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Rotorua & Taupo Explore New Zealand, Australia & Fiji!tune
Join us for a relaxing cruise along the magnificent Lake Taupo aboard The Ernest Kemp, a beautiful vintage replica steamboat!
Join us for a relaxing cruise along the magnificent Lake Taupo aboard The Ernest Kemp, a beautiful vintage replica steamboat!
Highlights
- Experience an amazing two hour cruise along the spectacular Lake Taupo!
- Enjoy your cruise in a beautiful vintage replica steam boat
- Visit the famous Maori Rock Carvings
- Enjoy complimentary tea, coffee and cookies!
Lake Taupo, one of the largest freshwater volcanic craters in the world, is home to the famous Maori Rock Carvings.
Only accessible by boat, we will get you the closest to these incredible 10 metre high carvings which tower high over New Zealand’s largest lake. Learn about the spiritual and cultural significance of the area from your skippers interesting and informative commentary.
With comfortable seating both inside and out, bathroom facilities and a licensed bar, we’ll ensure your cruise on the Ernest Kemp will be warm and comfortable. Your skipper even welcomes you to join him in the wheelhouse and take a turn at the wheel! Bring a towel as there may be an opportunity for a swim *at skippers discretion.
The Ernest Kemp cruise is an enjoyable outing and a great way to see the Maori Rock Carvings and to get out onto Lake Taupo.
Cruise Duration:
10:30am and 2pm = 2 hour (approx).
9:00am, 12:30pm, 4:30pm, and 6:30pm = 1.5 hour (approx).
All prices are shown inNZD ($)
- Adult$45.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$55.00
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$50.00
- Child$15.00
- Adult -$27.00
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$50.00
- Child$15.00
- Adult -$50.00
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$15.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$55.00
- Child$15.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$55.00
- Child$15.00
- Adult$28.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$27.00
- Child$10.00
- Adult$30.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$30.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$30.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$30.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$55.00
- Child$10.00
- Adult$50.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$15.00
- Adult$30.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$30.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$50.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$50.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$39.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$28.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$11.00
Authenticated Reviews
Real highlights, tips, and the helpful advice straight from Bookme customers who’ve actually done this experience.
Showing all 1775 authenticated Bookme reviews
Charis Petersen from New Zealand wrote on 12 December 2025
Best 2hour cruise
It was absolutely fantastic! The 2 - man crew was amazing! Loved the commentary done by Peter and the hospitality by Owen. We went nice and close to the carvings. An absolute must do when visiting Taupō.
Charis Petersen from New Zealand wrote on 12 December 2025
Best 2hour cruise
It was absolutely fantastic! The 2 - man crew was amazing! Loved the commentary done by Peter and the hospitality by Owen. We went nice and close to the carvings. An absolute must do when visiting Taupō.
Mirasol Taguinod from New Zealand wrote on 09 December 2025
Ernest Kemp
So nice! Worth the experience!
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Hi Mirasol! Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear you enjoyed your cruise with us, have a lovely day!
Holly from New Zealand wrote on 30 November 2025
Cruisey
Definitely worth doing, nice way to see a bit more of the lake and surrounding area, the carvings are very impressive and surprisingly not that old. It would have been great to get more information about the development of Taupo overall as the commentary was a bit sparse beyond telling us about the nearby townships. Some more Iwi history and landscape information would have made this a 5* experience.
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Thanks Holly! It’s great to hear you enjoyed the lake and the carvings. We appreciate the commentary being brought to our attention and we will be working to provide more insight about the surrounding area and make the experience even more engaging. Wishing you an amazing day!
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Charis Petersen from New Zealand wrote on 12 December 2025
Best 2hour cruise
It was absolutely fantastic! The 2 - man crew was amazing! Loved the commentary done by Peter and the hospitality by Owen. We went nice and close to the carvings. An absolute must do when visiting Taupō.