Durie Hill Elevator to offer new guided tours this summer

Durie Hill Elevator will have guided tours.

Durie Hill Elevator will offer special guided tours on selected dates this summer, including during Whanganui Vintage Weekend.

A unique form of public transport, the Durie Hill Elevator opened on August 2, 1919. Set into the hill, the 213-metre tunnel and 66-metre public transport elevator - staffed then as now by an operator, enable a short journey by foot or bicycle between Whanganui and Durie Hill.

In the guided tours, visitors will see some of the capabilities of the new tunnel lighting and displays, and hear more detail about the elevator story.

Visitors will ride the elevator with a Whanganui Connection guide, and also see the famous Mercury Arc Rectifier.

Whanganui residents can also access discounted tickets to the tour. Bookings are available at the new Durie Hill Elevator website - www.duriehillelevator.co.nz.

As well as tours, the website also offers an online store for Durie Hill Elevator merchandise such as cups, teatowels and T-shirts, and the website has the most up-to-date information on elevator maintenance and replacement shuttles.

“We’ve felt a need for some time to offer more experiences at the elevator, particularly for visitors to our city,” said Whanganui Connection’s Anthonie Tonnon.

“A guided tour, along with the new technology we installed this year allows us to offer something more in-depth while keeping our fares affordable, and our service quick for our public transport users,” he said.

Tonnon will be taking many of the tours himself. While the currently available tickets are on selected days throughout the holiday period, Tonnon hopes to offer more dates in the new year.

■ Those wishing to book a tour on a date not listed can inquire by emailing whanganuiconnection@gmail.com.

Tours begin at the Tunnel Entrance, 42 Anzac Parade, Whanganui.