East Coast Rail Excursion

ITINERARY

Day 1:

Depart Dunedin on the Silverfern Railcar. Our destination for today is Christchurch.  We will have a short stop in Timaru in the afternoon. Enjoy a buffet dinner at the hotel with your fellow travellers tonight.  

Dinner included.

 

Day 2:

After a buffet breakfast  we will depart Christchurch this morning for Waipara and the historic Weka Pass Railway. This historic rural steam railway runs through the Weka Pass from Waipara to Waikari. We’ll take the train through the pass and be met in Waikari by the coaches. From here we will make our way to Hanmer Springs where we will spend the night at the Heritage Hotel. Enjoy your free afternoon and evening at leisure perhaps enjoying the hot pools and dinner at a local restaurant. 

Buffet breakfast included.

 

Day 3:

After breakfast this morning depart Hanmer Springs by coach heading for the beautiful Kaikoura. There will be free time in Kaikoura today. Choose from one of the many restaurants available for lunch and take time to explore the town on your own. After lunch we’ll depart Kaikoura onboard the Silverfern for Blenheim. Your accommodation will be at the Scenic Hotel Marlborough for the next three nights. Enjoy dinner this evening at the hotel.

Buffet Breakfast and dinner at your hotel included.

 

Day 4:

After breakfast take the short walk to the Riverside Railway Terminus to board the narrow gauge vintage railway to the Omaka Aircraft museum.  After our time at the museum we’ll travel back by the open air light railway. The afternoon is free to enjoy Blenheim at your leisure.

Buffet breakfast included.

 

Day 5:

After breakfast we’ll  travel up to Picton to embark on the three hour Ship Cove Cruise up through the Queen Charlotte Sound to the historical Ship Cove returning via Endeavour Inlet. Enjoy a full commentary from the Skipper and a 30 minute stopover at Ship Cove, named by Captain James Cook.  Complimentary tea and coffee will be available on board. Spend some time exploring Picton and having lunch before we take the Silver Fern back to Blenheim in the afternoon.

Buffet breakfast included.

 

Day 6:

After buffet breakfast this morning say goodbye to lovely Blenheim as we travel south again. Our destination today is Ashburton.  If you didn’t notice it on the way up, marvel at the enormous amount of reconstruction work that has taken place around Kaikoura following the devastating earthquake. Enjoy our last dinner together this evening at the Hotel Ashburton where we will be staying.

Buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the hotel included.

 

Day 7:

Our last day together begins with buffet breakfast at the hotel. We’ll transfer back to the Silverfern by coach and travel down to Dunedin stopping in Timaru around lunch time. We will arrive back into Dunedin Station at about 4pm.

Buffet breakfast included.

 

INCLUSIONS:

Luxury rail travel aboard the Silverfern Railcar.
Rail Journeys on the Weka Pass Railway and the Blenheim Riverside Railway
All activities listed in the itinerary.
Accommodation in Twin or Double rooms. Single rooms available at extra cost.
Transfers and coach tours as described in the Itinerary.
Six breakfasts, one lunch, and three dinners.
Full commentary on all sections of the journey.
Knowledgeable and friendly crew throughout.
Free pouring tea and coffee aboard the Silver Fern.

Light refreshments will be available for purchase from the food and drink trolley during the rail section of the tour.

PRICE:

$2,365pp for all services as described in the Itinerary.

$499 for single supplement

 

CANCELLATION POLICY

 

To ensure your place on this excursion a non-refundable deposit of $500per person is required at the time of booking, with the balance due one month prior to departure. Bookings made within 30 days of travel, require full payment at the time of booking. The deposit and full payment are non-refundable unless we are able to on sell your ticket. All cancellation charges are on a per person basis.

For bookings and more information contact the Ticket Office at Dunedin Railways  03 4774449 or email [email protected]

 

DUNEDIN RAILWAYS and OPERATING STAFF expressly reserve the right to amend, vary or cancel any part of the rail Tour Itinerary what so ever and shall not be liable in respect to any delay, loss, damage, sickness, additional expense or injury however caused or damage to or loss of property or baggage and will not be responsible for alteration or late running of the services as detailed in the itinerary by suppliers of those services. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required at the time of booking to secure your place. Dunedin Railways reserves the right the cancel the Rail Tour should we not reach minimum numbers. In this instance all deposits would be refunded. We strongly recommend you take out travel insurance.