Lake Taupo Sailboat Tour Review: Maori Rock Carvings Trip

Lake Taupo, it’s almost New Zealand’s biggest lake, it’s kind of like a massive inland sea offering spectacular views, brilliant sailing conditions, and a unique cultural attraction: the Maori Rock Carvings. A sailboat tour to these carvings, in a way, is much more than just a sightseeing trip; it’s kind of like an opportunity to experience the very heart of New Zealand’s natural beauty and its really amazing cultural history. I went on this trip, so here’s a pretty thorough account of what to expect, complete with, you know, all the helpful recommendations to help you decide if it is actually the right activity for you.

What to Expect on Your Sailboat Adventure

You get started on your adventure, at the Taupo Boat Harbour, that is normally where most tours depart from. The boats can certainly vary, that’s the thing, ranging from pretty cozy, smaller sailboats to, that is, bigger catamarans, and you’ll want to consider the tour operator when it comes to picking out a specific boat that meets your particular needs, if you know what I mean. Once you actually get on board, that is, you’ll be greeted by the crew, and they will typically give you a rather short safety briefing plus a, well, general introduction to the tour itself.

The trip to the Maori Rock Carvings themselves, so it turns out, that this normally involves a pretty pleasant sail along the gorgeous shores of Lake Taupo. Depending on the weather, so it’s almost you might experience some seriously smooth sailing, which means you could have a chance to seriously relax and completely soak up the sun, or you might actually get some invigorating breezes that really make it a super exciting sailing experience. Along the way, the crew might actually share pretty insightful facts regarding the lake’s geology, its interesting Maori history, plus all of that area’s really unique flora and fauna. Really keep an eye out for various native birds; I am talking about the Tūī and the fantail, and of course, stunning volcanic landscapes.

As you come very close to Mine Bay, which, by the way, that is the home of the Maori Rock Carvings, it’s like your anticipation might actually build. You might just catch your first glimpse of those tall, really impressive carvings from the sailboat, which should be something to think about. This particular vantage point, well it’s out on the water, providing for you, too, a genuinely special perspective of these spectacular artworks. The boat that is normally gets quite close to the cliff face allowing for a really great viewing opportunity and, if you’re keen, some super memorable photo opportunities.

Quite a few tours sometimes incorporate, it’s almost a swimming stop in a rather secluded bay. These opportunities tend to allow you, similarly to, to truly take a dip in the very crystal-clear waters of Lake Taupo, but they are still offering you a totally different angle for viewing the carvings, very close up, if that’s your type of thing. In some respects, they often do provide kayaks and paddleboards, thus adding another dimension when it comes to your exploration experience. On your way back to Taupo Boat Harbour, you could quite possibly savor refreshments like a beverage or snacks served right on board the sailboat. All this provides the opportunity to definitely relax and perhaps reflect upon the whole brilliant experience of actually visiting the Maori Rock Carvings.

The Highlight: Maori Rock Carvings at Mine Bay

Those Maori Rock Carvings, they turn out, that these were carved on a cliff face situated in Mine Bay of Lake Taupo; they are truly amazing works of modern Maori art. Well, they were made back in the late 1970s by master carver Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell plus his pretty small team of assistants, in a way, after almost a request from local Maori elders. The principal carving, it turns out, is that it’s almost of Ngatoroirangi, a super respected navigator that guided the Tūwharetoa and Te Arawa tribes right to the Lake Taupo area approximately one thousand years ago. This main carving, it’s kind of like towering a really high 14 meters (46 feet) tall, stands as a really awesome testament when it comes to Maori artistic skill and seriously cultural heritage.

When it comes to the carvings, they normally adorn the cliff face and feature several other Maori figures, very close to, each portraying, say, important ancestral figures, that includes that of his wife plus several other kaitiaki, it is, guardian spirits. In some respects, the detailed work when it comes to the carvings displays an absolutely brilliant blend with traditional Maori art coupled with very contemporary techniques. So, you might not know but Matahi Whakataka-Brightwell, by the way, carved his artwork in order to preserve and really protect Maori culture for future generations and for instance to really provide a stunning visual narrative telling their really meaningful history, which has obviously worked well, so far.

During your tour, your captain could perhaps share a bit more regarding the origin, that of the significance plus the creation story concerning such remarkable carvings, this actually provides deeper, more enriching cultural understanding that you might enjoy. With those seriously crystal waters serving as a backdrop in front of the carvings is a pretty magical and moving experience.

Choosing the Right Tour Operator

Deciding to pick the tour operator, they do tend to vary in terms of both their pricing, durations, and of course, any additional extras. Several different ones usually offer various packages, such as morning sails, or of course afternoon cruises, plus of course even completely private charters that might tickle your fancy. I feel it’s normally worth actually comparing your various options based around particular interests in the tour itinerary itself.

Do a little check to see what reviewers had to say relating to stuff like the quality that operator offers, including service standards plus, naturally, their safety practices before seriously booking any sort of tour. Check if that, that tour operator has some great environmentally friendly habits too – it will obviously show those guys really value protecting these seriously precious lakes. Another consideration might actually include tour group size; of course smaller groups frequently provide you with a slightly more personable experience where tour guides do often give plenty more personal attention. Larger boat tour types can still be quite fun, they may still just feel a lot less intimate as that’s just a general size of the group they need to care for. When it comes to meals or any refreshments do check about what comes on board that specific charter too.

Here is what you have to consider, in order to ensure it ticks the important things off:

Read any feedback given by recent reviewers relating to previous travelers on tours.
See about exactly what is included as an important part of such tours (i.e. snacks or lunch?)
Any additional included items such as swim stops when it comes to that of a full swimming excursion on open waters or kayaks perhaps, so to make everything as pleasurable during some free time and also relaxation while doing activities upon this Lake too.
You really can get different sized boats to rent, depending on how full a tour the owner intends to have at anytime for their business offering to each new interested person, therefore, keeping to the numbers of just what tour is optimal can influence everything about your overall time quality.

Tips for an Unforgettable Trip

Really taking the time for, it’s like that, is all that it would require planning, should seriously help ensure this journey provides genuinely incredible results when coming across such famous art along water bodies such this scenic Lake location.

Keep such details in one’s mind relating things such as bringing sunglasses with sunscreen etc – obviously this happens given sun-rays will come off open waters in the lake!

I mean, do bring sunscreen plus sunglasses as waters around those specific parts produce reflected, intense sunshine exposure across wide sections situated along waters around or on top as one travels near shores along the water too!
Just throw onto, well you might wear it: I am talking about layering! Weather patterns, well that that this goes almost just across there they actually could easily vary.
I feel that the important point could quite possibly stay dry and really relaxed so to have an adventure across somewhere amazing by some chance too.
Make sure any fully loaded camera device sits within waterproof packaging – there might seem some chances those waves potentially get too high even perhaps while sitting inside, if you know what I mean?

Make sure you have packed things correctly within, in order so that such valuable and seriously expensive tech stays truly sound at times whilst aboard at all possible situations during moments upon the ocean trip around shores along such waters.

Other Activities Around Lake Taupo

Such lake area itself actually also presents plenty for adventure besides any ocean excursion to witness those cliff artworks only:

Definitely experience some geothermic hotspot areas along places that make just all over place truly fascinating across planet earth itself too.
Definitely go view Huka falls by simply seeing powerful gush which causes some magnificent natural phenomena which truly offers a completely captivating site too.
Consider fishing and simply check with locals, of course to see various waters that are popular to reel them that swim deep! (Ensure fishing requirements get fully fulfilled when taking licenses so stuff does remain fully correct whilst trying such options too)
See to bike tours across numerous cycle passages dotted anywhere so stuff can stay healthy plus happy.

So much is on offer right throughout this particular zone as far that you will be really left fascinated for ages right when actually stopping anywhere by the actual stunning natural landscape right there truly around at any stops all through. It offers adventure with total fascination when it comes down it that can last long!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the sailboat tour suitable for children?

Actually, a lot of tours are really suited towards that, just towards small kids and some specifically will have extra additions especially just toward babies and also the smaller travellers (simply still find what each specific tour that would provide right across beforehand). The sun really stays up top for ages across summertime and sunburnt issues that always become so important to consider.

What is the best time of year to take the tour?

This could well occur best whilst during those sunshine based parts which usually covers times across that year from Nov time which leads really forward towards like Apr at other periods, and sometimes gets better from the sun’s perspective in order seeing all along on that lake (nevertheless during parts covering certain other cold conditions could well too, make it worthwhile dependent, mostly right about specific personal desire – be willing still wear proper protection which stays always a strong advice). Consider though right at those really full months; all can get packed at the lake given the beautiful sights which would remain super important and simply must make all preparations if ever those occur.

Are there restroom facilities onboard the sailboat?

Lots of boating type designs are provided with full working facilities where people stay comfortable, but always consider this specific fact prior since it stays usually so integral, too whilst planning to commit towards specific excursions anywhere across this journey on lakes such.

Can I bring my own food and drinks onboard?

I would check before seriously bringing what would provide better choices rather directly carrying certain selections along as things provided maybe enough on certain boating models out by companies involved and doing different stuff for individuals. I actually have often discovered at most venues across certain lake type charters I usually stay happy to make a certain individual plan ahead provided enough warning earlier.

Are life jackets provided?

Of course! Most places at venues stay absolutely serious where such things often have a compulsory measure implemented by personnel overseeing each adventure.

Hope they cover what everyone needs before setting to just what goes inside Lake at any point.

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