New Zealand's jawdropping scenery is well known, especially after the cinematography of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The TranzAlpine train travels 224 kilometres from Christchurch to Greymouth, going from one coast of New Zealand's South Island to the other. It's a journey of extremes all the way, passing through Canterbury Plains' fields and farmlands followed by the river valleys and gorges of the Waimakariri River. Then it's up into the Southern Alps before descending low into beech rain forest. Final destination is the west coast town of Greymouth, popular with visitors to Punakaiki and the glaciers. And there's an open-air viewing carriage for taking those perfect snaps.