A mystery tour turned to delight for a group of monthly diners on a brilliantly fine Wanganui Wednesday evening.
The only brief that organisers Bruce and Jenny Ardell gave their Cosmopolitan Club monthly diners was to dress in 1930s garb before they were transported to Wanganui riverboat Wairua's jetty.
The dozen people included a Dunedin couple who were in the River City for the New Zealand Masters Games. They initially thought they were up for a gentle cruise on the majestic Whanganui River.
In fact, they made history and became the first group to be shipped to Caroline's Boat Shed pub in Aramoho for a meal and an evening of conviviality.
On arrival at the Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club's jetty, the group were greeted by a karakia from the Reverend Jack Tepu, then taken to the pub in Wanganui Heritage Coachlines' 1952 Bedford school bus.
While the locals already knew the charms of the historic Whanganui River, visiting Dunedin couple Ivy and Warner Esquilant were stunned.
"All they told us was to dress up and then all this happened - absolutely amazing and what a beautiful city you have," Mrs Esquilant said.
Mr Ardell said a small group of Cossie Club members gathered for an evening meal each month, but the chance to travel on the Wairua and eat at the Boat Shed was too good an opportunity to pass up.
Boat Shed owner Caroline Norton believed it was the first time a boat-load had been shipped to what was formerly the Aramoho Hotel and she was delighted to be part of creating history: "There is something very magical about the Whanganui River and we would love to carry this tradition on.
"We are actually looking at building our own jetty, but in the meantime a big thanks to the rowing club for allowing us to use theirs," she said.