Bonz 'N Stonz Carving Studio
Bonz 'N Stonz Carving Studio
Bonz 'N Stonz Carving Studio
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Bonz N Stonz is a boutique carving studio in Hokitika, South Island New Zealand. We provide a 360° experience that allows you to experience the New Zealand tradition of carving. In our sessions you will learn about the signficance of carving in Maori culture. With the help of our master carvers we will teach you carving skills and help you design your own piece to take home. You can carve a piece from jade, bone, or shell.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
109 reviews
Excellent
103
Very good
4
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
1
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NZP0PPY
New Zealand28,894 contributions
Feb 2022
Steve and Katene gave awesome guidance and help and advice for a great finished bone carving that i am stoked with. It was a great set up with good equipment. I loved how they had a folder of designs that you were welcome to use, or you could create your own, or use a mix.
The smiles, encouragement and positive vibe was here. We once did carving on stewart island and it was a horrid experience - not at bonz n stonz.
In fact, the experience and creating was so awesome that we are going back tomorrow to do a jade carving.
Highly recommend this for a truely unique souvenir which you can be very very proud of.
The smiles, encouragement and positive vibe was here. We once did carving on stewart island and it was a horrid experience - not at bonz n stonz.
In fact, the experience and creating was so awesome that we are going back tomorrow to do a jade carving.
Highly recommend this for a truely unique souvenir which you can be very very proud of.
Written February 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Smellor360
22 contributions
Oct 2020 • Couples
Me and my partner visited Steve and the Guys today to make our own pendants. I chose to make a Jade Twist, whilst my partner did some bone carving. It was an absolutely incredible experience, Steve wouldn’t let me give up on my carving, even after I messed up my stone he helped me fix it and encouraged me to give it another try! We ended up spending around 6 hours in the shop being helped and guided through the carving process. It was really cool to learn more about the history and culture of Greenstone carving.
All of the guys are super lovely and I’m sure we will be back with friends to give it another try soon. I have experienced some pretty cool stuff in New Zealand, but this is definitely up there as the most rewarding! Thank you for an awesome day!
All of the guys are super lovely and I’m sure we will be back with friends to give it another try soon. I have experienced some pretty cool stuff in New Zealand, but this is definitely up there as the most rewarding! Thank you for an awesome day!
Written October 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the amazing feedback, great to hear you enjoyed your carving session with us!
Written November 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emma Gillard
6 contributions
Dec 2020 • Couples
My boyfriend and I had the best time carving jade a few weeks ago. He wanted to make himself a toki, and I had seen a really awesome fish hook in the store I wanted to copy. Melvin was our expert and he was so patient, helping us choose the best pieces of jade (beautiful selection) and perfect our designs. He was on hand the whole time we carved, offering advice and helping out if I got a bit nervous I was going to ruin my piece! We didn’t feel rushed at all, and we are so proud of what we created! Absolute highlight of our NZ trip.
Written December 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for such amazing feedack, we are so happy to hear you enjoyed your carving experience with us!
Written January 12, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
danigross88
Sydney, Australia454 contributions
Nov 2020 • Couples
Absolutely recommend this place and activity! My wife and I came here at the start of a west coast roadie. It was a wonderful experience. The staff are all incredibly friendly, super helpful and knowledgable. Making your own jade piece is a really unique experience and one that we loved. Melwin made our experience all the more special and memorable. Thank you all for a wonderful day!
Written November 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for the amazing feedback, Dani! We try to make the atmosphere in our carving studio as friendly and welcoming as possible.
We are thrilled to hear you enjoyed your time with Melwin.
Take care and we hope to see you again soon.
Steven.
Written November 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
w00dy32
Wellington, New Zealand9 contributions
Apr 2022
I cannot rate this experience highly enough. This is the 3rd time I’ve visited and each time I’ve come away with beautifully carved pendants. Steve is patient and helpful through every stage and the carving studio is just as user friendly for girlz as it is boyz🙂. Thanks again Steve.
Irene ( and Jan)
Wellington NZ
Irene ( and Jan)
Wellington NZ
Written April 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Arohanuitraveller
29 contributions
Jun 2021 • Solo
Amazing experience from beginning to end.
Steve was really helpful in bringing my design from a piece to stone to a finished piece to life and gave me the confidence to complete my everything myself. I choose the bring own material option and loved that I could get on with it but still had help whenever I needed. Very good price for what you are getting and I had an amazing time. Would highly recommend to others.
Steve was really helpful in bringing my design from a piece to stone to a finished piece to life and gave me the confidence to complete my everything myself. I choose the bring own material option and loved that I could get on with it but still had help whenever I needed. Very good price for what you are getting and I had an amazing time. Would highly recommend to others.
Written June 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wilko
Munich, Germany9 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
We had booked the workshop in advance via the website, or used the email address on the website.
When we came to the shop that day, we were able to choose a personal, simple motif and were given advice if there were any "challenges" with our idea or the jade rough stone. If you come with an idea in mind, it is easier to choose.
We were then instructed step by step on how to use the machines, worked on our stone, and the master helped us with difficult areas, either giving us tips on how to use the machine or taking over the work himself if it was really difficult.
We were even given extra paper for the final fine grinding, which was necessary for the grooves in the stone.
The working atmosphere was always relaxed, we could ask our questions at any time and there was never any time pressure.
When we came to the shop that day, we were able to choose a personal, simple motif and were given advice if there were any "challenges" with our idea or the jade rough stone. If you come with an idea in mind, it is easier to choose.
We were then instructed step by step on how to use the machines, worked on our stone, and the master helped us with difficult areas, either giving us tips on how to use the machine or taking over the work himself if it was really difficult.
We were even given extra paper for the final fine grinding, which was necessary for the grooves in the stone.
The working atmosphere was always relaxed, we could ask our questions at any time and there was never any time pressure.
Written March 7, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brigitte J
Germany3 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
Steven is a wonderful helpful man and a professionel carver. I booked a course, designed an earring, but was to tired because I biked a lot, that I had no more power to lern carving...so...Steven did it and carved a great earing!
Never forgot this nice an inspirating place!
Brigitte
Never forgot this nice an inspirating place!
Brigitte
Written November 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AJ
San Francisco, CA332 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Absolutely wonderful jade/Pounamu carving. We chose to carve for each other and this is our favorite souvenir from our trip! We spent a lovely afternoon carving our pieces. Really fun going through the process of designing and carving the piece. Seeing it transform from the slab of jade. This is a highlight from our trip! Would highly recommend as a fun activity and memory for your travels.
Written January 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tommydeee
Hanmer Springs, New Zealand266 contributions
Apr 2021
Fabulous fun, produced really high quality pendants. Great activity, expert help and amazing fun. We planned for the day, I made two carvings in 4 hours and loved every second.
Written April 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon_YAO
Singapore, Singapore
How can I make a booking or check the availability?
Written December 20, 2024
Is Bonz "N Stonz still open? I have had a hard time getting the website to work.
Written August 21, 2018
Hey, yes it’s still open. I also hadn’t found anything in the internet, but we went there two days ago and i showed them some stones i found on the beach (turned out i just found stones).
Written February 5, 2019
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
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