Sixth day of my New Zealand trip. After Long travelling from Queenstown to Christchurch by Great Sights Bus yesterday, I was still energized and had willful for exploration. Today, I planned to spend a day trip to Arthur’s Pass by Tranzalpine Train.
I checked the schedule and booked Tranzalpine Train tikets in advance from this link : https://www.greatjourneysnz.com/routes/tranzalpine. Because the train is not operated everyday and the tickets are always early fully booked. It has 2 classes, Scenic (only seat) and Scenic Plus (seat and on-board food service). For the ticket cost to Arthur’s Pass, it was starting from 320 NZD/person (200 USD) for round trip.
The agenda for my day trip to Arthur’s Pass by Tranzalpine Train is follows:
- 08.15AM – 10.40AM : Travel from Christchurch railway station to Arthur’s Pass by Tranzalpine Train
- 10.40AM – 04.15PM : Trekking and sightseeing at Arthur’s Pass National Park
- 04.35PM – 07.00PM : Travel from Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch railway station by Tranzalpine Train
I woke up at 6AM to take shower, get dressed and have easy breakfast. Then, I walked to Christchurch railway station which is 3 kilometers away from my hotel. Indeed, I could take the taxi. But I prefered to walk to save the money 😆 and to see the city of Christchurch in the morning. I arrived the railway station at 7.45AM, 30 minutes before departure time. E-ticket in email what I bought in advance cannot use to board the train. I had to check-in at the counter to get the boarding pass. Then, at 8AM, the boarding was started. It has seat number and carriage number on the ticket. It had power socket at every seat, but it was not usable. The train has super large window at the sides and the top. Passengers can enjoy the panoramic view on the way. 🚞
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The train was departed right on-time. As soon as the train moved beyond the city, the beauty of Southern Alps and Alpine View are revealed. Honestly, I could not leave my camera even single minutes as the magnificent view can be appeared anytime. The snow-capped mountain range, the flowing river, the verdict and so on make Tranzalpine Train is the one of the most beautiful railway in the world.
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The railway side views were just the appetizer. 😁 At 10.40AM, the train was arrived Arthur’s Pass Railways Station. The Main Course was begun here. I had time about 5 and half hours at Arthur’s Pass before catching the train back to Christchurch this evening.
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After I disembarked from the train, I walked on the way pass through Arthur’s Pass Visitor Center to the first destination of the day, Devil’s Punch Bowl Waterfall which is 2 kilometers away from railway station. This waterfall with 131 meters tall and it can be seen from the main road. The walking track has the stairway and slightly steep trail. It has passed Bealey River and Punchbowl creek. I took about 1 hours from railway station to Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall as it has so many point to capture the super natural photos.
The main road at Arthur’s Pass Village
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Bealey River
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Devil’s Punch Bowl Waterfall 💦🌲
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I spent time at Devil’s Punch Bowl Waterfall for 30 minutes to immerse myself to the natural and recharge my power from 2 kilometers trekking. 😃 About 12.30PM, I walked back to Arthur’s Pass Village. It was the time to find something to fill my stomach. It took a look around there and found Arthurs Pass Café & Store which is located on the road side. I bought Chicken curry pie with Bottled Coffee to have for my lunch. 😊
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After lunch, I rested for a while in front of the restaurant. But, it had many of Keas (Alpine Parrots) waiting to eat falling food or even steal the food from the human. 🦜 We should be careful. Then, I digested my lunch by walking to Avalanche Creek Waterfall which is only 200 meters away. This waterfall is the easiest waterfall to access in Arthur’s pass national park. The walking track is a wooden stairway which take only 5 minutes walk from main road.
The Kea in front of Arthurs Pass Café & Store
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I spent time at Avalanche Creek Waterfall until 1.45PM. Then, I still had time about 2 hours and half before back to railways station. I strolled back to the way I went to Devil’s Punch Bowl Waterfall in the morning. It has intersection after crossing Bealey river, one to Devil’s Punch Bowl Waterfall and another one to Bridal Veil Falls View Point. I would spend remaining 2 hours to Bridal Veil Falls View Point which is 1.5 kilometers away from Arthur’s Pass village. It took about 25 minutes to walk there. The walking track is old-growth mountain beech forest.
The walking track to Bridal Veil Fall View Point
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On the way to Bridal Veil Fall View Point
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Bridal Veil Fall View Point
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I admired to the Mountain View at Bridal Veil Fall View Point and stayed with myself to think about the things in my life there as I had no anyone except me there at that time. I felt that the world was mine. The peaceful there made me can hear my heartbeat. It was the happy feeling in the quiet nature. 😇 About 3PM, I slowly walked back on the same way and headed to the railway station. The rain was just gone at Arthur’s Pass Visitor Center, it had the rainbow there ! 🌈
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I arrived the railway station at 4PM, 35 minutes before departure time. I waited at the passenger lounge to keep my belonging took some rest as I walked almost 10 kilometers on that date. The train were arrived Arthur’s Pass Station and departed for Christchurch right on-time. On the way back, I could enjoy the evening and sunset view of Southern Alps. I made my day so perfect. 🤩
Evening and Sunset View From TranzApine Train
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The train was arrived Christchurch railways station, the place what I left from this morning, at 7PM. I decided to walk back to the hotel to save the taxi cost. 😆 Before, arrived the hotel, I stopped at the supermarket nearby that area to buy some food for my dinner and breakfast in next day. The hotel has central kitchen for the guest. After dinner (instant food cooked by myself), I relaxed for a while and took a shower. Then, about 10PM, I could feel slightly pain my knees and ankles. I thought it might be because of I walk so long. I looked at Apple Watch and saw that I walked almost 24,000 steps ! I realized that it was time to take a good rest now due to I still had another one day on tomorrow to explore the Christchurch city. Even it was my exhausted day as I woke up before sunrise, trekked on the trail and came back to the hotel after sunset, but I felt delight. Because it was one of the day in my life to ride the one of the most beautiful train route in the world. And, I had seen the green nature and waterfall with snow capped mountain range in background. Another chapter of my life had been written. For tonight, good night and sweet dream. 😴💤😍
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Written by : Shipy Siwarit Tiasuwattiseth
Shipy-Ship 