FAQ

Parking is available at select railway stations including the Christchurch Railway Station. Parking is first come first serve and is the owner's risk.

For all other stations, please see your booking confirmation or contact us at 0800 277 482 or [email protected]  

You can find the address you require on the individual station page. To find your station, visit this link, locate the station required and scroll down on the page to locate the map. The map includes the address to your desired location. 

Check-in is at least 20 minutes prior to departure time. The Christchurch railway station which is the departing location of the Coastal Pacific and TranzAlpine journeys is open from 6:00 am.

We want you to enjoy your journey without concerns over flight times. Therefore we would recommend you allow for an overnight stop before connecting to flights or other travel connections. Great Journeys New Zealand does not accept liability for any missed connections due to late train arrivals.

For arrival/departure updates for the day of travel, please call our arrivals/departures number on 0800 277 482.

Northern Explorer: View the timetable here 

Coastal Pacific: View the timetable here  

TranzAlpine: View the timetable here  

Face masks are no longer mandatory on the TranzAlpine, Northern Explorer, and Coastal Pacific trains. 

However, we do encourage customers use face masks if they wish, and we carry a supply of masks on board for customers who would like one. 

You do not need to be vaccinated to travel on  the TranzAlpine, Northern Explorer, or Coastal Pacific trains. 

Our onboard crew test themselves whenever they have symptoms relating to Covid-19, and we will continue to maintain strict measures to ensure our trains are safe and clean. 

To date, there have been no confirmed cases of passengers catching Covid-19 while aboard our trains. We take great pride in keeping all of our services clean, and we also have much greater spaciousness and an HVAC (air conditioning) system on board, which most other transport services do not. 

Our Scenic train fares are all fully flexible and refundable, so if you are unable to travel for any reason then you can delay your travel or get a full refund. There are no penalty charges for changing or refunding, however your credit card fees are non-refundable, and if you are looking to change to a more expensive journey then you'll need to pay the difference. 

You are most welcome to put a seating request in place.

You can do this by adding your seating request to the ‘Additional Notes’ section at the time of booking.

If you have completed your booking, feel free to email us at least 48 hours prior to your departure. Ensure to include your booking reference number as well as your seating request. 

Please note: while we do try our absolute best to fulfil all seating requests for our customers, they cannot always be guaranteed.

Purchase a gift voucher by contacting us on 0800 872 467 or emailing the team at [email protected].

You can cancel or change your booking by emailing us at [email protected] or calling 0800 872 467 calling with your booking reference number. 

You can make a group booking by emailing us at [email protected] or calling 0800 872 467.

Please ensure you include the journey you wish to take (i.e. Christchurch to Greymouth one way/return), the date of travel and how many will be taking the journey. Once we receive this information, we will provide you with a group quote. 

Please take the following steps on our website. 

1. Click on the train journey you want, e.g. TranzAlpine
2. Using the 'Book your journey' tool put in the full journey you want to do, e.g. Christchurch to Greymouth, 18th February, 2 travellers.
3. On the next page which comes up with all the fare types, you will now see an 'Add a Stop' button, click on this.
4. Put in where you want to stop, e.g. Arthurs Pass and the date you wish to leave Arthurs Pass, e.g. 19th February.
5. Click the 'add a stop' button again to confirm this stop.
6. Repeat steps 3,4,5 if you want to add more than one stop.
7. Select confirm and continue and carry on with your booking.

Or you can email us at  [email protected] or call us on 0800 872 476.

*Please note this function is available on standard view. 

Please read our Terms and Conditions here. 

14 years and under is a child (an infant is 2 years and under).

Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Travel insurance not only protects you in the event of a medical emergency, but most insurance providers also offer practical assistance in the event of emergency travel plans such as booking last-minute flights and hotels, delayed or lost luggage tracking assistance and of course peace of mind. Travel insurance is always a wise decision.

We have a range of delicious and nutritious food onboard. View the full menu here. 

Yes, food and non-alcoholic drinks can be brought onboard; however, feel free to enjoy our licensed cafe on all our journeys. 

Our journeys are smoke-free including the open-air viewing carriage. 

Our friendly train manager will advise if there is an opportunity to ‘stretch your legs' on your journey.

Professionally trained service animals that are assisting customers with disabilities are permitted onboard. 

Our Scenic Class carriages are designed to make everyone feel comfortable. So if you are travelling on our Northern Explorer, Coastal Pacific or TranzAlpine trains with a wheelchair, powerchair or mobility scooter, then you can sit in one of our specially designed wheelchair spaces in the spacious and convenient Scenic Cafe carriage.

Read more about our onboard accessibility.  

Each Scenic Class passenger fare includes the following allowance:

• 1 x Large checked bag or suitcase
  • maximum weight of 23kgs
  • maximum volume* of 158 linear cm (62”) 
• 1 x Cabin bag
  • wheeled and/or hard-sided suitcases must be Checked in (cannot be taken aboard) 
  • maximum weight of 7kgs
  • maximum volume* for the cabin bag is 118 linear cm (46.5”)
• 1 x Small bag or handbag
  • for taking important personal items aboard, including any fragile or perishable items, money, jewellery and valuables
• 1 x Small infant bag
  • if you have an infant with you, you may bring an additional small bag for the journey
  • please note: infants do not get any luggage allowance 

Find out more information relating to luggage onboard. 

1 x Small infant bag

• if you have an infant with you, you may bring an additional small bag for the journey
• please note: infants do not get any luggage allowance

For more information about luggage for your infant, visit our check-in and luggage information page. 

Include your bicycle or excess luggage at the time of booking under the ‘extras’ page.

You can also email us at [email protected] or call our helpful team on 0800 872 467 with your booking reference number to add it to your booking. 

Learn more about additional luggage on our check-in and luggage page.