Splash and Dash with a River Rock Cottage on the side! Stay at your very own cottage and experience the Whanganui river history with a paddle and a jet.
View all Discover Ruapehu Rail Tours Packages
This is a great trip away for a group of friends or the family. Transfer from Taumarunui railway station to the quaint River Rock Cottage. Here your experience is on the water ÔÇô the historic Whanganui river. Canoes and jet boat adventures await you here!
ƒôì Auckland/Hamilton - Taumarunui by Chartered Heritage Train
Ôÿò Morning tea aboard train
ƒì¢´©Å Shuttle to town for dinner (optional)
ƒôì Taumarunui
ƒì¢´©Å Continental breakfast at accommodation
ƒì¢´©Å Shuttle to town for lunch (optional)
ƒì¢´©Å Shuttle to town for dinner (optional)
Wake up to a coffee and the sound of the river flowing as you partake of a continental breakfast then suit up, quick stop to pick up some lunch then launch off from Cherry Grove in Taumarunui and paddle your way towards Ohinepane camping area. Dry off and have some lunch, maybe even a swim then return back up stream to Taumarunui. Once you have dried off, enjoy a meal out in Taumarunui again or pick something up to cook back at the cottage. Settle in around the fireplace or chill out on the deck, sharing in good company.
ƒôì Taumarunui - Auckland/Hamilton by Chartered Heritage Train
ƒì¢´©Å Continental breakfast at accommodation
ƒì¢´©Å Shuttle to town for lunch (optional)
Ôÿò Afternoon tea aboard train
After breakfast, gear up to finish off your weekend with a dash! This morning we are off on a jet boat ride on the river, hold on! At the end of the ride, you will be taken back to Taumarunui where you can leave your bags in the i-SITE building and pop into a local caf├® for lunch before your train arrives to take you home.
Once again, our friendly staff will be happy to see you again, and to assist you to settle in for the journey home. Take this time to have a little rest or share your stories with other guests onboard.
Enjoy staying in this back packer style cottage on the Whanganui river front. Three bedrooms, shared kitchen and lounge fully furnished with an expansive deck with river views. Shared bathroom, fridge, stove and TV with DVD player.
The North Island Main Trunk is steeped in local and Maori history. Opened completely between Auckland and Wellington in 1908 after over 30 years of construction, the ÔÇ£Main TrunkÔÇØ passes through many rural settlements and towns which were connected up to the major cities by the coming of the railway. The section we travel over covers the main centres of Pukekohe and Hamilton, followed by rural towns like Otorohanga, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui. The railway geography is diverse, from rolling hills to steep gradients. Our journey passes through conservation land, farms and forests.
Selected Highlights Include:
This heritage train operated by the Glenbrook Vintage Railway will be hauled by restored locomotive DBR1254. Originally built as a DB class locomotive by General Motors Diesel Canada in 1965, this locomotive was rebuilt by Clyde Engineering Australia in 1981. In 2017 the Glenbrook Vintage Railway took ownership of DBR1254 which underwent an intense overhaul before returning to mainline service in 2019.
The carriages date from 1939/1940 and would have made thousands of journeys up and down the main trunk. The carriages retain key features including the iconic flip-over seats, though have been tastefully redecorated for enhanced passenger comfort. The guardÔÇÖs van that travels with these carriages provides an open viewing area for an uninterrupted view of the amazing countryside.
Full standard Terms and Conditions can be found here: https://www.gvr.org.nz/terms
Additional conditions:
COVID-19
In
the event that the NZ government imposes COVID-19 restrictions
preventing the GVR train tour from operating, a refund of monies paid
may be given, net of any outgoings or payments already made by GVR in
conjunction with the operation and organisation of these tours on
written application within 7 days of the scheduled date of travel.
Visit Ruapehu and Ruapehu District i-SITE Visitor Centre Conditions
These packages are organised through Visit Ruapehu and the Ruapehu District i-SITE Visitor Centres who handle all accommodation, transfers, and activities for these packages. Please contact them on 0800 647 483 or email them at [email protected] for their terms and conditions which apply to your booking.
All packages are subject to availability, after you place your
booking the i-SITE will confirm your arrangements with the individual
providers and operators.
If parts of your chosen package are
unavailable, the i-SITE will work with you to provide a suitable substitution/customisation or
we will refund you fully.
