The Expedition

Excellent excursion

Excellent excursion. Awesome trip. Expensive but worth every cent.Stunning scenery Excellent staff they made you welcome and had good knowledge of the history of the area
Our jet boat drivers Paul and Alan were very professional and provided us with a good experience.stve on the helicopter gave us all a thrill or two
The lunches and morning/afternoon teas were excellent. Our stay at the Whangamoma hotel was great. Friendly staff
Highly recommend this adventure. (27 Feb 2025)

evandb70

Recent reviews

The Republic

Excellent experience. One to put on the bucket list. Excellent day out. The whole experience was well organised and great. Dale was very informative at every stop and made the trip very interesting hearing the history of the once booming towns and places along the tracks. Morning/ Afternoon tea and lunch was excellent. Other staff assisting on the trip were very good.

joyb705

100% NZ. Grew up in the 70s… “Don’t leave Town until you’ve seen the Country..” was the catchcry…. and Forgotten World is the Epitome!! 100%.

Explorer27449468078

The Expedition

Remote NZ at its best. Fun, friendly and informative. The cost for such an excellent weekend was very reasonable. We spent two days and one night with on our expedition. We had a lot of laughs, while learning the history of the area. The jet boat and Heli trip is something I will never forget. Staff are always there and ready to help. There was a group of twelve of us on our trip and we were easily accommodated.

Navigator61370431334

December 6, 2025

20% off The Expedition – New Year’s Eve Deal

October 31, 2025

“This might be one of my favourite rail experiences in the world!”

Michael Downie, Rail carts, The Republic, YouTube

October 6, 2025

$1,100 donated from guests to the Taumarunui Women’s Refuge last season

Donations, Guests, Taumarunui, Women's Refuge

September 30, 2025

“The Epic” – Why exploring NZ’s ‘forgotten world’ needs to be on your bucket list

Brook Sabin, journalist, premium tour, Stuff, Sunday Star Times, The Epic, travel writer

August 20, 2025

We’re in the Top 10 Worldwide Experiences!

Awards, Travellers' Choice Awards, Tripadvisor

August 12, 2025

We Are Hiring!

Careers, Hiring, Jobs, Staff

While you're in the area...

Experience a forgotten world

Tokirima Taster

Half Day Experience

A memorable half-day rail cart adventure between Taumarunui and the old rural community of Tokirima.

$365

NZD

The Republic

Full Day Experience

Our iconic full-day guided rail cart adventure between Taumarunui and the unique self-proclaimed Republic of Whangamōmona.

$480

NZD

Rail River Combo

3/4 Day Experience

The perfect 3/4 day rail and river combo including scenic Whanganui River jet boat ride.

$480

NZD

The Ultimate

Two Day Experience

A remarkable 2-day guided rail cart adventure between Taumarunui and Stratford.

$1,095

NZD

The Expedition

Two Day Experience

A 2-day guided rail cart adventure including spectacular helicopter flight and jet boat ride.

$2,200

NZD

The Epic

Four Day Experience

An unforgettable 4-day guided adventure with full immersion in the region’s dramatic landscapes.

$3,445

NZD