It's all aboard as the iconic Mount Maunganui train attraction takes to the streets once again this week loaded with cruiseship passengers.

Three years has passed since the last cruiseship passenger took a tour around the coastal town on Pepi Toot Beach Express.

Train driver and owner Lesley Smith is delighted to be finally back, pulling up at the Salisbury Avenue 'train station' on Thursday.

"Well here we are after all our trials and tribulations," says Lesley. "These are the first cruise ship passengers in three years due to Covid."

Last year she took locals for rides around Mount Maunganui.

Norwegian Spirit. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Once the borders opened in 2022, cruise ships were able to return to NZ ports with the first arriving in October however Lesley was delayed in bringing out Pepi Toot due to unforeseen circumstances.

Finally on Thursday she was able to start her season, with full carriages of passengers from the Grand Princess which berthed about 9am and left just after 8pm the same day.

"Yesterday we did tours as well as a couple of half hour rides later for parents with young children," says Lesley.

Today the Norwegian Spirit is in port, arriving from Auckland about 6am . A gross tonnage of 75,389, the 289 metre vessel has 1551 passengers and 912 crew on board. It will be leaving Tauranga for Napier at 3.15pm today.

Santa Claus at Christmas 2021 taking a ride on Pepi Toot ahead of his busy period delivering presents with his reindeer. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Leaving from outside Spongedrop Cafe in Salisbury Ave, the train is also out and about on non-cruiseship days, providing half hour rides.

For more information on Mount Maunganui's Pepi Toot Beach Express go to the Facebook page

The Pepi Toot Beach Express 'train station' in Salisbury Ave, Mount Maunganui. Photo: Rosalie Liddle Crawford.