From
NZ $2,235

3 Day West Coast Glaciers and Scenic TranzAlpine Train

3 days
From Queenstown to Christchurch
4.0
1 traveler review
3 Day West Coast Glaciers and Scenic TranzAlpine Train - Thrifty Tours
From
NZ $2,235
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Plan your adventure:
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Partially Guided
Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
Guided in English
Group Size 2 - 50
Age range 1 to 100
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Scenic journey from Queenstown to Franz Josef
  • Visit Lake Wanaka, Hawea and the West Coast Glaciers
  • See the awe-inspiring Franz Josef Glacier
  • Journey over the Southern Alps on the TranzAlpine Train

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Queenstown to Franz Josef with Great Sights
  2. Day 2 Explore the West Coast Glacier region
  3. Day 3 Franz Josef to Greymouth, then take the TranzAlpine train to Christchurch
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What's Included

Expand All
  • Guide
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Meals
  • Optional
  • Additional Services

Operated by

Thrifty Tours

Number of tours

28

Age Range

5 to 99 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

100%

It's all about enjoying the flexibility of travelling where you want when you...

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Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • PB
    · March 12th, 2020
    Very good communication Very good information...
    Show more
    Trip date: March 2020

Dates & Availability

3 days
3 Day West Coast Glaciers and Scenic TranzAlpine Train
From Queenstown to Christchurch

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    • Free eSim with every purchase

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More benefits
Select a departure month
  • Upcoming departures
  • June 2025
  • July 2025
  • August 2025
  • September 2025
  • October 2025
  • November 2025
  • December 2025
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  • February 2026
  • March 2026
  • April 2026
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  • September 2026
Select The Travel Month

Upcoming departures
  • From Sunday
    8 Jun, 2025
    To Tuesday
    10 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Monday
    9 Jun, 2025
    To Wednesday
    11 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Tuesday
    10 Jun, 2025
    To Thursday
    12 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Wednesday
    11 Jun, 2025
    To Friday
    13 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Thursday
    12 Jun, 2025
    To Saturday
    14 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Friday
    13 Jun, 2025
    To Sunday
    15 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Saturday
    14 Jun, 2025
    To Monday
    16 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Sunday
    15 Jun, 2025
    To Tuesday
    17 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Monday
    16 Jun, 2025
    To Wednesday
    18 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
  • From Tuesday
    17 Jun, 2025
    To Thursday
    19 Jun, 2025
    English
    This departure date is available and will 100% depart
    Guaranteed departure
    Multiple Room Types
    From:
    $2,235
From
NZ $2,235
Find this price
Save and compare this adventure
Payment plan $505 now + easy payments of $135 Learn More

Best price guarantee Learn More

Plan your adventure:

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
Accommodation
Price / Availability
Age Range
Flights / Transfers
Single supplement
Group size
Transport
Visa
Meals
Travel Support
Payments
Tour Details
  • P

    Patricia

    Asked on May 17th, 2022

    Im interested on booking the West Coast Glaciers and Scenic TranzAlpine Train - 3 Days tour, I have check the time table for the tranzalpine train and in the website said that is working only on weekends and I feel a little confused, I just want to make sure that the train will be available to take on Thursday before I booked with you. Another question that I have is the tour have any discount for children of ages 9 and 11?

    Age Range
    Transport
    • Thrifty ToursOperatorWritten May 2022

      Unfortunately it is not possible to do the tour between June 24-26. The coach from Queenstown to Franz Josef departs either on a Thurs or Saturday, so starting on Friday the 24th isn't possible. If you started on Thursday the 23rd of June, I would highly recommend that you spend 2 nights in Franz Josef to actually experience the town (otherwise you will only arrive when it is dark and you won't see much).

    • P

      Patricia

      TravelerWritten May 2022

      The other option that I'm thinking if is possible is to book the tour for the June 25th.. do you think this can be possible?. We looking bedding enough for 5 people (3 adult and 2 kids). although kids of ages 9 and 11 can share a bed.

    • Thrifty ToursOperatorWritten May 2022

      It would be possible to do the tour on the 25th of June, but if you do it as it is currently laid out, you will not have any time to experience Franz Josef due to the limited daylight hours. I would recommend that you spend 2 nights in Franz Josef (the night of the 25th and the 26th) and take the train on 27th June.

    • P

      Patricia

      TravelerWritten May 2022

      Hello The total price to pay is in US dollars or NZ dollars?

    • Thrifty ToursOperatorWritten May 2022

      The total price you see is in USD (USD $2,249.06). Our office is currently closed but will reopen tomorrow if you have further questions.

    • P
      4 more answers
  • T

    Tammy

    Asked on May 15th, 2022

    On day 2 of the tour in Franz Josef, what is included? The description mentions heli-hiking and/or a guided walk along the valley but it's unclear if either of these are part of the tour itself.

    Tour Details
    • Thrifty ToursOperatorWritten May 2022

      The itinerary as set out in that document is the best way of doing it. You could an activity such as a helihike or a kayaking activity on that free day as well.

  • C

    Crystal

    Asked on May 3rd, 2022

    Can we book a triple room? Child is 9 yrs.

    Accommodation
    Age Range
    • Thrifty ToursOperatorWritten May 2022

      Unfortunately due to the coach schedules, you would have to take a private transfer from Franz Josef to Greymouth instead of the coach leg. The trip cost would increase.

    • C

      Crystal

      TravelerWritten May 2022

      Could you tell me the cost of the private coach? I am looking for 1 triple occupancy room at a 4 star accommodation.

    • Thrifty ToursOperatorWritten May 2022

      Unfortunately due to the trains and coach schedules, this tour will not be possible for your dates.

    • C
      2 more answers
Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Thrifty Tours with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

Good to Know

Tour ID: 183928

  • Currency
    $
    New Zealand Dollar
    New Zealand
  • Plugs & Adapters

    Type I
    New Zealand
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before August 4th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after August 4th, 2025, a minimum payment of 20% is required to confirm your booking with Thrifty Tours. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 60 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Thrifty Tours will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Thrifty Tours" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.