Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BUS
Atomic Shuttles
( 03-349 0697;
www.atomictravel.co.nz
)
From Arthur's Pass a bus heads to/from
Christchurch ($35, 2½ hours), Springfield ($35, one hour), Lake Brunner ($30, 50
minutes) and Greymouth ($35, 1¼ hours).
West Coast Shuttle
( 03-768 0028;
www.westcoastshuttle.co.nz
)
Buses stopping at Arthur's Pass head
to/from Christchurch ($40, 2¾ hours), Springfield ($30, one hour) and Greymouth ($30,
1¾ hours).
CAR
Make sure you check your petrol before you leave Springfield (or Hokitika or Greymouth
if you're travelling in the other direction). There's a pump at Arthur's Pass Store but it's
expensive and only operates from 8am until 5pm.
TRAIN
TranzAlpine
( 0800 872 467;
www.kiwirailscenic.co.nz
;
all fares $89)
One train in each direction stops
in Arthur's Pass, heading to/from Springfield (1½ hours) and Christchurch (2½ hours), or
Lake Brunner (one hour) and Greymouth (two hours).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Methven
POP 1330
Methven is busiest in winter, when it fills up with snow bunnies heading to nearby Mt
Hutt. At other times tumbleweeds don't quite blow down the main street - much to the
disappointment of the wannabe gunslingers arriving for the raucous October rodeo. Over
summer it's a low-key and affordable base for trampers, bikers and fisher-folk.
Dominating the town centre, two giant historic pubs glower at each other across the
main street. Despite the rivalry between the Blue Pub and the Brown Pub (it's actually
beige, but don't tell them that), they're surprisingly similar.
