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Join us for a relaxing cruise along the magnificent Lake Taupo aboard The Ernest Kemp, a beautiful vintage replica steam boat.
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!
The 2 hour Ernest Kemp cruise is an enjoyable outing and a great way to see the Maori Rock Carvings and to get out onto Lake Taupo.
Price:
5pm Summer Departure
IMPORTANT - IF YOU ARE TRAVELING WITH A CHILD UNDER 5 THEY MUST BE ADDED TO YOUR BOOKING ON THE WAY TO CHECKOUT
IMPORTANT - CANCELLATIONS WITHIN 24 HOURS WILL RECEIVE NO REFUND. TICKETS ARE NON TRANSFERABLE AND ARE UNABLE TO BE RESCHEDULED. PLEASE ENSURE YOU BOOK THE CORRECT DEPARTURE TIMEPrice Includes:
Duration: 2 hours
Departures: 10:30am and 2pm every day. Additional 5pm cruise during summer
*****PLEASE NOTE*****
Please go to the Black boat harbour booking office to collect your boarding pass before checking into the boat. You will need a boarding pass from the office before being allowed onto the boat. 65 Redoubt St. Taupo
Your Scenic Cruise may be on our other boat Top Cat. The cruise and inclusions are the same, just a different vessel. The boat allocated to your booking is dependent on prior reservations.
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Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Great little arvo trip!
Danielle from NZ
Great little arvo trip!
Danielle from NZ
Great little arvo trip!
Danielle from NZ
Maori Carving
Rory Grindey from United Kingdom
Every time..
Dustin from NZ
Ernest Kemp Cruise
Amanda from NZ
Ernest Kemp Cruise
Amanda from NZ
Relaxing and enjoyable.
Linda from NZ
Relaxing and enjoyable.
Linda from NZ
Beautiful Lake Taupo
Szu Szian from Malaysia
BLISSFUL BOAT TOUR WITH EARNEST KEMP .
Josephine Young from NZ
BLISSFUL BOAT TOUR WITH EARNEST KEMP .
Josephine Young from NZ
BLISSFUL BOAT TOUR WITH EARNEST KEMP .
Josephine Young from NZ
Fabulous
Jess from NZ
Getting up close to the wonderful rock carvings.
Helen Miller from NZ
Being Captain!
Natalie from NZ
Fantastic
Chris from NZ
Awesome experience
Sharn Pune from NZ
Great experience
Ashley from NZ
Great experience
Ashley from NZ
Ernest Kemp - Cancelled trip
Angela from NZ
School Holidays
Harpal from NZ
School Holidays
Harpal from NZ
Friendly, informative and great value
Kelly-Ann Oosterbeek from Australia
Amazing carvings full of Māori talent
Steph Mander from NZ
Amazing carvings full of Māori talent
Steph Mander from NZ
Nice experience
Kevin from NZ
Nice experience
Kevin from NZ
Nice experience
Kevin from NZ
Beautiful!
Ketura from NZ
Beautiful!
Ketura from NZ
Beautiful!
Ketura from NZ
Great
Bryanne from NZ
Great
Bryanne from NZ
Taupo Lake / Maori rock carvings
Cindy from NZ
Lake Taupo Family pic
Prasanga Lakmal from NZ
Had a great time
Brittany from NZ
Had a great time
Brittany from NZ
À ne pas rater
Soizic Jacquemart from France
Beautiful experience
Leanne from NZ
Beautiful experience
Leanne from NZ
Beautiful experience
Leanne from NZ
Fantastic evening cruise
Jonathan from NZ
Fantastic evening cruise
Jonathan from NZ
So relaxed and friendly team.
Sarah-Jane Susac from Australia
So relaxed and friendly team.
Sarah-Jane Susac from Australia
So relaxed and friendly team.
Sarah-Jane Susac from Australia
Boat and staff was awesome. Wine and a beautiful sunset were an added bonus. Great way to see the rock carvings!!
Nathaniel Stevenson from United States
Great experience for the family
Carrie DeBoer from Canada
Great experience for the family
Carrie DeBoer from Canada
Great experience for the family
Carrie DeBoer from Canada
Stunning!!
Raewyn from Australia
Stunning!!
Raewyn from Australia
Stunning!!
Raewyn from Australia
Smashing Taupo Lake Cruise
Angela from NZ
Smashing Taupo Lake Cruise
Angela from NZ
Smashing Taupo Lake Cruise
Angela from NZ
Magical
Sandra from NZ
Awesome trip
Natasha from Australia
Awesome trip
Natasha from Australia
Awesome trip
Natasha from Australia
Best experience
Paula Gee-wanhill from NZ
Best experience
Paula Gee-wanhill from NZ
Best experience
Paula Gee-wanhill from NZ
여유로운 뱃놀이~
Iris.Kim from South Korea
Wonderful morning on Lake Taupo
Maryam from Germany
Ernest Fun
Nicholas Dintelmann from United States
Il be recommending
Tessa from NZ
Nice trip and affordable
Jana from South Africa
Nice trip and affordable
Jana from South Africa
Maori carvings Lake Taupo cruise
Leonard from Australia
Maori carvings Lake Taupo cruise
Leonard from Australia
Fantastic all around!
Rhiannon Lattaway from NZ
Excellentl
Gracie from Mexico
Ernest Kemp on Lake Taupo 5 month old to 33 year old :)
Aimalefoa from NZ
Great
Tina Taylor from NZ
Great
Tina Taylor from NZ
Great
Tina Taylor from NZ
Ngatoroirangi
Connie Hawea from NZ
Beautiful day in june
Carol from NZ
Lake Taupo
Bec from NZ
Ernest Kemp cruise
Karen Begg from NZ
Great trip
Suzanne Kyd from NZ
Amazing cruise
Louise from NZ
Amazing cruise
Louise from NZ
Cruise
Jocelyn Arahanga from NZ
Fun family trip
Megan from NZ
Fun family trip
Megan from NZ
Majestic
Arturo from Mexico
Majestic
Arturo from Mexico
Informative and fun tour
Sarah Kleinitz from Australia
Informative and fun tour
Sarah Kleinitz from Australia
Informative and fun tour
Sarah Kleinitz from Australia
Five stars
hamish from NZ
Stunning cruise
Sophie Allan from NZ
The boat docks at the harbor
Agastya from Indonesia
Ernest Kemp Tour Review
Shimiah from NZ
Awesome
Lilly Carter from NZ
Awesome
Lilly Carter from NZ
Awesome
Lilly Carter from NZ
Māori Rocks
Cornelia Robbe from Germany
Māori Rocks
Cornelia Robbe from Germany
Awesome experience
Robert from NZ
Great Day Out!!
Jack Domah from Ireland
Ernest Kemp
Sarah from Denmark
Ernest Kemp
Sarah from Denmark
Excellent !!!
Mohd Suffian Sahadan from Malaysia
nice weather
UEN from Taiwan
Choppy, but still worthwhile to see rock carvings
Greg from NZ
Choppy, but still worthwhile to see rock carvings
Greg from NZ
Choppy, but still worthwhile to see rock carvings
Greg from NZ
A Must do!
Calli from NZ
A Must do!
Calli from NZ
Must Do
GanSetu Family from NZ
Rock carving up close & personal
Mary Anne from Australia
Carvings
jobre from NZ
Carvings
jobre from NZ
Awesome Trip
Rajesh Purabia from NZ
Amazing experience
Sammi Smith from NZ
Amazing experience
Sammi Smith from NZ
Excellent
Anastasiya from NZ
Me neither my wife
Suraj Narayan from NZ
Some of the carvings totally amazing
Amanda Rossel from Australia
Lovely journey
Gwen Lee from South Korea
Lovely journey
Gwen Lee from South Korea
Nice relaxing trip!
Christopher from Germany
Maori rockcarvings
Jill from United Kingdom
Great tour
Kim from Australia
Awesome Experience
Nichola from NZ
enjoyable and relaxing
Craig from NZ
enjoyable and relaxing
Craig from NZ
A unique experience
Cassy Watson from NZ
The Maori Carving Rock
Nunik Nurjanah from NZ
Authenticated Reviews & PhotosAll of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 848 authenticated Bookme reviews
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Good morning Kelly-Ann, Thank you for your review. We are happy to hear you highly recommend us. Please join us again soon. Kind regards, Timothy Burke General Manager
Josephine Young from New Zealand wrote on 28 November 2019
Share LinkBLISSFUL BOAT TOUR WITH EARNEST KEMP .
We all had the best time ever on the Ernest Kemp rock carving tours. The trip is worth its weight in gold. The skipper and the stewardess were absolutely amazing and beyond catering to your needs . ID like to do a big shout out to the owner of Ernest Kemp tours who allowed us to bring our loving little fluffy companion "LOLLY" who also thoroughly enjoyed the trip , to accompany us on this wonderful excursion. Not only does the owner allow dogs on these voyages but she also gifted our little pooch with a Christmas goodie bag. Just letting our lolly to be a part of this trip on the Ernest Kemp tours was above and beyond amazing but to pick up our tickets and receive a goody bag was well and truly overwhelming. So it's a 10 out of 10 and a big thank you from us and not to forget a WOFWOFWIF from little "Lolly".
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Awesome, Josephine! We loved having Lolly and Lolly's parents join us for a cruise, the weather was incredible we couldn't have asked for a better day. It is always a welcome surprise when we have fur-babies join us on our cruise, we love them. Glad you all had a wonderful time on the Great Lake with us Josephine, come and see us again! Thank you
Sharn Pune from New Zealand wrote on 24 September 2019
Share LinkAwesome experience
While the weather wasnt the best it made for a fun time. Kath was phenomenal! Couldnt ask for a better, friendlier more helpful host.
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Thank you very much Sharn! Happy to hear you enjoyed your morning with us. Come back and see us during the summer when it's a lot calmer and we can stop for a swim as well as.
Ashley from New Zealand wrote on 03 September 2019
Share LinkGreat experience
Great boat trip with fantastic views
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Excellent photos! So good to hear you have enjoyed your time with us, and that the awesome weather played it's part for you. Thank you Ashley
Angela from New Zealand wrote on 25 August 2019
Share LinkErnest Kemp - Cancelled trip
Due to weather conditions, our cruise in the morning was cancelled, and we were offered a refund, to try for 2.00pm. We opted for 2pm. At 1.45pm we were advised the cruise was going out as the wind had died down, however, if the conditions changed, then we would return, and were offered a refund before the cruise leaves, or to go on the cruise at 2pm, and if the cruise has to return, to receive a gift certificate for another date and time. We opted for the cruise, and in the end we had to return. On our return we were offered a refreshment and cookies! The staff, in the office, the captain and cruise director, were friendly, upfront, and provided information and updates right throughout the whole situation. A1 Service! Thanks Ernest Kemp cruises, cant wait for our next trip :D
From Ernest Kemp - Lake Taupo and Maori Rock Carvings Cruise
Thank you Angela for the positive insight in to your cruise experience with us! We try our very best with the hand we are dealt, unfortunately sometimes the weather won't allow us to properly showcase our wonderful Lake. Make sure to pick a lovely day to come back, we look forward to having you all again in the future! Thank you
10:00 a.m.Thursday 13 July
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Kelly-Ann Oosterbeek from Australia wrote on 10 July 2019
Share LinkFriendly, informative and great value
Great trip out for the whole family, and really reasonably priced. Staff were super friendly and accommodating. We really appreciated the little extras like the blankets if you got cold or the cup of hot chocolate and snack. Highly recommend.
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