Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience the Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Lake Taupō Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise Aboard Ernest Kemp

• Daily Scenic Māori Rock Carving Cruise Taupō

• Luxury Sailing—Māori Rock Carvings—Taupō Sailing Adventures

• The Māori Carvings Half-Day Kayak

• Classical Sailing—Māori Rock Carvings—Taupō Sailing Adventures

There’s no cost to see the Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings, but they can only be accessed by boat, so unless you have access to your own vessel, you’ll need to join a tour. Expect to pay US$30–40 for a cruise on Lake Taupō to the carvings, or around US$90 for a half-day guided kayaking excursion. Full-day tours from Auckland cost more.

Yes, the Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings are definitely worth visiting while you're in Taupō. They're a beautiful piece of contemporary Māori art (carved between 1976–1980), and the boat ride out there is a relaxing and enjoyable way to experience Lake Taupō. If you want to get more active, you can also kayak to the carvings.

Per one customer who booked the Lake Taupō Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise Aboard Ernest Kemp, "It's such an amazing experience with friendly staff. It was enjoyable, and we had enough time to take photos and videos of the Maori carvings. It was worth it."

The Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings are a series of contemporary Maori sculptures carved into the cliffs along the northeast shore of Lake Taupo. The artwork is located at Mine Bay and is only accessible by boat or kayak. Boat tours from Taupo take a minimum of 1.5 hours.

Artist Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell created the Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings in the late 1970s. The images were carved by hand into the cliffs over Lake Taupo using traditional Maori techniques. Matahi and a team of four assistants completed the work over four summers.

The centerpiece of the Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings depicts the tattooed face of Ngatoroirangi, the legendary navigator who guided the Maori tribes of Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa to the Taupo region more than a thousand years ago. Additional Celtic sculptures show other local Maori tupuna (ancestors) and kaitiaki (guardians).

Yes. The more than 33-foot (10-meter) tall artwork can only be viewed from the water, so the best way to visit is by boat from nearby Taupo. It’s also possible to kayak to Mine Bay, and most kayak excursions take about 4 hours, including time to swim at the bay.

Yes, guided boat cruises, private yacht charters, and kayak excursions will take you across Lake Taupo to see the Maori Rock Carvings. Visiting with a guide provides more insight into the unique artworks, their cultural significance to the local Maori people, and the history of the Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa.

Yes, Lake Taupo is a popular summer swimming spot. You can swim near the Mine Bay Maori Rock Carvings, either from the boat or by entering from the shore, a short 15-minute hike down from the top of the cliff. However, it’s best suited to strong swimmers.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting the Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Taupō:

• Lake Taupō

• Huka Falls

• Orakei Korako

• Wairakei Terraces and Thermal Health Spa

• Craters of the Moon

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Taupō.