouth Rail Station where you can check in your luggage prior to having a browse around town. We recommend a 'must visit' as being the Jade Boulder Gallery. This Greenstone Gallery and Jade Carving Factory has a fascinating story of history and geology that unfolds as you go around their indoor walk learning about one aspect of New Zealand's natural history.

2:10pm Be at the rail station which is right in town to board the Tranz Alpine Train for you trip back to Christchurch.

2:25pm Tranz Alpine Train Departs from Greymouth.

6:35pm Tranz Alpine Train Arrives in Christchurch Railway Station where your Package finishes.

Adventures to choose from: 

Dragons Cave Rafting 

Enjoy a 30 minute interpretative rainforest walk to the Taniwha Caves. Discover enchanting limestone formations and get a close view of glowworms with their silken threads. For the adventurous, float through passages, experience the splendour and roar as you slide down underground waterfalls and tackle the subterranean lakes lit only by the sparkle of a million glowworms. Like floating through the milky-way galaxy. Cuddle through the "LOVE TUNNEL or take a wild ride down the"BIG, WET & GREASY.
Finish with a spa and hot drink - GREAT FUN.

4x4 Mountain Top Adventure 

Are you on for a "serious" four Wheel Drive Adventure. The Mercedes Unimog Adventure Truck. Your unimog will take you to places other 4X4's just dream about. We are off to the top of the world (well our world anyway!) for some stunning photo opportunities of the coastline and Southern Alps A great place to bring a picnic or bottle of wine. Finish up with a taste of the local 'Stags Braethe Liquere'.

Punakaiki Pancake Rocks 

Pancake rocks, blow holes, rainforest walk, jade beach search, We travel from Greymouth north along the stunning Coast Road to Punakaiki, being the Maori word for "food basket" and the home of the fascinating Pancake Rocks. As near as possible to high tide take a stroll around the Pancake Rocks Walkway to see the unique rock structures layered here 30 million years ago. Watch also for the roaring Geysers that heave their way from the Ocean floor up out through the Rock Blowholes.

Take time also to view the award winning audio visual show at the Visitors Centre and to browse around some of New Zealand's finest craft displays. Take a short easy interpretative Rain Forest walk where you will learn about the ecology of NZ's temperate flora and how the local Maori people gained their food and medicine from the forest.

On our return we stop to do some beach combing for NZ Jade. This wild landscape is the home of NZ's Pounamu-the jade greenstone treasured by the Maori people. Walk along a secluded beach beside the thundering Tasman Sea surf in a search for your own souvenir piece of this treasured gemstone.



Gold Rush Adventure
Take a prospecting adventure into the romance and intrigue of discovering your own West Coast treasures. Gold in your pan within one hour guaranteed!

Visitors have the choice of taking their tour to Shantytown (a recreated 1860's gold rush town with steam train & gold claim) or going into the nearby back country as the guest of a local prospector to his gold claim. Meet a back country gold prospector who will reveal to you his lifetime secrets on how to find and pan for your own Gold. He will issue you with your personal Gold Seekers Licence to ensure that nobody can accuse you of claim-jumping! He will treat you to billy tea with a dram of the goldrush "Stags Braethe" elixir of life liqueur as you experience the romance & adventure of seeking your fortune on the goldfields.

THERE'S GOLD IN THEM THAR HILLS!


Float the Rainforest
A relaxing cruise by Jungle Boat amongst the primeval giants of our rain forests This gentle float trip through some of the worlds most hauntingly beautiful scenery teaches you about how we preserve the delicate balance between one of natures oldest ecosystems and today's modern use of this environment. Learn about the life and legends of the native Maori People who live in this area. As you float silently by this prehistoric world we will meet some of the astounding bird life that has made this their home for many centuries. Being part of this seldom visited forestland waterway imparts the visitor with a sense of rejuvenation and timelessness along with an understanding of the short time that mankind has been a part of this planet.

Cancellations: Tours paid for and cancelled within 30 days of or during travel will not be refunded under any circumstances. We recommend you have travel insurance & can arrange this for you.