a1dolllady Posted October 6, 2012 #1 Share Posted October 6, 2012 Hi We are cruising to Australia and New Zealand on Solstice jan 16 2013. Has anyone done the Trans Scenic railroad tour ? I believe it's the TranzAlpine tour through Arthur's Pass and a visit to a sheep farm. Part of the tour is via bus. Would going into Christchurch be a better choice? Any thoughts and information would be appreciated. Thanks so much Have a great weekend! Helen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
centsable Posted November 15, 2012 #2 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Hi: I've been doing some research and found that Back to nature tours co nz has a newer tour of Akaroa and Christchurch Akaroa and Christchurch City Scenic Tour you can contact me for further information: walker_l at shaw dot ca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GandM-nq Posted November 15, 2012 #3 Share Posted November 15, 2012 Christchurch is 84 km which is 75 minutes claimed travel time (2 hrs 30 min round trip). Why not see Akaroa instead? Way less traveling. Have a look through this very good website http://www.akaroa.com/ for everything you need to know and inparticularly this page http://www.akaroa.com/cruise-ships and the links from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruisinGrandpa Posted November 17, 2012 #4 Share Posted November 17, 2012 We did a walking tour of Akaroa in October. Those who went to Christ Church By bus were VERY unhappy. 3 hours travel time, and most attractions are still closed. Unless you just want to see a city trying to rebuild, and lots of devastation, pick a different tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmgmd50 Posted November 17, 2012 #5 Share Posted November 17, 2012 We did a walking tour of Akaroa in October. Those who went to Christ ChurchBy bus were VERY unhappy. 3 hours travel time, and most attractions are still closed. Unless you just want to see a city trying to rebuild, and lots of devastation, pick a different tour Who ran the walking tour? We would like to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GandM-nq Posted November 17, 2012 #6 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Who ran the walking tour? We would like to do that. Dmgmd50, please see the following: http://www.akaroawalks.co.nz/cruise_ships.htm You might need to check the cruise ship shore excursions first to see if they have the walking tours listed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2cruiser Posted January 31, 2013 #7 Share Posted January 31, 2013 Hi We are cruising to Australia and New Zealand on Solstice jan 16 2013. Has anyone done the Trans Scenic railroad tour ? I believe it's the TranzAlpine tour through Arthur's Pass and a visit to a sheep farm. Part of the tour is via bus. Would going into Christchurch be a better choice? Any thoughts and information would be appreciated. Thanks so much Have a great weekend! Helen Hi Helen, :)How was the tour ? We're on 16March 2013 cruise Auckland>Sydney on the Solstice and booked the ship's TranzAlpine tour too. Any tips clothes/gloves etc ? 1st timer down south to New Zealand & Australia. ec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joetop2467 Posted January 31, 2013 #8 Share Posted January 31, 2013 There are two different tours with the TransAlpine railway. We went on the one with the jet boat included. The other includes a visit to a sheep farm. You will need warm clothes if you plan to go outside on the train and take photos. This was our only cloudy day and we froze on the jetboat. I tried to put the coldness out of my head because it was so beautiful I wanted to enjoy the whole experience. If you are doing the jetboat be sure to have gloves and a hood that ties tightly around your head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katycat Posted February 2, 2013 #9 Share Posted February 2, 2013 We were in Alkaroa just this past Dec 2102 on Celebrity Solstice It was one of our favorite stops. A really beautiful area. We chose to spend our time in and around Akaroa. We booked with Akaroa Farm Tours and had a truly memorable afternoon with great people. They will pick up at the port and it's about a 20-30 min ride through gorgeous scenery to their farm. Those folks who went on the tours to Christchurch spoke of the long trip(about 1 1/2 hrs each way) and lots of destruction still evident from the earthquake. Choose the Farm tour you won't regret it!!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mr walker Posted February 5, 2013 #10 Share Posted February 5, 2013 we were in Akaroa last week (Radiance OTS) and did the trip to ChCh by bus (the ship's tour). It was interesting to see the city, even though it is very badly affected - I have been there several times - before and after the quakes. We had a very nice stop at a sheep farm (Manderlay(?)) for morning tea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2cruiser Posted February 6, 2013 #11 Share Posted February 6, 2013 Many Thanks Joetop2467, Duly noted will be gloved , hooded and scarfed and will dig out our windproofer etc. We're on the less adventurous tour thank goodness as I saw it looks like a open jetboat for your trip. Yes I know the frozen feeling very well jetting for 2 hours in the open to reach a surreal spot in the Burmese Shan mountains in winter. But it was worth it ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villauk Posted February 6, 2013 #12 Share Posted February 6, 2013 We had an absolutely fabulous day in Akaroa, not on the train but on a wildlife tour. Below, I've posted the link to my review which contains some wonderful views of Akaroa - may whet your appetite :). http://cruiseforums.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=36742072# Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiranus Posted February 7, 2013 #13 Share Posted February 7, 2013 I realise the OP has already completed their trip, but for anyone else interested, we did the trans alpine (trans scenic) tour from the Solstice in early Jan 2013 - the one which includes the sheep farm. We loved it. You first take a coach to the outskirts of Christchurch (this takes quite a while - probably close to 2 hours, but the scenery on the Banks Peninsular is quite breathtaking). The train trip up to Arthur's Pass is also lovely. Apart from the beautiful landscape, they serve you nice scones and tea or coffee, and then juice and champagne. There is an open carriage at both front and back of the train from where you can stand to take photos if you wish. You get off the train at Arthur's Pass and board the same bus (which has driven to meet you) to go down via another route. Apparently we were supposed to stop at The Cave Stream in the National Park, but didn't have time. Lunch was at the Homebush Station. Unfortunately the homestead itself was destroyed in the earthquake but there are several historic outbuildings in which they displayed museum type pieces and had a little shop. Lunch (buffet style including wine) was in a very nice marquee. After lunch, there was a shearing demonstration and also a sheep dog demonstration for those who were interested. We were a bit rushed here, so didn't have the opportunity to look through the outbuildings as I would have liked. We continued back to Akaroa, stopping for a photo stop at the Hilltop Tavern and, like a few of the other ship's tours that day, we were at least half an hour late returning. A very tiring day, but well worth the effort. I believe there were at least six groups doing this tour and half of them did the reverse of what we did (ie went to the sheep farm first) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new2cruiser Posted February 7, 2013 #14 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Thanks Kiranus for your post. Looking forward to some great scenery on the ship's TranzAlpine tour. The train ride sounds nice, did the scones come with clotted cream & strawberry jam ? Tour sounds quite rushed, so will rest up on our sea days. On our Med. tours Solstice gave us headsets when we wandered in Nice & Eze. Did they enlist the sheepdogs to gather the group ?:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuldalai Posted February 8, 2013 #15 Share Posted February 8, 2013 To answer the original question . The Tranz Alpine railway trip is one of the World's great railway trips and not to be missed . You go up to Arthurs Pass by coach via the canterbury Plains and the sheep farm. Return is down by the Train . Another great Railway trip is the Trieri Gorge railway departing and returning to shipside in Dunedin . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisiesusie05 Posted February 11, 2013 #16 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Just like to add that if you fancy doing something a little different, How about delivering the mail in the mail van. We did this in 2010 and would recommend it to anyone - fantastic! http://www.akaroa.com/tours/akaroas-eastern-bays-scenic-mail-run Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkhtex Posted February 13, 2013 #17 Share Posted February 13, 2013 Just like to add that if you fancy doing something a little different, How about delivering the mail in the mail van. We did this in 2010 and would recommend it to anyone - fantastic! http://www.akaroa.com/tours/akaroas-eastern-bays-scenic-mail-run We're booked to do this next month!! I'm more excited about this than just about anything else. We booked it a year ago. Can't wait!!! Glad to hear you liked it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisiesusie05 Posted February 14, 2013 #18 Share Posted February 14, 2013 We're booked to do this next month!! I'm more excited about this than just about anything else. We booked it a year ago. Can't wait!!! Glad to hear you liked it. Hi Kim and Robb, Just a little something to whet your appetite :D http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d7a55304e7a41324e44453d0d0a&blogview=true Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkhtex Posted February 14, 2013 #19 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Hi Kim and Robb, Just a little something to whet your appetite :D http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d7a55304e7a41324e44453d0d0a&blogview=true Gorgeous!!! Thanks so much. I've heard that sometimes the weather is bad and it's too dangerous to tender. I'll be really disappointed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruisiesusie05 Posted February 14, 2013 #20 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Gorgeous!!! Thanks so much. I've heard that sometimes the weather is bad and it's too dangerous to tender. I'll be really disappointed. This time of year is usually good - Positive thinking :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valley Girl of VA Posted February 27, 2013 #21 Share Posted February 27, 2013 We did the Up Close Coast boat ride in Akaroa (2 hours) and was very happy. Those that went to Christchurch were very unhappy - too much destruction still left. We were there a couple of weeks ago. you can decide once on the dock (you tender there) which excursion you want as far as boat rides. There is a nice wool shop on Church street where I bought a sweater and some yarn. Mailing it home was less expensive than paying the GST. Buy there and let them ship it. It was home before I was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassamanda Posted February 27, 2013 #22 Share Posted February 27, 2013 We did the Up Close Coast boat ride in Akaroa (2 hours) and was very happy. Those that went to Christchurch were very unhappy - too much destruction still left. We were there a couple of weeks ago. you can decide once on the dock (you tender there) which excursion you want as far as boat rides. There is a nice wool shop on Church street where I bought a sweater and some yarn. Mailing it home was less expensive than paying the GST. Buy there and let them ship it. It was home before I was. Excellent info you are sharing on the boards. We too found that wool shop - there are actually 2 in Akaroa - we got some woolen slippers sent home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mr walker Posted February 27, 2013 #23 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Those that went to Christchurch were very unhappy - too much destruction still left. What a strange thing to say. What were they unhappy about, that they shouldn't have gone on a tour to see a city that had been devastated by earthquake, or that the tour was no good? I can assure you that the people of ChCh have more reason to be unhappy about the destruction still left than some cruiseship tourists. Perhaps what you meant was that the unhappy people probably would have preferred a different tour, perhaps the Alpine train or just a local tour in Akaroa. We did a tour to ChCh that gave us an hour or so to see downtown - it was a sobering experience. I didn't hear anyone was unhappy - I for one, having been to ChCh pre quakes, was glad to take the tour there & put a little cash into the local economy. Akaroa is a beautiful harbour and I would love to go there again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valley Girl of VA Posted February 27, 2013 #24 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Gorgeous!!! Thanks so much. I've heard that sometimes the weather is bad and it's too dangerous to tender. I'll be really disappointed. We had no problem tendering whatsoever and it was a beautiful sunny day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valley Girl of VA Posted February 27, 2013 #25 Share Posted February 27, 2013 What a strange thing to say. What were they unhappy about, that they shouldn't have gone on a tour to see a city that had been devastated by earthquake, or that the tour was no good? I can assure you that the people of ChCh have more reason to be unhappy about the destruction still left than some cruiseship tourists. Perhaps what you meant was that the unhappy people probably would have preferred a different tour, perhaps the Alpine train or just a local tour in Akaroa. We did a tour to ChCh that gave us an hour or so to see downtown - it was a sobering experience. I didn't hear anyone was unhappy - I for one, having been to ChCh pre quakes, was glad to take the tour there & put a little cash into the local economy. Akaroa is a beautiful harbour and I would love to go there again. I believe their feeling was that they had been on a tour of ChCh a few years ago, prior to the quakes and to see so much destruction and devastation made them very sad and unhappy to see what had happened to the area. We chose to stay in Akaroa as we didn't want to be a gawkers - similar to people touring the destruction of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I apologize if my choice of words offended you; certainly not my intent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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