This is a nice way to get up close to the falls and get a few pictures. The boat cruise itself is…read morenice, but there really isn't anything to see until you get around to the falls other than a few ducks and swans. The ride take around 1 hour 20 min and you can jump into the river for a short swim if you like. While it's not too expensive, we paid around NZ$39 per person, it's a pretty big investment of time. Once at the falls, the driver made several swings round to allow people a chance to get pictures in front of the raging waters but it was a bit rushed and tricky in the timing.

If you're visiting Taupo with younger kids and they're not tall enough for the Huka Falls Jet, this…read moreis more than just a good alternative, the Huka Falls River Cruise stands out on its own as a must-try experience. While adrenaline junkies might say it lacks the excitement that the jet boat offers, it more than makes up for it with the relaxing cruise, a very capable and friendly skipper and an awesome view of the falls -- they can definitely get you much closer to the amazing waterfalls and there's plenty of photo opportunity when they do. Our skipper was super friendly and knowledgeable, he even let let our 3-year-old and 4-year-old "drive" the boat, which was the highlight of our trip. He knew about the river's history, the birdlife in the area and was comfortable with some quiet moments where you can just appreciate the view. This is one of the best experiences for us in NZ so far.

No visit to Taupo is complete until you get out into the lake itself and what better way than…read moretaking a sailboat out to see the Maori rock carvings (carved in 1976 to honor a family's ancestors). Captain Dave has been running these trips for 12 years and offers them 4 times daily. Each is a little bit different with morning sails cheaper and evening sails including pizza. We were on the 12:30 Sail which left promptly from the boat marina and lasted around 2 hours. Cost was NZ$39 There were 12 passengers (very comfortable) although he can take 18 and even is open to private charters. As the wind was non-existent we motored across the lake in the bright sunshine (BRING SUN TAN LOTION) for about 40 minutes before reaching the rock carvings. Once there, Dave made several trips around to ensure everyone got the pictures they wanted before heading over to a quiet spot and letting anyone who wished to jump in to the crystal clear (and cold)water. Most everyone went in for at least a bit-very refreshing! (Bring or wear your swim suit). After 20 or so minutes, people climbed back aboard and were offered their beverage of choice including wine, beer, coke, sprite and water. He pointed a few things out along the way and at the carvings but the trip was mostly about the cool breeze on the lake and just relaxing.While he raised the sails on the return, still was t much wind so we quietly motored back. A highlight and something not to miss.

We took the 9:30 cruise because it was the only available on this day. Captain Dave was great and…read moreeverything went great on our cruise to the carvings. The 9:30 time is the earliest cruise by any outfit on Lake Taupo. So there isn't a crowd like the rest of the day at the carvings. Lots of interesting facts on the way. Relaxing and enjoyable 2.5 hours to start your day.

I loved my Pure Cruise experience in Rotorua, New Zealand! Matt Horder and the rest of the crew…read morewere so delightful. I did this yesterday. It was offered as a tour excursion by Royal Caribbean. We took the catamaran on Lake Rotoiti and stopped at the Rotoiti Hot Pools. The catamaran was in perfect condition. I immediately wanted to sit on the net in the front..get this--they have bean bags to sit on and blankets as well! We were gliding on Lake Rotoiti and the weather was amazing this day. The hot pools were nice and well-maintained with changing areas and bathrooms. I didn't see any extra staff there. For a medium-sized group from a cruise ship, there were enough pools to lounge in ranging from cool to medium-hot to very hot. There's also a small water slide! On our way back to the resort, we had gourmet sandwiches. There's also coffee and tea. You have to pay for other drinks. I am juice lover and it would have been nice if the cruise offered some complimentary sugar drinks..I mean apple juice or lemonade. Hey man-I'm spoiled by the cruise! By the way, we had four At Sea days from a stop in Melbourne, Australia all the way to Tauranga, New Zealand. This was not in the original plan as we were going to go to South New Zealand. BUT...this excursion was worth it!

Wonderful excursion!! Staff wonderful, yacht beautiful, great lunch!! Such a worthwhile…read moreexcursion. Would highly recommend to everyone!!

I had some expectations of what a river cruise might be (I have done one on the Potomac River in…read moreWashington, DC) and this was different than what I expected, but I think that if you don't have any preconceptions, this was a nice little cruise. I went with my husband on a Sunday afternoon. We booked just tickets (not food) and arrived about 20 minutes before the start of the cruise. I would recommend getting there early so that you can get the seats you want. All the seating is bench seating with a table, but some are near open walls of the boat and some are by regular windows. I'd say the open areas are good if you want to take photos. We started off by having a drink - I had some sauvingon blanc and he had a beer. The prices were regular sorts of prices, not overly expensive, given the captive audience. Our particular cruise was from Hamilton Gardens and went into the Hamilton CBD area up to the Fairfield Bridge and then back again. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't awesome for us. It was overcast and drizzling most of the time, with a couple of downpours in there as well. That said, it wasn't a total wash and I did enjoy our time. There is a recorded tour guide that points out some of the sites along the river during the cruise. They also provide you with a small map and a guide to some of the birds you might see along the way. I was getting kind of hungry and had a brownie and then later ordered a ham and cheese toastie. I was actually really surprised that the toastie wasn't just microwaved or something. The hostess went to the back of the boat, cooked it on the grill and it was served nicely with a small salad and quite nice presentation. Overall, I think this was a fun experience, particularly if you're just visiting in the area. It would have been nicer in sunnier weather, but it wasn't too bad in the rain. They also have cruises that go in the opposite direction to Mystery Creek Winery, for wine tasting.

The Waikato River Explorer website is tired and old, certainly needs to be updated as its really…read moreunappealing in its present form. Overall this website is a boring customer experience Other issues the site has listed below. 1. Reduce or optimize your meta keywords 2. Check all images for ALT attribute 3. Make your HTML code less messy 4. Delete frame and iframe tags 5. Add proper sitemap.xml file 6. Get some Google +1 clicks

Booked this rafting adventure last minute and everyone was so nice! Before going on the trip you…read moregear up in your wet suit, life jacket and helmet. They then make sure to go through the basics of rafting and what to do if the raft flips over! It's a short 2 min drive to the rafting start point but once you're in the water it is so much fun! It has been raining pretty hard, but the whole experience was great! There were two shorter waterfalls and of course Tutea falls. It seemed intimidating, but our guide Elvis helped guide us and everything went great! They even got some good pictures of us! We even had the opportunity to get in the water and feel the rapids first hand! Overall great experience, would recommend to anyone looking for a thrill!

Just from the things I've seen on like r, I can't wait to go and try these class V waters!…read morehttps://kaitunacascades.co.nz/

Kaitiaki adventures is a must when visiting Rotorua! The team is incredible! We not only felt…read morecompletely safe but had an amazing time! Highly recommend.

So worth the money. I'd been white water rafting before but was apprehensive to venture down the…read moreworld's tallest (21ft) waterfall. The crew provided all the gear, instruction and motivation necessary to keep us safe. My daughter and I had a blast. Well worth the money. Don't miss this adventure.

This place by the Taupo lake is a must visit. It's literally by the lake, you can choose to sit out…read moreby the sand which has a major beach vibe or you can sit inside, which feels like you are on a cruise/boat out on the lake. Parking deck is outside, it's a self service place. They give you buzzers as you order food and drinks and it lights up once your order is ready. It's casual in a classy way. The pizzas were really good. Thin crust, wood-fire and perfect. The drinks also were really good. Mine was a lychee cocktail not for you if you don't like it sweet. I will recommend this place and hopefully revisit.

Don't come here expecting service. No water, napkins etc…read morePizza was good, the buzzer malfunctioned and we waited forever for our food

Although it had been raining all day that day, we decided to chance it and go on the 5pm cocktail…read morecruise on the Ernest Kemp. It turned out to be one of the best, last-minute decisions we made while traveling through New Zealand. Included on the cruise are alcoholic beverages (wine and beer), pizza, and dessert. Coffee and tea are also included on all the cruise times, including the cocktail cruise. The alcohol definitely helped people loosen up and be cheerful in spite of the gloomy weather. We ended up chatting with friendly Australians during the cruise, and we learned a lot! The tour itself was informative and fun. We got really close to the Maori Rock Carvings, and even had an adventure with the local ducks. Highly recommended while in Taupo.

Awesome time. Great bargain. We actually found this last minute and it was the only thing to do at…read more5pm after driving all day so we had no idea what it involved. The boat takes you to a rock carving which is neat to see but it's no picasso. What's awesome is you're getting a nearly two hour boat with drinks, pizza and dessert. After which they serve hit cocoa and coffee. The staff are beyond friendly. The scenery is stunning. It's such a relaxing trip. The boat itself is also special. It has a ton of character and defiantly beats the sailboats on which people huddle like refugees on the deck. They looked cramped. Great experience I highly recommend.

Done a fair few zipline courses in my time -- pushing 50 or so -- with about half over in Hawai'i…read more But today was my first crack here in lush Rotorua, and honestly... blew me away, eh. Place is unreal, and the scale's next level. Longest line's around 400 metres, and you're absolutely sending it over a ravine that's gotta be pushing 100 metres deep. Reckon I'm about ready to move back here -- ready, set, jet if Canopy starts flogging an annual pass . Quick post-mortem: there's two courses - Canopy and Ultimate. If you're a proper zipline fiend, start with the classic and work your way up. I stuffed it and went straight for Ultimate thinking it was just longer. Looking back, I'd book both back-to-back... just not on the same day if you're stepping down a notch in the views and buzz.

My Dad and I had an absolute blast doing the ultimate canopy tour!! The guides were excellent! They…read morekept the group laughing and having a great time while making everyone feel very safe at height. Would definitely recommend!!