Condé Nast Traveler readers’ have voted the Great Journeys New Zealand TranzAlpine train as one of the world’s best train journeys.
TranzAlpine experience
The world-famous TranzAlpine has been ranked the 20th great train journey in the Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 US Readers’ Choice Awards. More than 757,000 US readers voted in the travel industry’s longest-running and most prestigious accolades.
The recognition in the trains category reinforces the TranzAlpine as one of New Zealand’s most unique and memorable travel experiences. It spotlights the South Island’s natural beauty, connecting New Zealand’s landscapes and culture to international acclaim.
The TranzAlpine takes guests on a five-hour journey across the Southern Alps between Christchurch and Greymouth. Highlights include panoramic carriages, an open-air viewing coach, and a choice of Scenic or Scenic Plus service.
Award-winning
Scenic Plus offers at-seat dining with a seasonal paddock-to-plate (farm to table) menu and local wine and beverage pairings, elevating the experience to a world-class standard.
The Scenic Plus manuhiri carriage is also an award-winning design, having won gold for Spatial Design Communication & Strategy at the 2024 Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards.
The theme and design of the carriage embodies the 'coiling bird,' symbolising our manuhiri (guests). Every detail of the carriage's stylishly designed interior has been thoughtfully crafted to enrich guests’ travel experience.
From the new, comfortable seating that invites relaxation, to the large panoramic windows offering unobstructed views, this innovative carriage truly adds an extra layer of luxury to our world-class rail service.
A journey shared
Seats are arranged two by two with a shared dining table. Each table is engraved with “Tuku atu Tuku mai,” meaning “a great journey is a journey shared”.
The carriage includes the “Eyes of our guardians” sculpture, the toroa (albatross) backbone on the ceiling, and 56 birds representing each passenger.
Guests can access the Great Journeys New Zealand app, offering GPS-triggered landscape information and stories.
How to book
You can book the TranzAlpine using the button below, with all tickets including reserved seating and checked luggage.
The 2025 Readers' Choice Awards are published on Condé Nast Traveler and celebrated in the November issue.