Over the Alps

On the TranzAlpine, India’s Economic Times reporter’s travel from Canterbury, taking in mesmerising views of the Waimakiriri, through the Otira tunnel and on to Punakaiki and Greymouth. “The highest viaduct, 73m above the river, is quite appropriately called the ‘staircase’! The views around changed again, with plateaux around and hills in the horizon fading away in the blue sky.” At Punakaiki: “We were transfixed by a traffic sign that warned us of crossing penguins! Nowhere in the world had I seen this sign and we craned our necks hoping to see one of these sombre looking creatures!”