Ngātoroirangi Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings — Attraction in North Island

Visiting the Ngātoroirangi Mine Bay Māori Rock Carvings yesterday was an unforgettable experience! Nestled along the cliffs of Lake Taupō, these magnificent carvings are a true testament to the rich heritage and artistry of Māori culture. As I approached them by boat, the towering 14-meter likeness of Ngātoroirangi took my breath away. The intricate details and spiritual depth of the carvings reflect not just artistic skill but also profound respect for the stories and traditions of the Te Arawa people.

The serene beauty of the lake added to the magic, with its pristine waters creating the perfect backdrop for this cultural masterpiece. I felt a deep sense of connection to the history and mythology represented in the carvings, especially as I learned about Ngātoroirangi’s journey and the significance of this site. This experience was truly enchanting, and I couldn’t stop marveling at how such an iconic landmark blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. If you’re in Taupō, this is an...

Beautiful carvings, was great to see and experience. Went on the Ernest Kemp boat tour, they provided tea and coffee and biscuits as well as other drinks for purchase (alcoholic). Toilets on board and you’re able to sit inside or outside. It does get a bit windy and wet so wear clothes that will keep you dry and warm if you’re sitting outside.

It’s not so much as a cave as you don’t go in or see inside the cave. You see the main Māori face carving and a few other smaller carvings. Worth the visit but there is only the one wall of carvings. The trip was worth it for the ride on the lake to see the lake and the hills/mountains and houses. Also enjoying a day out in the sun and fresh air.

Well worth going and looking at which different companies can take you to the carvings. You can also swim in the water nearby.

I would suggest looking into various companies and/or bring a boat yourself (if you have a boat licence) well worth going to see and having a swim in the waters...

Lake Taupo Maori Cave Carving Cruise was one of the top attractions in the Taupo region. As we had some time in Taupo, we decided to give the cruise a try. Known also as the Ngātoroirangi Maori Rock Carvings, the cruise out on Lake Taupo to view the carvings costs $49 per person and takes approximately 90 minutes. We had a really enjoyable and informative cruise this time. Here’s what we learnt during this Maori Cave Carving Cruise…

This time, we went with Chris Jolly Outdoors as their website was easy to navigate and payment was rather straight-forward as well. After payment, instructions came to inform us to arrive at which berth for our cruise out this day. We arrived at 1pm for our Lake Taupo Maori Rock Carving Cruise.

The cruise started at 1:40pm and we were really glad to have our Captain who took us for the day. Once onboard, we made our way to the upper deck, right next to the skipper…

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