River City Express

Travel to the beautiful river side town of Whanganui, hauled both steam locomotive Ja1271 and heritage diesel electric locomotive, Da1431. Choose between doing your own thing, jumping on a serene cruise of the Whanganui River onboard the coal fired paddle steamer "PS Waimarie", or spend the day on the rails and venture further north, to Kai Iwi.

Choose one of the following options to maximise your experience:

1 - Sail on the Queen of the River
Your cruise leaves the Riverboat Centre Wharf and heads upriver taking in the scenery and views of Whanganui which can only be experienced from Te Awa Tupua, the Whanganui River. The commentary shares riverboat history and points of interest along the way.

Fares
Adult (12+ yrs) - $194
Child (2-12 yrs) - $124
Infant (0-2yrs) - Free

Lunch onboard the River Cruise - $15pp

2 - Do Your Own Thing & Explore Whanganui
There will be a collection of vintage cruiser bikes for hire for a small fee to those keen to take exploring to the next level, and a couple of food trucks for a bite to eat.
There will be short tours available at the Durie Hill Elevator. It is New Zealand’s only public transport elevator and is still used on a daily basis by locals and visitors.
There are multiple places to go, and things to see. Take a tram ride for a small fee and arrive at the Riverboat museum, be blown away by NZ Glassworks, admire the sculptures and views from the Motua gardens along the river, indulge in local cuisine, or simply shop local.

Fares
Adult (12+ yrs) - $149
Child (2-12yrs) - $79
Infant (0-2yrs) - Free

3 - A Day on the Rails
Extend your experience by staying on the train after arrival into Whanganui, and head up the line to Kai Iwi.
The fearsome Westmere Bank lies between us and Kai Iwi. This is a steep hill with a gradient of 1 in 35 on our ascent (that is 1 metre climbed for every 35 metres travelled horizontally) and up to 1 in 39 on our descent down the other side. Here you should really hear the engine working!

Fares
Adult (12+ yrs) - $189
Child (2-12yrs) - $149
Infant (0-2yrs) - Free

Please note that if booking online, our booking system does add on a small percentage to all the above fares. Steam Incorporated does not see this revenue.