Motor Vessel Wairua

Motor Vessel Wairua Motor Vessel Wairua
Heritage River Cruises and Personalised Charters

11/07/2025
It’s certainly a bit of a mission to get varnish to properly cure in this weather!
09/07/2025

It’s certainly a bit of a mission to get varnish to properly cure in this weather!

The year is 1928, join Motor Vessel Wairua as she makes the 50 mile climb over more than 100 rapids between Pipiriki and...
09/07/2025

The year is 1928, join Motor Vessel Wairua as she makes the 50 mile climb over more than 100 rapids between Pipiriki and the Houseboat at Maraekowhai.

Watch Wairua overcome Te Autemutu, a particularly challenging rapid only a couple of kilometres above Pipiriki. Winching makes light work of a steep climb and a tight bend.

The year is 1928, join Motor Vessel Wairua as she makes the 50 mile climb over more than 100 rapids between Pipiriki and the Houseboat at Maraekowhai.Watch W...

08/07/2025
05/07/2025

Our 10:30 am Heritage River Cruise will not be operating today.

All affected passengers have been notified by email.

04/07/2025

The river did not fall as much overnight as anticipated due to some additional rain in the catchment.

We have made the decision to preserve safety and not operate today’s sailing, all customers have been notified and have either been rebooked for tomorrow or refunded.

We have had so much interest and feedback regarding our posts with the vessel and equipment maintenance over the last co...
04/07/2025

We have had so much interest and feedback regarding our posts with the vessel and equipment maintenance over the last couple of weeks that it’s led to a bright idea.

We would like to offer behind-the-scenes access and monthly vessel maintenance and skills tutorials (in addition to other benefits) for a modest ongoing fee.

All revenue generated from this Patreon account will be used to maintain Wairua, produce interesting content and keep the vessel in tiptop shape and accessible for the enjoyment of the public.

Whanganui’s Favourite Historic Riverboat

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, we are going to be releasing some more content there over the next cou...
04/07/2025

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, we are going to be releasing some more content there over the next couple of months so don’t miss out.

The year is 1928, join Motor Vessel Wairua as she makes the 50 mile climb over more than 100 rapids between Pipiriki and the Houseboat at Maraekowhai.Watch W...

04/07/2025

Work is now underway on the South Mole reinstatement, marking a significant milestone in Te Pūwaha: the Whanganui Port Revitalisation Project.

“Every element of Te Pūwaha is grounded in a values-based approach, where environmental stewardship, community wellbeing and cultural integrity go hand in hand,” says project director Hayden Turoa.

“The South Mole reinstatement is a continuation of that commitment, as the work on the south side will complement what has already been achieved along the northern embankment and out to the North Mole.”

To read more 👉 bit.ly/44xlo5Y

📷: Scientist James Lambie shares his find (black cobweb spider) during an ecological survey with representatives from Horizons Regional Council, Te Mata Pūau, Mills-Albert Ltd and the Whanganui District Employment Training Trust.

Horizons Regional Council Whanganui District Council Whanganui District Employment Training Trust Mills-Albert Limited Kānoa - Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit Te Kura O Kokohuia

04/07/2025

It’s interesting down here today but the river is falling nicely and at the stage should be low enough (

03/07/2025

The river is about to be the highest it has been in a considerable amount of time.

We expect it to get to around 9 m at Pipiriki in the next couple of hours which does not represent any significant issues down here in the city. Obviously it wouldn’t be sensible for people to be going out on the river tomorrow, so if you had some plans to do recreational boating, it might be best to postpone it.

At this stage we will still be sailing on Saturday and Sunday as the river should fall rather quickly, but we will make a further assessment in 24 hours.

Address

Whanganui

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 1:30pm
Friday 10am - 1:30pm

Telephone

+64279493630

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Our Story

Motor Vessel Wairua Heritage River Cruises and Personalised Charters

Motor Vessel Wairua was built over in London by Yarrow & Co. Shipbuilders back in 1904 and was sent out here as a kit-set, to be assembled on the riverbank just opposite our mooring at Moutoa Gardens.

She was launched and commissioned into service in November 1904 and ran on the middle section of the Whanganui River between Pipiriki (about 60 Miles upstream of Whanganui) and Whakahoro (a further 55 Miles above Pipiriki).

Wairua carried passengers and cargo along that section of the river until about 1938 before being withdrawn from service and brought back down to Whanganui to be used as a pontoon for some of the larger riverboats that were still operating.