Discover the ancient Māori Rock Carvings on Lake Taupō with the trustworthy team at Chris Jolly Outdoors!
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!
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
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We went on the 10.30am sailing and found it a gorgeous morning on the water with the kids whilst on our family holiday. It was interesting to learn a bit more about Lake Taupo and the see the Maori carvings. Also nice to have a cup of coffee/ hot chocolate and yummy blueberry muffins on the cruise!
Lovely coments - thank you for joining us!
I booked this trip for our international German students. The weather had been very inclement it fined up for the trip. The boat captain was training another boat driver and he also gave a great commentary regarding the lake and items of interest on the lake and around the lake. Karen who welcomed us was lovely and we recommend this trip. I just wish I could have had a hot muffin being lactose and dairy intolerant has its draw backs but our crew said they were beautiful. Some lovely pictures for the girls to take home to Germany
Thank you for your lovely review. We're delighted your group enjoyed the trip and that Karen and the skipper helped make it a memorable experience. We will be sure to pass your kind comments on to our crew. We're sorry there wasn't a suitable muffin option for you. As the muffins are complimentary, we can't always cater for every dietary requirement, but whenever we are advised of dietary needs in advance, we do our best to accommodate them where possible. We hope the students took home some wonderful memories and photos from Lake Taupo!
Our family had a fantastic time on the Scenic Māori Rock Carving Cruise with Chris Jolly Outdoors. The crew were friendly, knowledgeable, and shared plenty of interesting information about Lake Taupō, the carvings, and local history. The blueberry muffin was delicious, and it was great to have complimentary coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and water available throughout the cruise. We especially enjoyed the fishing demonstration and the crew’s explanations. Despite the weather being rough and the lake quite wavy, we felt completely safe. The boat was very stable, and the crew were professional and reassuring. A wonderful family-friendly experience and a highlight of our Taupō trip. Highly recommended!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear your family had such a great experience with us. Thank you for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you aboard again on your next visit to Taupo!
Chris Jolly cruise to the Moari Rock Carving was the perfect 90 mins out on Taupo lake. The weather was perfect as was the crew,we were even given complimentary tea/coffee and the best blue Berry muffins,could get any better. Kids were given colouring doodles and a hunt for the kiwi icons around the boat,,with a lolly gift if you found all icons. The Moari carving is absolutely amazing,and well worth the trip . The all female crew were spot on,friendly ,helpful and informative through the whole 90mins,we definitely picked the best lake trip.
Thank you for your wonderful review and for sharing your beautiful photo of Lake Taupo. We are delighted you had such an enjoyable time on the water and that our crew helped make your experience memorable. We hope to welcome you aboard again on your next visit to Taupo.
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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.