Caves, Coasts & River Roads
(Taranaki, Whanganui & Taumarunui)
20 - 26 April 2026
7 Day / 6 Night tour
$5,490
(NZD) pp twin share
$6,190
(NZD) pp single
This 7-day adventure starts in the depths of a subterranean wonderland and continues to the sparkling city of New Plymouth. It then winds itself around Mt Taranaki taking in the many attractions citybound to Whanganui. It then weaves its way upstream to the Bridge to Nowhere, eventually landing in Taumarunui and concluding with a railcart adventure on the lost rails of the Forgotten World Highway.
Itinerary | 20 - 26 April 2026
DAY 1. Ruakuri Cave | New Plymouth
Monday 20 April. Our adventure begins after we leave home and make our way to Waitomo. We stop for lunch before reaching the Ruakuri Caves. This cave is an experience that must be seen to be believed! Unlike the main Waitomo Cave, this cave offers an even more complex and beautiful cave structure. It will leave you open-mouthed, awe-struck and humbled by the sheer majesty of nature!
We then continue to New Plymouth for our first two-night stay.
Dinner.
DAY 2. Sea Lion Boat Charter | Puketi Forest Park
Tuesday 21 April. It’s ships ahoy this morning, as we depart on a wildlife cruise to NZ’s most northern fur seal colony. Enjoy the cool ocean breeze and views from the boat.
Then its onwards to Pukeiti Park and Rhododendron Gardens, where we meet a local expert for a tour of the gardens. Pukeiti is a 360 hectare rain forest park at the base of Mount Taranaki, internationally renowned for its outstanding rhododendron collection, which covers approximately 27 hectares!
Tonight, we dine at a local restaurant overlooking the water.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 3. Mt Taranaki | Tawhiti Museum | Whanganui
Wednesday 22 April. Today, we pack our bags and depart on a leisurely mountain drive through lush native forest to the North Egmont Visitor Centre. Some may choose to walk, and some may choose to stay and explore the visitor centre.
Then it’s onwards to the Tawhiti Museum, now widely acclaimed as one of the most innovative museums in New Zealand. Tawhiti uses life-size exhibits and scale models to capture the past in a series of super-realistic displays. We’ll even take a boat voyage into history with traders and whalers and learn about our country’s past.
After a fabulous day in the Taranaki region, we arrive in Whanganui for our next two-night stay.
Breakfast, Dinner.
DAY 4. Waimarie Paddle Steamer | City Highlights | Bushy Park Homestead
Thursday 23 April. Whanganui, a city known for its picturesque beauty, awaits us today. Our first stop is the Whanganui River Boat Museum, a unique attraction that houses a collection of historic riverboats. We then embark on a cruise aboard the iconic Paddle Steamer Waimarie – NZ’s only coal-fired paddle steamer, a living relic from the golden riverboat era of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
We have lunch in town and then set out to admire the beautiful grounds of the Bason Botanic Gardens. We then explore the city, including the Whanganui Regional Museum, a walk through the Durie Hill Tunnel and lift, a visit to some arts and crafts studios, and a trip to the mouth of the river.
We hope you packed your glad rags! Tonight, we prepare for an elegant dining experience at Bushy Park Historic Homestead (butler included!).
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 5. Bridge to Nowhere OR River Run Mail Tour
Friday 24 April. Today, we offer two options to cater to different preferences. First option is to depart for Pipiriki where you will board a jetboat and coast down the river to experience the famous Bridge to Nowhere. Alternatively, you may choose to depart with the local mail runner and do a fabulous tour of the road that follows the river - meet lots of locals and visit some hidden gems. This option also includes a 30 minute blast down the river on a jetboat.
Note for those doing the Bridge to Nowhere: Good trekking / tramping shoes are recommended. You must be able to walk 3km unaided over a well-graded bush track on an old roadway in each direction. The total walking distance is 6km. We recommend similar-distance training walks leading up to the tour.
Later, we’ll all meet and continue to Taumarunui for our next two nights.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 6. Forgotten World Highway
Saturday 25 April. This morning, you have the option to join your Tour Manager for the ANZAC Day dawn service. Not too long after, you'll embark on a thrilling adventure on the Forgotten World Highway. This 40km journey by Rail Cart takes us through 10 hand-dug tunnels and over 25 bridges, showcasing the determination and hardship of the past. We pause for a delightful Ploughman’s lunch in Tokirima and on our way back, we make a stop at Lauren’s Lavender Farm to admire the beautiful flowers on display.
Tonight, we reflect back on the last 7-days together with a fabulous meal in the stunning grounds of Bradleys Garden.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 7. Homeward Bound
Sunday 26 April. This morning, we farewell this beautiful part of our country and make our way back up the North Island, stopping for lunch and a few more interesting places along the way.
Breakfast, Lunch.
Abandoned bridge in the heart of the National Park:
The Bridge to Nowhere
The Bridge To Nowhere is a concrete road bridge spanning the Mangapurua Stream in the Whanganui National Park. On Day 5 of the tour you may choose to visit the bridge. This is accessed by jetboat, followed by a 45-minute walk along maintained bush trails.
This bridge has become an icon within the Whanganui National Park. A wooden swing bridge was constructed across the Mangapurua Stream in 1919. This connected the isolated valley with the riverboats that brought goods along the Whanganui River. However the settlers had always expected that roading access would be improved – a more solid bridge would be built and that it would form part of a road between Raetihi and Taranaki.
Planning for the new bridge started when the timber bridge began to rot. In 1936, the new steel-reinforced concrete bridge was finally opened. It was an impressive sight at nearly 40 metres above the river.
By the time construction of the Bridge To Nowhere was finished, many of the Mangapurua settlers had abandoned their holdings. The physical labour and economic hardship had taken their toll on the returned servicemen and their families. Serious erosion (caused by the clearing of bush), flooding and poor road access were other obstacles that the settlers could no longer overcome.
By 1942 only three of the farmers remained in the valley. They were eventually forced to leave when the government decided that road access would no longer be maintained. By 1944, everyone had gone. Not only that, they left virtually penniless.
The Bridge To Nowhere gets more use now than it did when it was first built. It is the unofficial flagship of Whanganui National Park and a major visitor attraction on the Whanganui Journey – one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.
Inclusions
General
- Transfers to/from your home
(conditions apply) - Comfortable coach transport
- Trusted and knowledgeable
Tour Manager - 2x nights New Plymouth
- 2x nights Whanganui
- 2x nights Taumarunui
Meals
- All breakfasts
- All dinners
- 5 of 7 lunches
Excursions & Entrance Fees
- Ruakuri Cave, Waitomo
- Pukeiti Forest Park Tour
- Sea Lion Boat Cruise
- Tawhiti Museum
- Paddle Steamer Waimarie
- Whanganui City
- Bushy Park Homestead
- Lauren’s Lavender Farm
- Bradley's Garden Tour and Dinner
- Forgotten World Railcart Adventure
- Whanganui River Jetboat
- Bridge to Nowhere Walk
OR River Mail Run Tour
TARANAKI FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS & WHANGANUI
20 - 26 April 2026
7 days / 6 nights
$5,490
(NZD) pp twin share
$6,190
(NZD) pp single
Ruakuri Cave
The underground experience that needs to be on your bucket list
I'm in a ten million-year-old cave made of ancient sea creatures. Sometimes, just stopping and realising where you are is pretty mind-blowing.
I'm deep underground in Waitomo. Many Kiwis have experienced the world-famous Waitomo Caves, but just a few kilometres drive away is a cave that doesn't have the same kind of recognition. But I think it's just as good. Welcome to the Ruakuri Cave.
