NZ’s best kept secret | The Coastal Pacific train | Picton to Christchurch

Discover one of world’s great railway journeys – the Coastal Pacific from Picton, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, to Christchurch. This little known train is an incredible, half-day adventure along the spectacular east coast of New Zealand’s South Island. In this video, we’ll check out the Scenic Class carriages, try the on board food and drink, and take in the incredible views, from pink lakes and beautiful beaches to snow-capped mountains and rolling plains. We’ll also learn a bit about the destructive forces that closed this line for almost two years. Come along on what just might be, one of the best railway journeys in the world. Stops include Blenheim, Kaikōura and Rangiora. The Coastal Pacific uses the Main North Line, sometimes called the South Island Main Trunk railway. Coastal Pacific bookings, fares and timetable: 🚉 Train: The Coastal Pacific 🚉 Operator: Great Journeys of New Zealand (parent company: KiwiRail) 🚉 Locomotive: New Zealand DX class (DXB 5137) 🚉 Seat: Car C, Seat 5A (window) 🚉 Route: Picton - Christchurch (Main North Line) 🚉 Distance: 347.5 km 🚉 Travel time: 5 hours 50 minutes (scheduled) 🚉 Class: Scenic Class 🚉 Travel date: 4 November 2022 EQUIPMENT: 🚉 Cameras: GoPro Hero 10, GoPro Hero 8, iPhone 12 Pro Max, Panasonic HC-VX1 Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:09 - Picton Railway Station and check in 02:11 - Train arrival and boarding 03:28 - Scenic Class seating, departure and crew announcements 06:21 - Route overview and lunch option 08:05 - Para Wetlands and Marlborough wine region 09:47 - Blenheim 11:13 - Redwood Pass and Awatere River 13:41 - Lake Grassmere Saltworks 15:50 - Reaching the Pacific Ocean 17:32 - Cafe car and afternoon tea 19:01 - Seal spotting at Ohau Point 20:16 - Mangamaunu Bay and the Kaikōura Ranges 22:14 - Kaikōura 25:24 - Tunnels and coastline 26:24 - 2016 Kaikōura earthquake 28:06 - Beautiful coastal views 31:00 - Okarahia Viaduct and final coastal views 32:57 - The Conway River and wine time 35:38 - The Canterbury Plains 39:15 - Rangiora 40:17 - Train fare and overall thoughts 42:08 - Arrival into Christchurch 44:11 - Canterbury Railway Station and final thoughts 45:06 - TranzAlpine preview Coastal Pacific video by Doc7Austin: Route guide by the Man in Seat 61: #wellington-to-christchurch-by-ferry-and-train Music I use Artlist for high quality, licensed audio. If you sign up using my referral link below, you will get two extra months for free. Credits and sources: ,_New_Zealand Pronunciations: Te Aka Māori-English Dictionary: KiwiRail map Kaikoura Ranges Video and photo credits: The Great Journeys of New Zealand Reopening New Zealand’s Main North Line by KiwiRail Railing against time - facts and figures about rebuilding the Main North Line: Awatare River rail bridge : : : Blenheim Railway Station : Schwede66 via Wikimedia Commons Christchurch Railway Station 1960 Source: Christchurch City Libraries Old Christchurch Railway Station demolition 58 : : Maps of the New Zealand faults: : : Papatea Fault at Waipapa Bay, courtesy GNS Science Papatea Fault at Waipapa Bay, 1 week after earthquake, courtesy GNS Science Canterbury Plains map : Follow me on social media: #kiwirail #greatrailjourneys #trainreview #greatjourneysnz