Where in the world is Kat Kong?: Tranz Alpine train Greymouth to Christchurch, then to Singapore

Trip Index

***

Today was our last full day in New Zealand...three weeks fly by so quickly when you're having fun. We checked out of Punga Grove motel and drove to Greymouth to board the Tranz Alpine train back to Christchurch, a 4.5 hour journey. We stopped by a rocky beach along the way.

desolate

all the rocks were smooth

When we got to the Greymouth train station, there was no one at the Europcar rental counter so we had to drop the keys into the return slot. We had done the same in Taupo, so we were okay with it here too but (as I take the liberty to jump way forward in time here) we ended up getting charged NZ$300 for a dent in one of the car doors. The credit card receipt was air-mailed to us back home. We couldn't prove that it wasn't our fault (someone could have opened a door into our car while it was parked at the station before the rental car agent could assess the car's condition). Perhaps next time, we'll take pictures of the car beforehand if we are in the same situation, though I suspect that may not help anyway.

We checked in at the station counter and our large bags were labeled and taken away to be loaded when the train arrived. We also received our tickets and seat assignments. On the platform, Kaleb noticed a man wearing a Penn State sweatshirt so he started up a conversation with him and the group he was traveling with. It's one of a few things that makes Kaleb be first to interact with a stranger! :) I've always found it fascinating to see this camaraderie amongst Penn State alumni and fans. Also, it seems Kaleb always finds someone from PSU many thousands of miles away from home, like when we were hiking at 14,000 feet in Peru.

The Tranz Alpine train arrived and we got onto our assigned carriage and found our seats (on the left-hand side, supposedly great according to the seat61 website but nice views could be seen from the other side too). The carriage was bright and airy with lots of windows. There were two dining cars as well as an open-air observation car at the end for passengers to take pictures and enjoy some fresh air.

Kaleb and new friend watching the boarding process

nice bright carriage

surprisingly decent food available in the dining car (though we brought our own lunch)

view out the carriage

on the observation car

view out of the observation car

approaching Arthurs Pass

The engine that was pulling our train did not have the right specifications to take passengers up to Arthur's Pass, so everyone had to disembark at the station and transfer onto waiting buses; the train then continued its journey empty of people. The buses took us into the mountains and met up with the train at Arthur's Pass.

on the bus

disembarking at Arthur's Pass

The rest of the train ride was non-eventful. We also passed the time by getting some delicious ice cream bars from the dining car (there was also a 50% off sale on fresh food items around the last hour of the trip) and visiting the observation car. The train went through several tunnels (some really long) so we were in the dark for brief periods of time.

passing time

very tasty; I wanted to get another but were sold out

leaning out of the observation car

about to enter a tunnel

We arrived at Christchurch station...followed by an onslaught of passengers getting off and looking for their luggage on the moving belt that was beside the track.

Our private transfer was there holding up a sign with our name. Once we retrieved our luggage, he drove us to the same motel we stayed in last time, the Camelot Motor Lodge. Our driver was very nice, parking the car alongside reception and waiting for us to check in, then driving us to our motel room when he could have just dropped us and the luggage and left.

Since I've already blogged about this motel, I'll skip to the next day...

The same driver came to pick us up the next morning for our flight to Singapore. When we got to the airport, he even parked his car, rolled our luggage in and pointed us to the Singapore ticket counter. How helpful! I can't remember his name but I do remember seeing a company logo called The Silver Service.

Our New Zealand adventure was officially at an end. Almost three weeks flew by because we were having so much fun! I would recommend at least five weeks to thoroughly visit North and South Island. We didn't have any time to visit the Maori regions of North Island nor areas like Milford Sound and Dunedin in South Island. New Zealand is definitely on the list of must-return places. I was happy with the self-driving package tour offered by New Zealand Fine Touring. It was semi-custom as I had them change the lodgings to be value-oriented but include the Routeburn luxury hiking tour, and that was done with no problem at all. It was nice to have all the reservations taken care of and only had to worry about driving to each of the destinations. Purchasing New Zealand maps for our GPS was also a huge help and worth the price. If after experiencing this trip vicariously through this blog, you want to head to New Zealand, feel free to email me at yellowdogtravel at gmail dot com for advice and booking packages!

Now onto Singapore...

Our non-stop flight from Christchurch to Singapore (SQ298) was in business class so we were able to get into Air New Zealand's Koru Lounge in Christchurch airport. It was a nice setup.

one area of the lounge

large variety of hot/cold food, sweets, fruit

self-service drinks

cookie jars!

nice shower room

individual bathroom is nice too

On the airplane, the seats laid flat but as this was a daytime flight, we didn't sleep. And also because the flight was during the day, we didn't get full amenity kits (ie. toothbrush, lotion, etc. in a zippered travel bag) but we did receive slippers and eyeshades at our seats. I later found that the lavatory had a drawer that contained toothbrushes, combs, etc. if you needed them.

Singapore business class

pre-departure bubbly beverage

lunch menu

snack menu during the flight

pre-landing menu

beverage menu

Just like we had experienced on our Air NZ flight from Honolulu to Auckland, we received a personal welcome from the lead flight attendant. The service on board was excellent, as expected from Singapore Airlines. Even though we were traveling on an award, we were able to get what we wanted on the menu.

yummy satay

scallop appetizer with garlic bread (bread was so so); ordered an apple spritzer (apple juice and 7-Up)

pan-fried salmon and asparagus (mmm)

stewed duck with ginseng and mushroom rice

apple slice with creme anglaise

raspberry and white chocolate ice cream

fruit course...I chose a feijoa - the flight attendant asked me what it was as she didn't know

To pass the time (10 hours gate-to-gate), we used the in-flight personal entertainment system to catch up on movies and audiobooks, read magazines and books that we brought with us, and had some snacks.

water bottles were passed out after lunch

I had to have a mid-flight snack

Kaleb wearing the airline noise-canceling headphones (our own headphones didn't fit the proprietary jack)

Then it was time for our pre-landing "light meal". So much eating!

smoked salmon with crabmeat salad

honey roasted chicken with mashed potatoes

beef filet with thyme jus and pea-potato puree

chocolate and cream gateau

Arriving in Singapore, we breezed through immigration. I withdrew money from the ATM and then we got into the taxi line. Unfortunately we came during rush hour, so we spent too much time sitting in traffic on the main highway. If I had to do it all over again, I would have taken the 45-minute MRT ride (even with the 2 train transfers and carrying our luggage) from Changi airport to Newton station (nearest the Sheraton Towers Singapore). I was too used to flying in late night when the roads were all clear. What made it worse was that we pretty much were just spending the night in Singapore; we'd be back at the airport early the next morning for our flight to the Maldives so a lot of time was wasted.

Our home for the night was at the Sheraton Towers Singapore which I booked using "Cash and Points": 6000 SPG points plus $130. Hotel rates in the area were over $300 so it was a decent deal, since the points were from credit card sign-up bonuses. The hotel was in nice shape and within walking distance of Newton Food Centre, which was the reason for staying here.

comfortable king bed

TV and mini-bar

toiletries

nice large bathroom

rainshower was nice

robes

complimentary bottled water

items in the mini-bar; only coffee and tea were free

alarm clock and controls from the bed

We then walked over to Newton Food Centre to indulge in some hawker food. Still being a bit full from our meals on the airplane, we settled on a small piece of BBQ stingray, sambal kangkong, Tiger beer, watermelon and sugar cane juices.

Tomorrow, we are off to the idyllic islands of the Maldives...stay tuned!

***

Don't wait for Facebook or Twitter to let you know of new entries...sign up for blog updates direct to your inbox here!

Come check out my other blog "What in the world is Kat Kong doing now?", documenting things other than traveling...sign up for blog updates direct to your inbox here!

If you came here from a Facebook or Twitter link, thanks for liking or retweeting!

Previous post: Franz Josef Glacier

Where in the world is Kat Kong?

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Tranz Alpine train Greymouth to Christchurch, then to Singapore - March 26-27, 2014

1 comment: