Arthur's Pass Discovery och TranzAlpine Train - Small Group Tour

We had the pleasure of spending the day with Grant, and he was absolutely fantastic. From the moment he picked us up until he dropped us off, he was friendly, professional, and incredibly knowledgeable about the area. The train ride was fantastic. We took the breathtaking TranzAlpine train ride through the Southern Alps, which truly lived up to its reputation as one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys. The changing landscapes of snow-capped mountains, lush forests, winding rivers, dramatic gorges, and wide-open valleys were absolutely stunning. It seemed like every turn revealed another postcard worthy view. He shared so much history, local culture, and interesting facts throughout the day, making every stop even more meaningful. He answered all of our questions, never made us feel rushed, and kept the day running smoothly while still allowing us plenty of time to enjoy each location. After the train ride, Grant met us and continued the adventure, showing us beautiful scenery while pointing out places and sharing stories we never would have known on our own. He answered every question, never made us feel rushed, and kept the day fun and relaxed. His passion for New Zealand really showed. What really stood out was his genuine enthusiasm and kindness. It felt like we were exploring with a local friend rather than just taking a tour. If you’re lucky enough to have Grant as your guide, you’re in for an amazing day. We would gladly book another tour with him and highly recommend him to anyone visiting New Zealand. Thank you, Grant, for helping make our trip so memorable!

We greatly enjoyed our trip to Arthur’s Pass, which included the TranzAlpine Train, hike, lunch, Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area, and other stops along the way. Ollie was a fantastic guide, as he was the exact combination of informative, entertaining, and patient!

We spent the day with our guide, Dave. He brought us to the train station and met us at the Arthur’s Pass station. He brought us from Arthur’s Pass to Christchurch, pausing where we could get some good pictures. He was very knowledgeable about the area and the history of New Zealand, and answered all our questions. Our day ended with a nice meal at a local diner. We had a great day and appreciate Dave for the memorable day trip!

We had a fantastic day exploring Arthur’s Pass with Hugo our guide from Canterbury Trails. The scenic train journey enabled us to see the gorge close up, something you can’t do by car. Once we arrived at Arthur’s Pass, Hugo picked us up and drove us to all the beauty spots explaining how the fauna and flora changes. It was a wonderful day and we highly recommend this tour.

We had a very knowledgeable and extremely helpful guide named John. He exposed us to excellent walks, food establishments and knowledge of the local area. My wife and I highly recommend him and would request him again were we to return to the area.

My husband and I loved our day with Canterbury Trails! It began with good communication as to the time we would be picked up from our hotel in Christchurch, followed by an easy transit to the TranzAlpine train where our seats were reserved and all we had to provide was our name. The train ride was comfortable with spectacular scenery and we had an easy rendezvous with our driver upon arrival. From there we drove to Arthur's Pass, chose from 2 different hiking options (or none at all), then enjoyed a pre-ordered lunch at a gorgeous inn in the foothills of the mountains. The ride home included another short hiking opportunity in Castle Hill Rocks, then direct delivery to our hotel in Christchurch. The day was remarkable and memorable for the ease with which we covered a lot of gorgeous NZ territory and for the expert guidance and enthusiasm of our wonderful guide, Manuela. She really made the day special and we are very grateful!

We were picked up at our hotel by David. Loved taking the train to Arthur’s Pass. Such a fun and unique way to travel. Then David met us at Arthur’s Pass and we headed back down the mountain making frequent stops that were fascinating! We stopped and had lunch at Grasmere. The food was excellent and the location was beautiful! The staff was very friendly and attentive. David was knowledgeable and a great guide.

We had a great time on this trip. The train ride was good but rainy. A bit difficult to see our window, but still had some clear views. Once we got over the top of the mountain and threw the tunnel things cleared out. Our driver and tour guide Hugo was fantastic. He was knowledgeable, funny and considerate. gave you all the time you needed to do some walks and talks. We would highly recommend if you’re in Christchurch to do this tour

Our tour guide Hugo did a fantastic job!!! This was the best tour I had taken on my whole 10-day trip in New Zealand. He not only made it fun but gave us so much great information and sightseeing! Lots of good conversation with the group too. If I ever come back I would definitely take more tours from Hugo!

What a wonderful way to begin our journey learning about Christchurch and its spectacular surroundings! We were greeted early this morning with a smiling Hugo who had a twinkle in his eye and was always conscious of all the eight of us on this experience. By the end of the day we were hugging each other goodbye as if we were old friends. The train ride was lovely as it headed into Arthur’s Pass with its majestic mountains and scenery. We stopped along the way multiple times to view scenery or to take a trail into the bush. We ended with afternoon tea in an area where CS Lewis’ Chronicles of Naria was filmed. Hugo made the whole day memorable!