The group is travelling 40km down the Waikato River on homemade rafts - from Narrows Landing just south of Hamilton to Mangawara Stream in Taupiri.

It's got two storeys, three couches and a kitchenette - and it was floating down the Waikato River.

The 9.2-metre raft known as the Steamboat Express has made the 40km journey from Narrows Landing to Taupiri several times before.

But there were a few additions when it floated past Hamilton a sunny Saturday - an extension and a barbecue kitchenette.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Three couches and a two-storey setup are features of the Steamboat Express. Pictured in front of the raft are organisers Ben Brown, Tim Riddell, and David Rogers.

"It's a day better than Christmas," said organiser David Rogers, who was sporting a white sailor hat.

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"We're just getting together and having a good day."

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF The Steamboat Express had a couple of additions since the last time it travelled on Waikato River - including a barbecue kitchenette.

"Just a good, innocent day out with people coming down and riding the rafts," added Tim Riddell, who had four stripes on his epaulettes due to his captain role.

The Express had reached the Hamilton Rowing Club before midday, and pulled up for a quick stop.

There were a few Wakachangi beers consumed on the vessel - it's the beverage of choice, the group said.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Tim Riddell was captain of the Steamboat Express for its trip down the Waikato River on Saturday.

One guy took a rugby ball onto the raft, others relaxed at the on board picnic table, or dove off the top level as the 175 horsepower motor churned up spray.

The trip was expected to take 10 to 12 hours, organisers said, but they had sounds and almost everything you can put on a barbecue to keep them entertained along the way.

The day out had been in the planning since June, and started with three tractors and two pilot vehicles getting the Express to launch point.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Taking their craft down the river were, from left, Neko Appelman, Zac Watson, Tom Crane, and Blake Dawson.

Many weren't sporting lifejackets - that's because the raft is more than six metres long, Riddell said, but they all had one easily accessible.

They took precautions too: first aid kits and fire extinguishers were on board, a couple of the crew were trained surf life savers, and a backup boat was following the lighter craft.

"We want to keep doing this," Rogers said. "We want to do it right, so we can keep doing this for many years to come. We didn't build this [raft] for one trip."

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Raymond Andrews and Billy Hillman were enjoying a day out in the sun.

The Express was joined by two other vessels for the 2018 trip - one of them a gazebo atop pallets and blue plastic drums - and some of the raft riders travelled from Auckland and Whanganui for the event.

And how did the tradition start?

"We were just bored, I suspect," Rogers said.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/STUFF Three rafts - and a safety boat - were along for the ride.

"We always did floats with inflatable stuff so we just thought, oh, we'll go hard."