Taupo Kayaking Adventures

28 Rankers Reviews

2 Cycling

2 Hiking Tours

Maps

Photos

Perfect spot for morning tea.
cant get any closer to the carvings than this!

Information

Taupo Kayaking Adventures

Taupo's Original Kayak to the Carvings company. 100% New Zealand Owner/Operated, your Taupo Kayaking Adventures natural experience is one that will remain with you forever.

We specialise in kayaking trips around New Zealand’s largest freshwater lake.

Your Taupo Kayaking Advenutres experience takes you across the crystal clear water of our Great Lake Taupo. Under the shadow of an active Volcano, and metres away from Maori rock carvings.

Our trips are suitable for anyone, as all our trips are fully guided and full instruction is given by our experienced guides.

Contact us and ask about the possibilities of creating your own Adventure. Duration of the escape, refreshments/lunch and area of interest are all tailorable to your wishes

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Wilderness Escapes

Commercial organisation

Location

North IslandTaupo RegionTaupo

Categories

  • Activity__cycling_mountain_bikingCycling
  • Activity__walking_and_hiking_toursHiking Tours
  • Activity__fresh_water_canoeing_kayakingFresh Water Kayaking

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-38.7112325389522

176.033935546875

Take a peak
Latitude
-38.7112325389522
Longitude
176.033935546875

Reviews

    • Nice and good guide, nice extra picnic.
    • Lake is stunning, great equipment and guidance.
    • Nice crew.
    • Fantastic.
    • Best thing i did in Taupo, AAA+++
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 17
    61%
    9/10 4
    14%
    8/10 4
    14%
    7/10 1
    4%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 1
    4%
    1/10 1
    4%
  • 0.5/5

    Do not choose this company.

    The owner of this company lied to us and cancelled our reservations when we arrived at to pick up the kayaks.

    When we arrived at Taupo Kayaking Adventures at the time of our rental pickup, the "store" (his house) was not open. We called him, but he said that he could not let us take the kayaks out because the conditions on the lake were not favorable. However, we know that this was a lie because the conditions were perfect (blue skies, low winds) and we saw a Taupo Kayaking Adventure group tour out on the lake just 1 hour later and saw them returning to the storefront at the end of their kayak tour.

    In addition, the owner of this business was extremely rude to me on the phone when I was trying to make a reservation with them. I asked for his recommendations for other places to kayak to on the lake aside from the rock carvings, to which he responded "You can do anywhere on the lake." So, I asked my question differently, hoping for some more specific tips for kayaking in Taupo. And he said, frustrated - "You obviously haven't read the website." (though I had and I was needing more info than it provided). He was of absolutely no help. Unfortunately, I chose to rent with this business because they are closest to the rock carvings. I don't recommend making my mistake.

    *In addition to my own negative experience, my friends have attempted to rent kayaks with Taupo Kayaking Adventures twice during the summer but TKA has cancelled their rental both times due to "poor conditions." Try another company when kayaking Taupo.

    Reviewed 2 months ago and experienced in December 2024

    c
    caitlinabruns@gmail.com's avatar

    caitlinabruns

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Lake is stunning, great equipment and guidance.

    Only negative was the weather turned bad which made getting to the Maori Carvings harder than anticipated. Great muffins on our break.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    DH
    Daisy Hoopers's avatar

    Daisy Hoopers

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    I hired a kayak for a day which was pretty uncomplicated and fast so I could start my trip early (which was nice!).

    Just the price was a little high but okay ($50 for 4 hours).

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2016

    GERMANY
    JS
    Julia Scharbert's avatar

    Julia Scharbert

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    We rented kayaks to check out the Maori rock carvings which were neat.

    The company provided us with a laminated map which was useful. Lake Taupo is beautiful!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2016

    UNITED STATES
    LT
    Lauren Thompson's avatar

    Lauren Thompson

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    The ferries interfered with our view but a great way to see the lake.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2015

    UNITED KINGDOM
    J
    Jess's avatar

    Jess

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Best thing i did in Taupo, AAA+++

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    ma
    mattburton_nz's avatar

    mattburton_nz

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    AAA Amazing Awesome Atmosphere Great guides and and great experience the whole family can experience!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    cm
    cmgoffin's avatar

    cmgoffin

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Kayaking, eating and relaxing on Lake Taupo was the most fantastic experience, the crew at Wilderness Escapes really know their stuff, nice people that love showing off their back yard.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2012

    UNITED STATES MINOR OUTLYING ISLANDS
    lm
    lmfao's avatar

    lmfao

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Had a ridiculous day on paddling on Lake Taupo, to the rock carvings with MP and the Wilderness Escapes crew.

    The scenery was breathtaking, clear water and clear skies, the company was good, and the rock carving were incredible. Everything provided and a nice afternoon tea overlooking the lake, in privacy and serenity.

    Cheers MP & Wilderness Escapes

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2012

    AUSTRALIA
    bo
    booma's avatar

    booma

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome day on the lake, great guides, great gear great refreshments, great experience!!!

    WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2012

    Lu
    Luke's avatar

    Luke

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Wilderness Escapes kayaking is a must do if your in Taupo.

    This was the first time my family and I had been kayaking and we had a fantastic time and definitely want to do it again. The guide was great, we picked up how to do it in no time! The commentary was also very interesting. The other great thing is you are able to explore the shoreline that you cannnot access or see by car.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    Ja
    Jade's avatar

    Jade

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Kayaked to Maori carvings, fantastic few hours on the lake, friendly and informative guide.

    Good equipment also.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2012

    UNITED KINGDOM
    AM
    Alastair MacDonald's avatar
  • 1.0/5

    The scenery at Lake Taupo was breathtaking, but unfortunately the tour guide was really impatient and very rude.

    At the end of the trip, he took all of our belongings from the dry bags without our permission whilst we were changing suits. Luckily, we did some checking and found out that he left one of our mobile phone and a watch in the dry bags.

    Would NOT recommend this trip at all!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in August 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    ju
    jumperhats's avatar

    jumperhats

    Customer

    We are very dissapointed to receive your feedback, and can only apologise for the guides behavior on that day, as you can see from our other reviews, this is not a regular occurance.

    We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and have not had feedback like this before. We can not apologise enough for your experience, and would appreciate if you have the time to contact us as we would like to know what date your trip was so we can ensure that this never happens again.

  • 0.5/5

    Do not choose this company.

    The owner of this company lied to us and cancelled our reservations when we arrived at to pick up the kayaks.

    When we arrived at Taupo Kayaking Adventures at the time of our rental pickup, the "store" (his house) was not open. We called him, but he said that he could not let us take the kayaks out because the conditions on the lake were not favorable. However, we know that this was a lie because the conditions were perfect (blue skies, low winds) and we saw a Taupo Kayaking Adventure group tour out on the lake just 1 hour later and saw them returning to the storefront at the end of their kayak tour.

    In addition, the owner of this business was extremely rude to me on the phone when I was trying to make a reservation with them. I asked for his recommendations for other places to kayak to on the lake aside from the rock carvings, to which he responded "You can do anywhere on the lake." So, I asked my question differently, hoping for some more specific tips for kayaking in Taupo. And he said, frustrated - "You obviously haven't read the website." (though I had and I was needing more info than it provided). He was of absolutely no help. Unfortunately, I chose to rent with this business because they are closest to the rock carvings. I don't recommend making my mistake.

    *In addition to my own negative experience, my friends have attempted to rent kayaks with Taupo Kayaking Adventures twice during the summer but TKA has cancelled their rental both times due to "poor conditions." Try another company when kayaking Taupo.

    Reviewed 2 months ago and experienced in December 2024

    c
    caitlinabruns@gmail.com's avatar

    caitlinabruns

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    Lake is stunning, great equipment and guidance.

    Only negative was the weather turned bad which made getting to the Maori Carvings harder than anticipated. Great muffins on our break.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2017

    DH
    Daisy Hoopers's avatar

    Daisy Hoopers

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    We rented kayaks to check out the Maori rock carvings which were neat.

    The company provided us with a laminated map which was useful. Lake Taupo is beautiful!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in January 2016

    UNITED STATES
    LT
    Lauren Thompson's avatar

    Lauren Thompson

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    I hired a kayak for a day which was pretty uncomplicated and fast so I could start my trip early (which was nice!).

    Just the price was a little high but okay ($50 for 4 hours).

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2016

    GERMANY
    JS
    Julia Scharbert's avatar

    Julia Scharbert

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    The ferries interfered with our view but a great way to see the lake.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2015

    UNITED KINGDOM
    J
    Jess's avatar

    Jess

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Kayaked to Maori carvings, fantastic few hours on the lake, friendly and informative guide.

    Good equipment also.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2012

    UNITED KINGDOM
    AM
    Alastair MacDonald's avatar
  • 1.0/5

    The scenery at Lake Taupo was breathtaking, but unfortunately the tour guide was really impatient and very rude.

    At the end of the trip, he took all of our belongings from the dry bags without our permission whilst we were changing suits. Luckily, we did some checking and found out that he left one of our mobile phone and a watch in the dry bags.

    Would NOT recommend this trip at all!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in August 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    ju
    jumperhats's avatar

    jumperhats

    Customer

    We are very dissapointed to receive your feedback, and can only apologise for the guides behavior on that day, as you can see from our other reviews, this is not a regular occurance.

    We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and have not had feedback like this before. We can not apologise enough for your experience, and would appreciate if you have the time to contact us as we would like to know what date your trip was so we can ensure that this never happens again.

  • 5.0/5

    Wilderness Escapes kayaking is a must do if your in Taupo.

    This was the first time my family and I had been kayaking and we had a fantastic time and definitely want to do it again. The guide was great, we picked up how to do it in no time! The commentary was also very interesting. The other great thing is you are able to explore the shoreline that you cannnot access or see by car.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    Ja
    Jade's avatar

    Jade

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Awesome day on the lake, great guides, great gear great refreshments, great experience!!!

    WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in May 2012

    Lu
    Luke's avatar

    Luke

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Had a ridiculous day on paddling on Lake Taupo, to the rock carvings with MP and the Wilderness Escapes crew.

    The scenery was breathtaking, clear water and clear skies, the company was good, and the rock carving were incredible. Everything provided and a nice afternoon tea overlooking the lake, in privacy and serenity.

    Cheers MP & Wilderness Escapes

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2012

    AUSTRALIA
    bo
    booma's avatar

    booma

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Kayaking, eating and relaxing on Lake Taupo was the most fantastic experience, the crew at Wilderness Escapes really know their stuff, nice people that love showing off their back yard.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2012

    UNITED STATES MINOR OUTLYING ISLANDS
    lm
    lmfao's avatar

    lmfao

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    AAA Amazing Awesome Atmosphere Great guides and and great experience the whole family can experience!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in April 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    cm
    cmgoffin's avatar

    cmgoffin

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Best thing i did in Taupo, AAA+++

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    ma
    mattburton_nz's avatar

    mattburton_nz

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    We did the Rock carvings tour with Wilderness Escapes, it was excellent!!!

    great value for money,stunning scenery and the guide was fantastic. We really cant say enough about the experience, from start to finsh, it was top notch. We will be back!!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2012

    SOUTH GEORGIA AND THE SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
    jo
    jonty287's avatar

    jonty287

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    If you haven't been to the Western Bays on Lake Taupo you haven't seen the great Lake yet!

    ... and then a paddle up a stream to this amazing waterfall - Good Gear, Great People, Amazing Location =GOOD TIMES!!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    ma
    machelp's avatar

    machelp

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    An amazing day with a great group of people.

    Wonderful & Fun

    The beauty of Lake Taupo can not be described, it must be experienced.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2012

    NEW ZEALAND
    Ti
    TinaL's avatar

    TinaL

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Was initially looking to just hire kayaks and go for a paddle.

    After talking to the guide (MP) decided to join Wilderness Escapes guided trip to the Maori Carvings. Was a great decision and throughly recommend doing the trip with these guys.

    We got picked up and dropped off from the information center right in town, all kayaking and safety gear was supplied and even a surprise sit down lunchtime snack.

    The guide (MP) was very friendly, approachable and knowledgeable about the history of the carvings and the Maori legends of the area.

    All in all a great trip on a picture perfect winters day ! (and didn't even have to get my feet wet). Thank you to MP and Wilderness Escapes.

    Cheers,

    Paul

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in July 2011

    NEW ZEALAND
    pa
    paul_nz's avatar

    paul_nz

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    Good transportation (drop off by our accomodation), good guide, good lunch.

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in February 2011

    SWITZERLAND
    K
    Kurmann/Kayser's avatar

    Kurmann/Kayser

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    The rock carvings kayak trip was totally fun!

    I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Taupo and wanting to experience an awesome activity. Its such a unique way to be up close to some beautiful scenery in NZ. The guide was fantastic and the refreshments were very tasty. I espically loved the Pineapple lumps, yum - a kiwi classic! Thanks heaps, Marcia More

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in March 2011

    AUSTRALIA
    MM
    Marcia More's avatar

    Marcia More

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    We had a great time with Elliot and Mad Dog kayaking to the amazing Maori Carvings.

    We swam in Lake Taupo, heard lots of interesting stories about the area, and enjoyed the physical activity. The trip is really well organised and everything you need is supplied for. Alex is just a star! Our car broke down and she even helped us reparing it when she didn't have to! Highly recommned, the best way to see the Maori carvings, kayaking you'll get as close as you want!

    Reviewed over 3 years ago and experienced in December 2010

    NEW ZEALAND
    pa
    pascualg6's avatar

    pascualg6

    Customer