After an early morning breakfast (6am) we caught the Transalpine train from Christchurch via Arthur's Pass to Greymouth on the west coast. The train crosses the Canterbury Plain before climbing up through dramatic mountain scenery to reach Arthur's Pass. After this point it descends through an 8km long tunnel and eventually on down to the sea. 
The journey takes around 4.5 hours each way. It made a welcome change from driving.
