Paddle Steamer Waimarie

Paddle Steamer Waimarie Make history with us - donate today Undoubtedly the most authentic way to experience Whanganui River’s scenery and history.
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Regular cruises aboard the iconic Paddle Steamer Waimarie - NZ’s only coal-fired paddle steamer operating from the golden riverboat era. The vessel is available September - May and for private charter cruises by arrangement. View our cruise timetable, prices and purchase tickets online or at the Riverboat Centre, where you can also uncover river memorabilia in the Riverboat Museum and marvel at the turn of the century architecturally designed building.

If you are looking for something to do these school holidays?We have some tips for you...
23/06/2026

If you are looking for something to do these school holidays?
We have some tips for you...

18/06/2026

Mother Nature had one last thing to say this season - How about that setting sun! 😍

PS Waimarie, coming home from her last trip of the season.

🎥Sent in by Linda - we love receiving videos of the old girl from our community.

She still makes Whanganui feel like Whanganui.Take her away, and something changes. Not just on the river, in the city i...
17/06/2026

She still makes Whanganui feel like Whanganui.

Take her away, and something changes.

Not just on the river, in the city itself.

She's part of the fabric of this place in a way that's hard to explain until you've felt it.

She played a role in building the Whanganui we know today.

That's a legacy worth protecting.

Small change. Big difference.

16/06/2026

Just popping in with a project update.

We know there are plenty of locals (and probably a few visitors too) keen to watch PS Waimarie make her journey downriver and then onto dry land, so we wanted to let you know where things are at.

We were due to begin heading downstream this week to come out of the water and start the big job of replacing the decks and completing Waimarie's out-of-water survey.

Unfortunately, there has been a change to said plans.

At short notice, we had to find an alternative hardstand location. We got to work, found a local business with some unused space, and reached an agreement to build a temporary hardstand and use their yard instead.

Then, more recently, we found out the travel lift is no longer an option either.

So, how are we getting the old girl out of the water now?

We've got a plan, a slightly wild one, and we're working alongside some great local and non-local businesses to make it happen. It's not the path we expected nor planned to take, but we're focused on finding a solution and getting the work done.

Our new target is mid-July. We'll keep everyone updated as best we can, although it's going to be a busy few weeks for our very small team.

Getting PS Waimarie safely out of the water remains our absolute priority.

It's taken far more twists and politics than anyone anticipated, but we're determined to do what we can with what we have to get her across the line.

Watch this space for updates. And yes, we'll let everyone know when we head under the town bridge, something PS Waimarie has not done for yeeeeaaarrrrssss!

10/06/2026

We tasked a crew member to chat with some of the team about all things PS Waimarie...

Here's a sneak peek of some of the chats to come...

08/06/2026

That's a wrap on our 2025/2026 sailing season 🐦‍🔥

Thank you to everyone who came aboard, helped out, showed up, or cheered us on. This is what makes keeping our piece of living history alive so much fun!

Our crew this year was tops! 💪💪💪were super grateful for them.

Our attention turns to the next chapter of 2026: getting PS Waimarie out of the water for her deck replacement and survey. It's big work, but she deserves it.

Watch this space because you know we will take y'all along for the ride🛳️

07/06/2026

One of our most favorite things to do is talk steam and it means even more when we can talk steam with our freinds Steam Incorporated.

Doing a uniquely Whanganui things is our other favorite thing we love and yesterday we did just that to sign off our 2025/2026 sailing season 👊

Though the timing was off a little, talk steam is exactly what we did!

Here's the veiw from the water line👇

📽 Crewman Scottie

🚂❤️ A huge thank you to everyone who joined us aboard yesterday’s River City Express to Whanganui.Days like these simply...
06/06/2026

🚂❤️ A huge thank you to everyone who joined us aboard yesterday’s River City Express to Whanganui.

Days like these simply wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our travelling public and the communities that welcome us along the way. Ab 608 put in a sterling performance, despite some threatening weather!

A special thank you goes to our friends at Paddle Steamer Waimarie, who once again provided a memorable experience for many of our passengers. It’s always a pleasure working alongside such a passionate team dedicated to preserving another important piece of New Zealand’s transport heritage. We absolutely cannot wait until your all-important maintenance work is complete - and we can celebrate the meeting of steam once more!

We hope everyone enjoyed their day as much as we enjoyed bringing it to life. We look forward to welcoming you aboard again soon for another adventure on the rails.

📸 We’d love to see your photos from the day — feel free to share them in the comments below!

🚂🌊 Tomorrow, the River City Express heads west!Steam Incorporated's 111-year-old steam locomotive, Ab 608 "Passchendaele...
05/06/2026

🚂🌊 Tomorrow, the River City Express heads west!

Steam Incorporated's 111-year-old steam locomotive, Ab 608 "Passchendaele", will be stretching its legs on the mainline as it hauls the River City Express from the Kāpiti Coast through the Manawatū and on to Whanganui for a day of heritage rail adventure.

Expect plenty of steam, sound, and spectacle as the train tackles the grades north of Palmerston North and makes its way through some of the lower North Island's most picturesque railway scenery. We're also looking forward to catching up with our good friends from the PS Waimarie , who will be welcoming many of our passengers aboard for what will be their final public sailing before heading into dry dock for maintenance.

Whether you're travelling onboard, watching from a station platform, or catching a glimpse from a level crossing, it's set to be a memorable day on the rails.

📸 Chasing the train? We'd love to see your photos, but please remember:
⚠️ Stay well clear of the railway corridor, never trespass on railway property, and obey all signage and instructions. A photo is never worth risking your safety!

Here's to another great day of keeping New Zealand's railway heritage alive and well. See you trackside, or onboard! ❤️

She's been a part of the awa for more than a century. She's carried thousands of passengers, weathered all the seasons, ...
04/06/2026

She's been a part of the awa for more than a century. She's carried thousands of passengers, weathered all the seasons, and never once lost her spark.

Even when she lay in the mud, she was romanticised...

Swipe to get a glimpse of the boat behind the legacy.

She's still here. Help us keep it that way.

Small change. Big difference

Address

Riverboat Centre, 1a Taupo Quay
Whanganui
4500

Opening Hours

Thursday 10am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm
Sunday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+6463471863

Website

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