Day 10 - Christchurch to Greymouth by Train then Ride from Greymouth to Hokitika 30 kms
Today was another early start at 6.00am to get ready for the train trip from Christchurch to Greymouth.
Late picture at the end of the A2O with all of us at the Pacific Ocean!!!
Boarding the train at Christchurch
The trail was very good!
We crossed this bridge
All of us at Arthur’s Pass
Our hotel room for the night….. very comfortable!
The train left at about 8.15 am and we had very comfortable carriages and seats for the journey.
The trip on the train was really quite special with the first part going through the Canterbury Plains with dairy country and a slight incline.
Then it was into the hills with spectacular views of rivers Ana the surrounding mountains. At the top of the train trip we stopped at Arthur’s Pass which is a Tula lovely area nestled in a valley. After boarding the train we then went through a 2 km tunnel and out the other side it was quite different country being on the west side of the mountain range. The vegetation was bright green and subtropical which is in sharp contrast to the brown low vegetation on the east side of the mountain range.
The train trip through to Greymouth was very pleasant and we met quite a few of the fellow travellers in our carriage.We arrived at Greymouth at about 1.20 pm where Phil and Ian met us having driven the van through from Christchurch.
We had lunch at lovely cafe recommended by Phil called Sevenpenny… then it was off to get changed and on to the bikes for the ride to Kumara. We are now on the Western Wilderness trail heading south from Greymouth. After a bit of a blip finding the start of the trail due to my Garmin playing up, it was on for the 30 km ride on a very nice trail with a good surface and a gentle gradient.We arrived at Kumara at around 5.30 pm and the accommodation is at the Royal Theatre Hotel which has a lovely old world charm. The hotel uses a couple of houses opposite the main hotel for accommodation which is delightful.
Dinner tonight was at the hotel and I had fish and chips which was great
Today was another wonderful day of sightseeing and riding in NZ and it seems we all had a great day
Late picture at the end of the A2O with all of us at the Pacific Ocean!!!
Boarding the train at Christchurch
Very comfortable train carriages
Scene on the train journey through the window
…. And another one!
At Arthur’s pass
Leaving Greymouth after getting off the train and changing in the car park to the surprise of the passing foot traffic!
Scene on the train journey through the window
…. And another one!
At Arthur’s pass
Leaving Greymouth after getting off the train and changing in the car park to the surprise of the passing foot traffic!
The trail was very good!
We crossed this bridge
All of us at Arthur’s Pass
Phil and Ian went in the van rather than on the train
Our hotel room for the night….. very comfortable!