According to the Royal couple's schedule, which was made public by the Department of Internal Affairs yesterday, the pair will arrive at the Mosgiel Railway Station at 1.15pm next Thursday, board a Dunedin Railways train and arrive at the Dunedin Railway Station at 1.45pm, accompanied by Mayor Dave Cull and Mayoress Joan Wilson.
From there they will walk to Toitu Otago Settlers Museum, which will be the main opportunity for members of the public to see them in Dunedin.
Prince Charles will then visit Animation Research, while the Duchess will attend a literature event at
Otago University in recognition of Dunedin's status as a Unesco City of Literature.
At 4pm the pair will visit Orokonui Ecosanctuary, where Prince Charles will give a brief address to environmental groups in recognition of Conservation Week.
Dunedin Railways chief executive officer Murray Bond said the visit had involved ''extensive preparations'', including communications with the Department of Internal Affairs, the Dunedin City Council and police.
The railway's carriages would have to be prepared before the visit, then locked away under security.
The railway had to make sure the train was positioned correctly in Mosgiel and Dunedin, ''so the access straight through the foyer is perfect'', Mr Bond said.
The visit was good for the railway and the city, he said.
''The main thing is we've got a royal train in New Zealand, but not only in New Zealand, in Dunedin.''
The couple would walk through the Dunedin Railway Station foyer and make ''a grand appearance in front of world media at the front door of the station with crowds looking at them coming out of this magnificent building''.
Toitu director Jennifer Evans said there had been plenty of preparation for the event, which included inviting descendants of those who arrived on early immigrant ships John Wickliffe and Philip Laing, and local Maori families.
The museum was doing plenty of cleaning, '' making sure everything is clean and tidy''.
Ms Evans said she and Dunedin City Council chief executive Sue Bidrose would meet the couple outside the museum, and show them in.
She expected the images of the distinctive front entrance of Toitu, complete with the Royal couple, would be
beamed around the world, as would images of the descendants' event in the Smith Gallery.
''What we're looking for now is a really sunny day, and we'll be set.''
The council has warned of delays on Dunedin roads between 12.30pm and 5.30pm, and road users have been asked to allow extra travel time and avoid affected areas if possible.
The Dowling St car park would be closed from 1pm to 3.30pm and the council car park north of Toitu would be closed for the full day.
Toitu would be closed to the public from 10am until 3pm and would reopen from 3pm until 5pm.
