At 9.00am, we started our journey through Christchurch's western suburbs. Before long we were looking out at the flat paddocks and fields of the Canterbury Plains, gently caressed by the prevailing wind around these parts - a hot dry northwest wind, known as the nor'wester. The comfortable seats and large panoramic windows on the TranzAlpine allow for excellent viewing. And if you really want to get close to it all, you can stand in the open air observation car and watch the countryside roll by. Because there are no reflecting windows, it's great for taking photos.
Friendly Travel Travelling by train is far more sociable than by car.
For a start, you don't have to worry about driving - you just sit back and enjoy the scenery. We started our climb as we enjoyed a superb morning tea of fresh scones and hot coffee. The towns Darfield and Springfield are located at the foot of the Southern Alps, and from here the scenery starts to change from plains to rolling hills. We were still in farmland, but it was more rugged, and less intensively farmed than the Canterbury Plains. The Big Kowai Bridge is the first viaduct you encounter on the line, and then it's into more rugged bushland.