Join us on a scenic day trip from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass, where you’ll journey through the breathtaking landscapes of the Southern Alps. Travel by road through picturesque countryside before arriving at the alpine village of Arthur’s Pass. Here, you can explore the area or join an optional guided walk to the spectacular Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall. On the return trip to Christchurch, enjoy a stop at the dramatic Castle Hill Boulders, a stunning natural playground of towering limestone formations perfect for exploring and photography. Optional Upgrade: TranzAlpine Scenic Train - Pickup Time: 7:30 am Start your adventure in style by upgrading to a one-way journey on the world-renowned TranzAlpine Train. Travel from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass by rail, soaking in spectacular mountain and valley views before joining the rest of the tour. (This replaces the road journey to Arthur’s Pass; all other inclusions remain the same.) *This is subject to availability on your travel dates.
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
In demand: 7 of the next 30 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 11.
You will the opportunity to explore the this small farming township. There is a very popular Bakery serving many kiwi delicacies and coffee, a small art gallery and farming supply stores.
Visit this stunning alpine lake and enjoy morning tea in a spectacular alpine setting.
Visit the small alpine township of Arthur's Pass village. Located in the Southern Alps, Arthur's Pass serves as a gateway for travellers exploring the National Park's stunning mountain landscapes, hiking trails, and wildlife. This area is popular for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing in winter, and birdwatching. Here, you'll have the chance to immerse yourself in the alpine environment. You can enjoy short forest walks through nearby tracks, taking in the native alpine forest and possibly spotting some local wildlife. For those seeking a more rewarding adventure, an optional guided walk to the stunning Devil’s Punchbowl Waterfall is available. The walk takes you to a breathtaking site where the waterfall cascades dramatically down the cliffs, surrounded by the rugged beauty of the valley.
After exploring Arthur's Pass village, we travel to the peaceful shores of Moana Rua (Lake Pearson) for a relaxed lunch stop beside the lake.
Enjoy a guided tour at the Limestone Boulders of Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill Reserve. Kura Tawhiti/Castle Hill is rich in local and cultural history and has fascinating geology features. The lime stone boulders are nestled within the Southern Alps (Mountains) as tell us that the are was once covered by a shallow ocean. During your visit You will have the option to try bouldering, a type of rock climbing that attracts climbers to the Castle Hill area from all around the word. Find unique photo opportunities. Your guide will show you some of the best spots for great photos or you can explore the mase of boulders at your own pace and meet back in the carpark.
Stopping at the famous Springfield Doughnut for a photo opportunity. This small farming town was given the oversized doughnut as a publicity stunt to promote the "Simpsons Movie".
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
Excurgo comparison of 338 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Arthur's Pass with optional TranzAlpine Train (Small Group Tour) lasts about 8 hours. The itinerary has 6 stops.
Prices start at $333 per person for this Christchurch experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There are 2 booking options, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 7:30 AM.
Children aged 5–12 pay from $172, adults from $333. Infants go free.
It can: 7 of the next 30 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Yes, pickup is offered. Pickup points include Ramada Suites by Wyndham Christchurch City.
The experience is available in EN.
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 8 participants.
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
We came down from Auckland and had arranged to go on this trip. It did not disappoint and the best part was our guide Lachie. He was knowledgeable and friendly and we had the best weather you could ever ask for. I highly recommend doing this trip AAA+
Thank you for posting this wonderful review. Im so glad you enjoyed your day and spending time with your guide.
Great guide, seamless transition between rail and road travel. Lachie is passionate about his country and its history and culture. Excellent tour!!!
Thank you for posting this wonderful review for Lachie ;-)
jared was awesome!! very knowledgeable! picnic next to lake and then the large boulders at castle rock!! saw the potters fault line! hike to bottom of waterfall
Thank you for posting this review ;-)
We had great views to the mountains of southern New Zealand including such famous place as Castle Hill, and exciting underground journey inside the cave with a river - we went through all this underground river. That was not really easy, and I wouldn't recommend it to lazy people, but we wear happy (good tired and happy). All the equipment and special clouths were given by our guide as well as a picnic lunch with Castle Hill view. And yes, special thanks to our guide Lachie for all the care and organization!!!! That was really the most memorable day of our travel to New Zealand!
Thanks for making time to post this review. I'm so glad you enjoyed your excursion with Lachie. Note for anyone reading this review: this review should have been allocated to our Cave Stream and Castle Hill Shore Excursion. Our Arthurs Pass tour with optional TranzAlpine train does not include the caving activity mentioned n this review ;-)
It’s quite comfortable to take the train! Our guide John is very nice and friendly! The energy of Castle Hill is so nice that we did reach our inner peace.
Thanks for this lovely review, Andy. I'm glad you had a nice day out with John. I have to agree, including the TranzApline Train is a wonderful way to visit Arthurs and Castle Hill
Transalpine component is highly recommended. Reasonable amount of walking included. Informative tour guide.
Thank you for taking the time to post a review for us. I agree that the Trans Alpine train option is a fantastic way to explore Arthurs Pass.
We had the great fortune of spending the day with Alan Haslip, owner of Adventure by Nature. It was an amazing day starting with a train ride to Arthur's Pass, then hiking through the lush beech forest to a stunning 131 m waterfall at Devil's Punchbowl. We had a very enjoyable lunch (again, scenery was stunning), then the afternoon at the magical Kura Tāwhiti (Castle Hill). A day that will be long remembered, thanks so much Alan!
It was a pleasure hosting you for the day. Thank you for making the time to post this very nice review.
What an amazing gift from nature. Please do not drive past. It's an easy walk, and it is all so different close up than what you see from the carpark. Absolutely stunning. Around every corner the view changes completely.
Thank you for sharing this review with the TripAdvisor community.
Everything was just perfect. This is not an exaggeration. The sunny weather, huge rocks on the hill(I kept saying “WOW”), the kind, informative guide, and the delicious lunch, so what else do you need other than these? It was one of “the best” tours I’ve ever had :)
Wow, such a great review. Thanks ;-)
Nathaniel was a splendid guide, a fount of knowledge, a provider of delicious food and a careful driver. The highlight of my trip to Christchurch was Castle Hill and the spectacular rock formations. If you have the chance, put this tour at the top of your list.
Thanks you for taking the time to post this review for others to see.
| Tour | Duration | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur's Pass with optional TranzAlpine Train (Small Group Tour) | 8 hours | 4.9 (16) | $333 | |
 Arthur's Pass Discovery and TranzAlpine Train - Small Group Tour | 9 hours | 4.8 (311) | $514 | View |
 TranzAlpine Train, Arthur's Pass and Castle Hill Day Trip | 10 hours | 4.8 (499) | $218 | View |
 Arthur's Pass National Park Day Tour with TranzAlpine Train | 9h 30min | 4.6 (234) | $284 | View |
 TranzAlpine Train to Arthur's Pass from Christchurch with Lunch | 10 hours | 5.0 (50) | $232 | View |
 Arthurs Pass Jet Boating and TranzAlpine Train from Christchurch | 10 hours | 4.9 (9) | $342 | View |
| Private 8hr Arthur's Pass Tour from Christchurch. Lunch & Guide | 1 day | 5.0 (3) | $488 | View |