Rail Cart & Whanganui River Combo

Oct-Apr

North Island

Forgotten World Adventures

from

NZ$480

per adult

Collage showing a rail cart exiting a tunnel and a jet boat speeding down the Whanganui River.

Experiences

Train & Rail Journeys

Jet Boat Tours

History and Māori Culture

Nature & Wildlife

Adventure Tours

Family-friendly Tours

Day Tours

Half-Day Tours

North Island

Start: Taumarunui

Duration: 6.5 hours

Details

Rail and River Adventure in the Forgotten World

This combo tour combines the charm of a rail cart ride with the thrill of a jet boat journey along the Whanganui River. Covering 42km of historic railway, you’ll pass through 10 hand-cut tunnels and cross impressive bridges that highlight the determination of early pioneers. The scenery shifts from rolling farmland to native bush, with every twist revealing more of the region’s unique character.

Your adventure continues on the water with a 23km jet boat ride along the majestic Whanganui River. This section immerses you in stories of Māori ancestry and European settlement, all while surrounded by striking gorges and bush-clad hills. Morning or afternoon tea at Matiere, complete with homemade baking, adds a welcoming touch to this unforgettable journey.

Map of Tokirima Taster Rail Cart Tour between Taumarunui and Tokirima

Jet boat passengers wearing life jackets, smiling, taking photos and enjoying the ride.

Jet boat creating ripples as it navigates a green river bend surrounded by native forest.

Green jet boat gliding between bush-covered cliffs along the Whanganui River.

Green jet boat speeding along a shallow river with rocky banks in the foreground.

Front-facing shot of a green jet boat filled with smiling passengers on a river journey.

Forgotten World Jet boat cruising toward a scenic waterfall on the Whanganui River.

Rail cart crossing a bridge over a stream during golden hour on the Forgotten World Adventures route.

Multiple rail carts travel together along a curved railway track lined with greenery.

Rail cart exiting a tunnel surrounded by dense native ferns and bush on the Forgotten World Adventures route.

Rail cart travelling through dense native forest and remote valleys on the Forgotten World Adventures route.

Rail cart crossing a small bridge in soft morning light on the Forgotten World Adventures rail trail.

Rail cart travelling through a narrow bush-lined cutting surrounded by dense greenery in remote New Zealand.

Railway track curving gently into a dark tunnel surrounded by hills and fences.

HIGHLIGHTS

Unique 40 km rail cart journey through the Forgotten World
Travel between Tokirima and Okahukura
Go through the line’s longest tunnel at 1.5 km and other impressive hand-built brick tunnels
Stunning landscapes
Historical and cultural insights from an expert local guide
Explore the majestic Whanganui River by jet boat and pass Herlihy’s Bluff
Enjoy close encounters with native birds and wildlife
DEPARTS: 7.30AM (rail cart journey followed by jet boat ride) OR 10.30AM (jet boat ride followed by rail cart journey) from Taumarunui
DURATION: 6.5 hours

INCLUSIONS

Unique 40 km rail cart journey (3 hours)
Expert local guides for rail cart and jet boat
Morning or afternoon tea at the historic village of Matiere
23 km jet boat ride between Ohinepane and Cherry Grove (45 minutes)
Rail-side picnic lunch with hot and cold drinks
Home-baked snacks
Shuttle transfers to and from start and finish points
Shuttle transfers between rail and river