The Coastal Pacific train (formally The TranzCoastal train) travels between the delightful port of Picton - gateway to the beautiful Marlborough Sounds to Kaikoura - home of whale watching and Christchurch - the South Island’s largest city. 

This journey is a scenic feast, with the wine growing region of Blenheim to the rugged Kaikoura mountain ranges on one side of your train and the rugged Pacific Ocean coastline on the other. 

Travel through some of New Zealand’s finest horticultural and farmland areas of the Canterbury Plains, and see amazing wildlife such as dolphins, seals and penguins from the comfort of your carriage.

Along the way you pass though the town of Kaikoura, where you can break your journey to take in the whale watching or dare to get closer and swim with the dolphins.

The Coastal Pacific train travels through 22 tunnels and crosses 175 bridges, one of them being New Zealand’s only road-rail bridge. 

Each carriage is centrally heated/air conditioned, with onboard toilet/washroom facility and forward facing reclining seats and 'Table Group' (4 people around a table) seating allowing you to experience the amazing views through large panoramic windows, while enjoying the company of other passengers on-board. 

The Coastal Pacific train includes an open air viewing carriage where all your senses are awakened with the clean, fresh, sea air.

The Coastal Pacific train has a Café Carriage selling a range of hot and cold drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, snacks and light meals.

The Coastal Pacific train is reserved seating 'One Class/Non Smoking' service.

The Coastal Pacific train connects with the 8.00am Bluebridge and  8.25am Interislander ferry sailing from Wellington to Picton and the 1.10pm Interislander and 2pm Bluebridge ferry sailings from Picton to Wellington.

The Coastal Pacific train connects at Blenheim with various coach and bus services to Nelson, Motueka, Marahau and Takaka.

You can use your Scenic Rail Pass to travel on The Coastal Pacific train, between any of the 'Point to Point' travel destinations between Christchurch, Kaikoura, Blenheim and Picton.

The Coastal Pacific train does not operate on Christmas Day - 25 December.