Admission is $35pp for Adults and Children (3 - 16 years). Infants (0-2 years) are free of charge. Family prices are not available.
You will receive your e-ticket via email. We highly recommend booking online as there are limited spaces available.
Tours depart Monday to Sunday at 10 am only and last 30 minutes.
Please arrive at our carving studio 5 minutes prior to your tour departure time. Allow 30 minutes for the whole experience. We are located at 1288 Fenton Street, Rotorua. We are wheelchair and stroller/pram accessible.
Admission includes a piece of New Zealand pounamu to take home (you will choose your piece from a selection of pre-carved and polished stones). *Not included with infant tickets.
If you need to change or cancel your tour, please call 07 349 1828 or email rotorua@mountainjade.co.nz. For a full refund, cancel at least 48 hours in advance.
Pounamu is the Māori name for greenstone or New Zealand jade. It is found only in New Zealand’s South Island, which is why the island is also known as Te Waipounamu, meaning “the greenstone waters”. Deeply treasured for its strength, beauty, and connection to the Māori spiritual world, pounamu has formed over millions of years, forged deep under our mountains and concealed in our rivers. It is rare, and no two pieces are the same.
During the tour, you'll get to meet local Rotorua artists Tamaora Walker, Akapita Scally, Daniel Malcolm and Jason Vercoe. They will show you the tools and techniques they use to carve jade and reveal some of their current work in progress. You can ask questions while they work and watch as they transform raw stone into carved art.
Pounamu is loved in Aotearoa for its strength, beauty, and connection to the Māori spiritual world. As you embark on a journey into the history and culture of pounamu carving in New Zealand, you will discover fascinating insights into the stone's significance, its historical uses, and the values it represents. You will even have a chance to try your hand at traditional carving techniques.
If you would like to book this tour as a private experience, please call 07 349 1828 or email rotorua@mountainjade.co.nz for prices. We also offer educational experiences for large groups of 15 people or more, contact us to find out more.
A Qualmark Silver Award for our Rotorua store shows that as a tourism operator, we are committed to protecting our beautiful natural environment, enhancing connections with our local communities, and delivering a quality, safe experience for all visitors.
If you can't make our Mountain Jade Highlights Tour, you can also join us daily at 2 pm for our Free Educational Tour.
