Cruise Lake Taupō
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From relaxed cruising to unforgettable adventures, discover two unique ways to experience the beauty of Lake Taupō aboard Loloma and 38 South.
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OUR ENTITY & ETHOS
About Great Lake Adventures
Connecting Lake Taupō’s premier marine charters, luxury hotel accommodation, and award-winning lakeside dining under one private hospitality entity.
Our Story & Brands
Founded with a passion for high-end maritime hospitality, Great Lake Adventures began with a single vision: to allow guests to seamlessly step off a private vessel charter directly into boutique luxury suites and curated culinary venues. Today, our integrated sanctuary hosts guests from across the globe.
Meet the Crew & Leadership
Our experienced skippers, chefs, concierge staff, and hospitality directors bring decades of local Lake Taupō knowledge to every guest experience.
VAUGHAN NAIRN
Operations Manager & Skipper
Vaughan oversees operations across Great Lake Adventures and is the main skipper of 38 South. With a strong focus on safety, service and creating a seamless experience on the lake, he ensures every charter runs smoothly from departure to return.
RICHARD JOHNSON
Skipper
With around 30 years of experience skippering on Lake Taupō, Richard brings exceptional local knowledge to every Loloma cruise. Having been at the helm of Loloma for the past eight years, he oversees the vessel’s day-to-day operation, safety, servicing and maintenance, ensuring every trip runs smoothly and safely.
CHARLIE KILMISTER
Crew Member
Charlie works across both 38 South and Loloma, helping look after guests; he supports the crew and keeps guests relaxed, safe and enjoying the experience
CATHERINE KIRKCALDY
Crew & Guest Experience
Katharine is part of the 38 South crew, looking after the hospitality side of each charter and helping ensure guests have an exceptional experience onboard. She also assists with activities including watersports and fishing, while helping keep everything running smoothly and safely.
Safety & Sustainability Commitment
We operate with uncompromised maritime safety protocols and a deep duty of care to safeguard the ecological purity of Lake Taupō.
Maritime Safety Standards
- Fully certified MNZ (Maritime New Zealand) surveyed vessels
- Annual NZMSA safety audits and rigorous crew drills
- Top-tier life-saving equipment, radar navigation, and satellite comms
- Strict weather management protocols for all lake departures
Environmental Preservation
- Zero single-use plastic policy across all charter vessels and hotel suites
- Low-emission marine propulsion systems and hull protection
- Strict catch-and-release fishing practices for trout conservation
- Locally sourced organic produce partnerships reducing food miles
Industry Affiliations & Partners
We work proudly alongside New Zealand’s leading tourism, maritime, and hospitality bodies to uphold regional service excellence.
Official Organisation Notice: DGLT Disambiguation
Great Lake Adventures is a private commercial hospitality entity operating charter vessels (38 South & Loloma), hotel accommodation, and dining venues in Lake Taupō.
Please note that we are a distinct private business and are separate from Destination Great Lake Taupō (DGLT), which is the official Regional Tourism Organisation (RTO) responsible for regional destination management and council tourism promotion for the district.
For official regional government tourism enquiries, destination marketing, or regional council information, please visit the official DGLT portal at LoveTaupō.com.
