Scenic Māori Rock Carving Cruise - Chris Jolly Outdoors

4.8
1197

Discover the ancient Māori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupō with the trustworthy team at Chris Jolly Outdoors!

Discover the ancient Māori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupō with the trustworthy team at Chris Jolly Outdoors!

Highlights

  • 90 Minute cruise to the Maori Rock Carvings with live commentary
  • Stylish and spacious vessel with plenty of room for large groups
  • Spectacular viewing platforms get you right up next to the scenery
  • Live fishing demonstration on-board (1.30pm cruise only)
  • Trustworthy team with over 40 years experience

Tick off one of the top things to do in Taupō as you visit some of New Zealand's most extraordinary artworks, the historic Ngātoroirangi Māori Rock Carvings!

Attracting visitors from all around the world, the Māori Rock Carvings are truly unique and only accessible by water, towering 14-metres above Lake Taupō.

You'll travel aboard the Cruise Cat, a stylish vessel that has been built for comfort offering warm booths and spacious viewing platforms that get you right up next to the scenery.

Enjoy live commentary and a hot beverage and muffin on board, and keep the kids entertained with colouring, a treasure hunt, or even driving the boat if the skipper allows. The afternoon cruise also includes a trout fishing demonstration where you'll also learn about various fishing options on Lake Taupō.

The friendly team at Chris Jolly Outdoors has over 40 years of experience and place high importance on your safety and wellbeing, so you can expect exceptional service, high attention to hygiene, and an all-round awesome time out on the water!

Adult $59.00 (17 years and older)
Child $20.00 (4 - 16 years)
Infant $10.00 (0 - 3 years)
Family $158.00 (Price $158 if purchased separately - Discounts shown from this rate)

What's included

  • Hot beverage and muffin (not available on 5.00 pm cruises)
  • Live commentary
  • Live fishing demonstration (1pm cruise only)

Duration

  • Allow approximately 90 minutes for the whole experience

Location

  • Departure Location: Taupō Harbour
  • Berth 4, Taupō Boat Harbour, Redoubt Street, Taupō 3330

Notes

  • Child Age 4 - 16 years inclusive. Family Pass is for 2 Adults + 2 Children or 2 Infants.

  • Pram and wheelchair access - please enquire with the operator prior to booking.

Available Bookings from29 Jan to 11 Feb 2026

All prices are shown inNZD ($)

Change Dates
Thu 29 Jan
Fri 30 Jan
Sat 31 Jan
Sun 1 Feb
Mon 2 Feb
Tue 3 Feb
Wed 4 Feb
Thu 5 Feb
Fri 6 Feb
Sat 7 Feb
Sun 8 Feb
Mon 9 Feb
Tue 10 Feb
Wed 11 Feb

Bookings close in 4 hours...

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

Bookings close in 6 hours...

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$41.30
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

Bookings close in 8 hours...

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$41.30
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$41.30 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

  • Adult$26.55 Less than 6 at this price!
  • Child$14.00
  • Infant$7.00
  • Family$97.30

Bookings close in 10 hours...

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00

  • Adult$59.00
  • Child$20.00
  • Infant$10.00
  • Family$158.00
Good but less than expected Loved it Fun scenic boat cruise excellent Incredible!
1 / 311
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Authenticated Reviews

Real highlights, tips, and the helpful advice straight from Bookme customers who’ve actually done this experience, summarised with AI support

  • emergencyAmazing staff and crew who are friendly and knowledgeable (45 people said this).
  • emergencyBeautiful scenery and great views of the Māori rock carvings (40 people said this).
  • emergencyDelicious freshly baked muffins and complimentary hot drinks (35 people said this).
  • emergencyFun and engaging experience for families, with activities for kids (30 people said this).
  • emergencyGreat value for money, making it a must-do in Taupo (25 people said this).
  • emergencySmooth and relaxing cruise, even in less-than-ideal weather (20 people said this).
  • star_shineBring a jacket for cooler weather
    Plan to take lots of photos at the carvings
5 Stars
1034
4 Stars
118

4.8

1197 reviews

Showing all 1197 authenticated Bookme reviews

Marjeat Freeman from New Zealand wrote on 26 January 2026

Taupo lake cruise

Great experience, very informative, and great crew.

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From Scenic Māori Rock Carving Cruise - Chris Jolly Outdoors

Thank you for your feedback!

Danae from New Zealand wrote on 23 January 2026

Taupō Treat

Great experience with lovely staff. Very informative and we even caught and smoked a Brown Trout. Definitely recommend

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From Scenic Māori Rock Carving Cruise - Chris Jolly Outdoors

Thank you so much!

thechangelin from New Zealand wrote on 22 January 2026

Good but less than expected

A fun trip but less than expected. I assumed there would be multiple spots with large carvings how ever there is just the one spot with the carvings as pictured in the advertising. I still had fun and I think it is a worth while trip at the discount price if you are free but it was not what I expected. The fishing demo/information on trout fishing and tour on lake taupo was wonderful and there were snacks which definitely padded out the experience and I think should be featured more prominently in the marketing.

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From Scenic Māori Rock Carving Cruise - Chris Jolly Outdoors

Thank you for your comments, I will pass them on to the marketing team.

C Macdonald from New Zealand wrote on 17 January 2026

Loved it

We had a lovely time, staff were amazing. All the kids were kept entertained with coloring and a treasure hunt. The scenery was beautiful. We loved our trip.

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From Scenic Māori Rock Carving Cruise - Chris Jolly Outdoors

Beautiful picture. Thank you for the lovely comments!

Andre from New Zealand wrote on 16 January 2026

Great Tour

Really good tour, skipper and crew were friendly and informative. Carvings are amazing. Well worth it.

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From Scenic Māori Rock Carving Cruise - Chris Jolly Outdoors

Thank you, Andre. We are glad you enjoyed the tour.

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Booking

10:00 a.m.Thursday 13 July

12

Adult 17 years and older

Child 4 - 16 years

Infant 0 - 3 years

Family Price $158 if purchased separately - Discounts shown from this rate

*This option must be made together with another price type.
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