-
travel_explore
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$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$55.00
- 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$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$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
- Child$11.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$11.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$11.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$11.00
- 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 -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult -$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$45.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$10.00
- Adult$35.00
- Child$10.00
- Adult$45.00 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$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$35.00 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$15.00
- Adult$35.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$15.00
- Adult$28.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$11.00
- Adult$28.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Child$11.00
- Adult$55.00
- 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$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
Authenticated Reviews
Real highlights, tips, and the helpful advice straight from Bookme customers who’ve actually done this experience.
Showing all 1773 authenticated Bookme reviews
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!
Jordi Iserte from Spain wrote on 24 November 2025
pleasant journey
Excellent staff and pleasant trip.
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Thank you Jordi! Have a wonderful day
anniew18 from Australia wrote on 24 November 2025
Amazing!
We absolutely loved our lake trip on the Ernest Kemp. Sophia looked after all of us guests with drinks, cookies and even colouring ins for the kids. We got to learn information about the lake and carvings and then had the opportunity to jump off the boat and go for a short swim in the lake, which we loved. Sophia then gave us all warm blankets after the swim. I would highly recommend this experience.
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Hi there, thank you for sharing your experience with us. It’s great to hear that the time on the water felt fun, comfortable, and engaging for both adults and kids. We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to Sophia as she’ll be delighted to hear them. Wishing you a wonderful day ahead.
Diana Halliday from New Zealand wrote on 17 November 2025
Ernest Kemp
We had an enjoyable trip on the Ernest Kemp. Staff were great and fun passengers too.
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Thank you, Diana, for sharing your kind feedback. We're really glad the crew and atmosphere made your trip enjoyable. Have a great day!
Eliana Bell from New Zealand wrote on 17 November 2025
Amazing
Ernest team provided a beautiful and tranquil tour. They helped with a birthday surprise with going out of their way to get a cake and balloons to celebrate with just an added small fee. We both felt so special and very grateful to the experience!
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Thank you, Eliana, for sharing such a lovely message. We're delighted the team could help make your celebration feel extra special and that the cruise offered a peaceful experience for you both. Have a great day!
Copyright ©2025 Bookme Limited.
When you see the Qualmark logo, your activity of choice is endorsed by New Zealand Tourism's official quality assurance organisation and backed by leaders in the industry. It's your trusted guide to iconic activities and experiences that are awarded for their exceptionally high level of quality, safety and sustainability.
Qualmark Gold
This award recognises the best sustainable tourism businesses in New Zealand. It denotes exceptional customer experiences at the heart of everything the company does. This business is leading the way in making the New Zealand tourism industry a world class sustainable visitor destination.
Qualmark Silver
This award is evidence of a sophisticated tourism business that consistently exceeds visitor expectations. Their proactive leadership and management ensure the business's focus on continuously improving their economic, social and environmental performance to create genuine, constantly evolving and sustainable tourism experiences.
Qualmark Bronze
The Qualmark Bronze award recognizes a business that operates with a high level of professionalism, is mindful of its environmental impact, and is dedicated to putting customers first.
Continue with Facebook
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.