Ernest Kemp: Lake Taupo Maori Carvings Cruise
4.7
990 Ratings
Taupō

Embark on an unforgettable scenic voyage to the mesmerizing Maori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupo with Ernest Kemp Cruises. Enjoy live commentary, photo opportunities, and complimentary drinks and snacks onboard.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Maori Rock Carvings - Enjoy a leisurely cruise on the scenic Lake Taupo to see the renowned Maori Rock Carvings with Ernest Kemp Cruises. Benefit from complimentary hot drinks and free WiFi. Cruises last between 90 to 120 minutes, offering excellent photo opportunities. Relax in comfortable seating both indoors and outdoors, while listening to live commentary about the lake and the history of the local area.
What's Included
  • Scenic cruise on Ernest Kemp
  • Live commentary from skipper & crew
  • Complimentary tea, coffee & cookies
  • Free WiFi on board
What's Not Included
  • Snacks
  • Hotel pickup/drop-off
Additional Information

For over three decades, Ernest Kemp Cruises has been offering delightful voyages on Lake Taupo. Our specialty lies in daily tours to the Maori Rock Carvings. As you relish the area’s history and our one-of-a-kind, replica steamboat, our amiable captain and staff provide live narrations along with a vivid brochure explaining the carvings’ significance….

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Location
Ernest Kemp Cruises
Redoubt Street
Please go directly to the Boat, the boat is in Berth 2 at the Taupo Marina Redoubt Street. Please report to the boat 15 mins prior to departure. Your booking will be in the manifest and you will be met by a crew member.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(990 Ratings)
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Smokywoods
Apr 24, 2026
Ernest Kemp was a wonderful experience - Easy online experience to purchase our tickets, we were running late due to heavy traffic in front of us & the chap in the booking office was expecting us (as we were last to board) it was almost like they were holding back the departure of vessel whilst waiting for us to arrive? So big plus marks for that…timings on the trip were accurate. We arrived at the carvings by 3pm & along the way the ships captain kept us informed of the different landmarks along the way. & on the way back too The carvings were fascinating & he took us very close to them as the water is deep in those parts. We were back on dry land by 4pm & on the way back the captain told us some more stories of the ship & his adventures in getting to become the captain after many years thinking that the ship had been lost to the weather in Karekare Beach in the 80’s We also were treated to close ups of the luxurious abodes on our return journey. Well worth the visit & a big 5* from us
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rochelleforster
Apr 24, 2026
A lovely scenic boat tour - What a lovely cruise on Lake Taupo on a beautiful day. We went to also see the Maori carving- very unusual and not sure how they managed to carve into the rock here. It was quite spiritual. The steamboat was a good size, not too big and had both indoor and outdoor space. There was a stop to jump in to swim (but it was way too cold for us to do that!) although a number of passengers did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hugovo9866hu
Apr 22, 2026
Great family fun on the lake. - Great experience, and the kids absolutely loved it. They even got to drive the boat for a bit with the support of the friendly captain. Overall, fantastic experience with some amazing photo opportunities. Thank you very much.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fogamomi_p
Apr 21, 2026
Perfect Family Birthday Celebration! - We had an incredible time celebrating a joint birthday for my youngest daughter and me. It was the perfect outing for my wife, our three kids, and me. A huge highlight was when the owner gave us a special birthday shout-out and even invited both of us up to help drive the boat! It made our special day even cooler and more memorable. The boat was spacious, and we all had a blast. Highly recommend for families!
Review provided by Viator
Willow
Apr 19, 2026
Amazing experience:) - Great experience. We loved the commentary and jokes (Sarah is the best skipper/low key comedian) and the carvings are amazing. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angela_s
Apr 14, 2026
Great experience - Nice ride on Lake Taupo. The pictures in the rock are very impressive. Catering with tea coffee and cookies is great. Interesting information from Captain during the voyage!
Review provided by Viator
Chrishyett
Apr 10, 2026
Fun trip - Amazing. Enjoyed the tour, the guides, the photo opportunities. A great trip on a lovely boat
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Richard_c
Apr 7, 2026
Great little tour - Well run tour. Great commentary. Refreshments were provided. Kids got to have a go at steering the ship.
Review provided by Viator
Tebatso_l
Apr 6, 2026
Amazing cruise aboard Ernest Kemp😀 - It’s such an amazing experience with friendly staff. It was enjoyable and we had enough time to take photos and videos of the Maori carvings. It was worth it.
Review provided by Viator
Ted_l
Apr 6, 2026
A relaxing cruise to see... - A relaxing cruise to see the wall carvings. The captain was great giving us the history of the area, lake and carvings. He made several loops around the carvings making sure everyone on board got great views and pictures!
Review provided by Viator
Check Availability
From $29
From $29
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
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Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).