Christchurch Travel Forum

What is the distance, driving time, and/or taxi fare between the cruise ship dock in Lyttelton and Christchurch Tranz Alpine train station? Is there a communiter train or easy taxi pickup?

If you want to make it to the TranzAlpine from the cruise ship you best get on the regular bus (# 28 every 15 min during the week, every 30 min on weekends; #35 only once per hour) to the city centre (Bus Exchange) and then take a taxi from Cathedral Square (100 metres from Bus Exchange). The bus trip takes 25 to 30 minutes, and taxi to the Railway Station less than 10 minutes.

You can also get off the bus before the Bus Exchange, at Moorhouse Ave, and then walk to the Railway Station. The walk would take about 20 minutes.

There is a bus from the Bus Exchange, but it only starts operating seriously when the shops at Tower Junction (where the Railway Station is) open, so it does not reach the TranzAlpine (departure 8.15am but you should be there by 7.55am).

There is no commuter train between Lyttelton and Christchurch, only railway line for coal trains from the West Coast.

The distance from the cruise ship terminal to the Railway Station (Tower Junction) is between 12 and 13 kilometres, and would take you 20 to 25 minutes by taxi. Taxi cost NZ$ 40 to 50.

You should enquire with your cruise ship company if they do not have a shuttle bus to the Railway Station, as the TranzAlpine trip is one of the major undertakings people from the cruise ships do.

A last option would be to book one of the shuttle services like www.supershuttle.co.nz or Canterbury Shuttles. Also good for the return trip to the ship.

Kakapo2 is right on. We were there last month and actually talked with a couple who where from a cruise ship. Some of their friends had taken the train trip earlier in the day so I know that the train ride is available thru at least their cruise ship line.

Dont taxi, it will cost you too much. The approx time from the port to the station would be 20mins driving or less. There is bound to be a shuttle that goes there, if not, there are plenty of buses you could catch. Good luck!