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Glow Worm Kayak Tour: Rotorua Lakes
Experience a family-friendly adventure in Rotorua with a unique glow worm kayaking tour. Explore nature, learn kayak skills, and create lasting memories with our friendly guides.
Experience a family-friendly adventure in Rotorua with a unique glow worm kayaking tour. Explore nature, learn kayak skills, and create lasting memories with our friendly guides.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Rotorua isite Visitor Information Centre - Your friendly guide will pick you up and shuttle you from Rotorua, past the iconic Redwood forest as you make your way to our base on the lake shorelines. Upon arrival you will gear-up and prepare for an epic night out with all activity equipment provided. Your guide will then run through safety and basic…
- Rotorua isite Visitor Information Centre - Your friendly guide will pick you up and shuttle you from Rotorua, past the iconic Redwood forest as you make your way to our base on the lake shorelines. Upon arrival you will gear-up and prepare for an epic night out with all activity equipment provided. Your guide will then run through safety and basic kayak instruction before you take the helm on the water. You will then begin exploring the shoreline and embracing the last light of the evening as you follow your guide around the lake edge. Once it’s dark, discover your adventurous side as your guide leads you inside small hidden caves home to galaxies of glow worms. Take ample time to enjoy the magical moments inside the caves before returning along your course in the dark. If it is a clear night the magic continues as the stars come out and the cloudy appearance of the milky-way fills the sky. Upon returning to the base you will feel like you have been in another world for the past few hours and will likely have made some new friends through the wonder of this shared experience.
What's Included
- All equipment provided, no experience required, perfect for all ages (5+ yrs)
- Incredible Glow Worms experienced by kayak
- A Sunset/Dusk/Night Adventure with Star Gazing (if clear skies)
- Pick-up & drop-off transfers from Rotorua Information Centre included: 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua
- Experience our Taiao Adventures values, connection,…
- All equipment provided, no experience required, perfect for all ages (5+ yrs)
- Incredible Glow Worms experienced by kayak
- A Sunset/Dusk/Night Adventure with Star Gazing (if clear skies)
- Pick-up & drop-off transfers from Rotorua Information Centre included: 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua
- Experience our Taiao Adventures values, connection, contribution, thoughtfulness to the environment
- Small group tours with exclusive lake access (1 guide per 8 kayakers)
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Food and drinks
Additional Information
Come and explore the Rotorua Lakes on a truly unique and magical kayaking experience. This amazing evening adventure takes you along the lake shorelines in a guided scenic kayak tour as you discover small caverns home to a galaxy of glow worms. One of New Zealand’s premium glow worm experiences this tour is designed to create a magical and special trip…
Come and explore the Rotorua Lakes on a truly unique and magical kayaking experience. This amazing evening adventure takes you along the lake shorelines in a guided scenic kayak tour as you discover small caverns home to a galaxy of glow worms. One of New Zealand’s premium glow worm experiences this tour is designed to create a magical and special trip for every customer. Groups are limited in numbers to each of our personal and expert guides ensuring your adventure is the very best it can be. Our authentic, eco-friendly outdoor tours are led by grassroots leadership. We are an activity provider who strives daily to lead by example creating strong connections, positive contribution, and thoughtfulness to the environments we explore.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- What to bring:
- For kayaking in summer (November - February) we recommend wearing light-weight clothing. Shorts/pants/leggings for your bottom half and at least two layers for your top half. Water friendly shoes are recommended, but are provided free of charge if needed.
- For Kayaking outside of summer (March - October) please wear warm clothing (thermal if possible). Pants/leggings for your bottom half and a minimum of three layers for your top half (which are preferably thermal, fleece, or wool). Please also bring a warm hat and gloves. During our coolest months you will be provided a wetsuit to wear over your clothes. Water friendly shoes are recommended, but are provided free of charge if needed.
- You are welcome to bring a towel and change of clothes for after your experience (it is not often someone gets wet enough to require these items)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(193 Ratings)
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Renellymaharaj
Nov 17, 2024
Great experience! - We booked last minute so did the last tour of the day around 10pm. Was a short drive to the lake. They were well prepared, had gear for everyone so we were nice and warm and stayed dry. Your eyes eventually adjust to the dark. Was so cool seeing the glow worms in the cave and you can even see a few along the trees before the caves. The water was very calm and it was an easy paddle. Our guide was great and the hot chocolate break in the cave was nice. I was debating between doing this or Waitmo but I'm glad we did this as it was a unique experience kayaking at night and much closer to Rotorua and we didn't have to go out of our way. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adventure65734406978
Nov 17, 2024
A moonlight paddle and twinkling glow worms. - A truly wonderful experience getting up close to the glow worms. The whole tour was well organised, the staff were friendly and our guide, Hans, did a great job. He was very knowledgeable about glow worms - we learnt a lot! It was magical being on the calm lake in the moonlight, then seeing the twinkling glow worms in the caves, I would highly recommend this tour to everyone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hunguskiwi
Nov 13, 2024
Gorgeous Guides & Glow Worms! A++ - What an extraordinary experience. From the moment we were collected from the Rotorua iSite, we were in great hands. This was surprisingly relaxed for an adventure experience, I'd describe it as a soft adventure experience. I'm not fit, overweight, it was fine for me - no previous kayak experience is necessary. The guides were brilliant - Thanks Forest for taking us to the Lake and to our guide Tom: The perfect blend of amusing, kind, insightful and fun. I learnt so much on this tour, and the glow worm caves - I absolutely loved this: So many glow worms, loved getting right up close to them, in a kayak, gently bobbing in the water: So magical. No masse crowds either, really off the beaten track: Just extraordinary. Highly recommend this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Brendonp_1987
Nov 10, 2024
Great experience! - This was a great tour, especially with doing it at night time. We went to alot of caves and saw heaps of glow worms. Was an amazing experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cornelia_g
Nov 9, 2024
Lasting experience - Offering a kayak tour in a volcano crater at night time seems a very special event to me. The guides could give us a lot of information about the surrounding nature and told us New Zealand legends while watching numerous glow worms in the dark caves. It was a very special feeling and a unique experience. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Review provided by Viator
4izzie
Nov 4, 2024
Fantastic memory - This was my favourite glow worm trip and I have done many all over the country.
I would recommend it to everyone regardless of age or fitness.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Coosbaymartin
Nov 3, 2024
Don’t miss it! - 2+ weeks on the North Island and this may have been the highlight of the trip. Knowledgeable, fun staff, good gear, beautiful setting, very tranquil and relaxing with an easy pace, and of course great glowworms. Even though it’s at night, this is a great intro if you’ve never kayaked before—super easy paddling
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anghb91
Oct 23, 2024
An amazing night to remember! - 5 stars! This was an amazing night to remember. We did the 9pm glow worms kayak tour (which was relaxed and everyone stayed dry in their kayaks). Our wonderful and passionate guides made the experience extra magical, thank you. Of all the tourist activities we did in our trip around NZ, this would have to be my favourite. I would highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karendz3346mx
Oct 18, 2024
Trip of a lifetime! - We had an awesome time with Jacob as our guide to the amazing glow worm caves by kayak. Jason was a pro when i accidentally dumped the kayak in the first cave. He was professional and kind and helped my husband and I get back in the boat, warm up with hot chocolate and move on to bigger caves with more magical glow worms. The lake was beautiful and moon was full on the night we went. I recommend stripping down to basics under the wet suit in case you get wet. Bring a towel and sweats to put in afterward. Amazing trip!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Guide48257757242
Nov 7, 2024
A fun and unique experience. - A new experience that was worth a visit! The tour team was wonderful and informative. The only complaint is not all the kayak seats were comfortable. Would do it again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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