New Zealand Tourism Online

South Island Train Tours, New Zealand

Railtours New Zealand Introduction

Railtours New Zealand offers New Zealand's top rail adventures. Sit back and relax on our South Island train tours while we take you to the best places to be by train.

Our South Island rail packages get you out to where the action is throughout the South Island. Sit back and enjoy as we take you there.

South Island Train Tours

Race Trains and Racing Events – Take the train to the races. Whether the racing is being held in Timaru, Dunedin, Greymouth or Kumara, we'll get you there.

Wine and Food – Travel by train and in style to Marlborough, Oamaru, Hokitika and the Waipara Region, and enjoy your time at a winery and enjoying the local foods.

Family Days – Take the family out to enjoy the day at some of the South Island's enjoyable attractions. Whether it's the Caroline Bay carnival, the replica gold mining town at Shantytown, or the attractions at Waikouaiti or Sefton, it will be a day worth remembering.

Party Nights – Begin your mystery party express train journey through the suburbs of Christchurch and across the Waimakariri River to North Canterbury. Where you end up is anyone's guess, but it's sure to be memorable.

For further information about our South Island rail packages, please contact us or visit our South Island train tours Web site.

Destinations on our South Island Train Tours

Caroline Bay Fun in Timaru – The Caroline Bay Carnival begins on Boxing Day, and runs to mid January. The Carnival has always enjoyed the public support from the residents of Timaru, but also from the many visitors to the bay.

The Carnival has gone from strength to strength thanks to the work of a dedicated team of volunteers. This summer the Carnival is expected to be as big as other years with a variety of activities, and entertainment including the amazing midnight New Years Eve fireworks display is a must to see and an excellent night of family entertainment.

Holidaymakers are treated to fairground-style rides, free daily concerts, along with a variety of activities such as inflatables, mini golf, truck and trailer rig, Amac bungy trampoline, train rides and events and competitions along with entertainment by popular New Zealand artists.

Shantytown – The journey to Shantytown is on the Midlane Line, which is rated amongst the top ten railway journeys in the world. After crossing the Canterbury Plains, the train follows the spectacular Waimakariri Gorge, passing alternately through nineteen tunnels and over high viaducts.

One of New Zealand's unique tourist attractions, Shantytown is a replica of a West Coast gold mining town set in the 1860s. Situated amid beautiful native bush, visitors are invited to step back in time and experience the variety of activities and view relics from this fascinating era.

Shantytown has 30 buildings on exhibit, with original artefacts on display. Other facilities include a fully licensed restaurant that serves morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch, a licensed hotel, Gem and Mineral Exhibition Hall, and Post Office with its own special postmark.

Wildfoods Festival – This is an event where you might find yourself munching on pigs trotters and high protein earthworms, washed down with gorse flower wine. This is the Coast's “extravaganza of bush tucker”, a no holds barred experience of Westland's resourcefulness.

The day features the most ingenious uses of the natural food sources of the district accompanied by continuous entertainment. One of the regular stars is the Kokatahi Band, one of the Coast's most famous institutions and features the diversity of musical traditions brought by immigrants to the area.

There are also clowns, folk singers, busker's, cooking demonstrations, and at the end of the day, the legendary bush dance. This is a great way to get a taste of the West Coast lifestyle, where things are done a little differently, more slowly, maybe friendlier.

For further information about our South Island rail packages, please contact us or visit our South Island train tours Web site.

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