2 Day Punakaiki Gold Train Escape from Christchurch - Christchurch, New Zealand

Depart Christchurch on the TranzAlpine train and travels across the Canterbury Plains, over the stunning Southern Alps and onto the West Coast. Enjoy a guided tour to the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes. These amazing structures, resembling stacks of pancakes, consist of limestone eroded by the force of the surf over years. You can walk right up to the rocks and view the blowholes caused by pounding surf. Overnight in Greymouth and on your second day, discover the thrill of the goldrush at Shantytown. Return to Christchurch on the TranzAlpine train.

In 2007, The TranzAlpine service will be interrupted for routine Otira Tunnel work. During the following dates the train will operate as normal between Christchurch and Arthur's Pass and return. However coaches will be used to transport those passengers wishing to travel onwards from Arthur's Pass to Greymouth and return. Coaches will depart as usual from the Greymouth Railway Station, at the scheduled train departure time and travel to Arthur's Pass, where they will meet the train and travel as normal to Christchurch.