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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
(292 Ratings)
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Yael_s
Sep 1, 2025
Such a great experience.... - Such a great experience. The tour company had everything well organized, the guides were amazing, and the glow worms were so cool to see.
Review provided by Viator
Go46028659930
Aug 27, 2025
Star gazing, kayaking and glow worms with great guide/s - On a cool, but not too cold night, earlier this week, I joined Forrest, a local guide with a serious passion for showcasing the lake, glow worms, and the view - and sharing his expertise. The only downside was that taking photos wasn't allowed, as it disrupts the glow worms' habitat and life cycle. I don't begrudge his love for his environment and wildlife - and was stoked they shared their own photos - and they're exactly what I saw. I also got to stargaze and saw Scorpio and t(what i think was the Milky Way), satellites and a bunch of other stars but I have no idea what the other constellations were. Shout out to Jacob who also shared some local knowledge and gave reccs for local walks. Great kayaking experience with these guys.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
339archanab
Aug 17, 2025
Magical - Such an amazing experience! beautiful and spectacular! truly magical.
The guides were super amazing! and the Hot chocolate in winter time was just the magic touch! absolutely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jack_s
Aug 14, 2025
An extremely beautiful... - An extremely beautiful and serene experience. Gorgeous views, engaging and knowledgeable staff, and not too strenuous.
Review provided by Viator
Morgan_g
Aug 2, 2025
This was a perfect way to... - This was a perfect way to spend an evening - the night sky and lake are beautiful, the glow worms are amazing beyond words, and the guides are warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable. We had a wonderful time and particularly appreciated the gear provided to help us stay warm and dry.
Review provided by Viator
Courtney_g
Jul 28, 2025
Magical ✨️ - The most wholesome, lovely, peaceful, enchanted little tour I've ever been on. It was so easy. Just show up, get driven to the lake, everything provided - literally just do a little paddling and enjoy the magic of caves, still water, night sky and glow worms.
Review provided by Viator
X5491thjacksonm
Jul 18, 2025
- Great views and close up experience with the glow worms. A fun paddle to the caves with a great view of the night sky. Knowledgeable and friendly tour guides who significantly enhanced the experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ellynb_13
Jun 30, 2025
Breathtaking!!!!! - The paddle felt so calm and the views were stunning. Each cave experience was better and better...until the final cave, which was breathtaking. Our tour guide gave each of us hot chocolate to keep us warm, giving us such a welcome, friendly feeling.
Our guide was so knowledgeable and we loved not only seeing the galaxies of glowing lights created by the fungus gnat creature, but also learning more about them. Unfortunately, I didn't bring my phone and don't have any photos :(
I highly recommend this tour. Book early, as it is a very popular tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Johndr5794ms
Jun 29, 2025
Glow Worm Kayaking At Night Was Magical - The Glow Worm Kayak Tour was a magical night adventure! Jacob welcomed us outside the Rotorua Information Centre and drove our group to the lake. We met Forrest and Ellen who along with Jacob helped us gear up. It was a cold winter night with a clear sky. Luckily, they give good instructions on what to wear on their website. And even better, they provide waterproof over pants, over jackets, and because it was winter, also gloves and booties that are all sanitized and kept us warm. Forrest and Ellen gave us safety instructions and headlamps for the lake which we turn off when viewing the Glowworms. They took photos of us geared up. Then they split the group between the guides. Ellen took us as part of a smaller group of 6. We had lots of close up encounters with the glowworms. So cool! Ellen shared so much interesting knowledge about the Glowworms and answered our different questions. Since it was a clear night, we could easily see the Milky Way and the Southern Cross constellation. We sat together talking, looking up at the sky and felt very welcomed on our first activity in New Zealand. It was so much fun and so special! After we returned to the Rotorua Information Centre, Jacob told us about Eat Streat nearby which has a lot of restaurants. This was a perfect experience that we would like to do again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vacation44845742720
Jul 10, 2025
A Magical Glowworm Kayaking Adventure - I was so excited to see the glowworms up close—it was such a magical sight! At the beginning of the kayak trip, I felt pretty rusty and unsteady, but I was with a friend, which made it more fun and less stressful. As the journey went on, my skills improved, though I was definitely tired by the end. We were treated to a nice hot chocolate before starting the return trip, which was a perfect little break. On the way back, we got caught in a bit of rain, but the team and coaches were well prepared, so everything went smoothly. Overall, it was a really nice experience that I’ll remember for a long time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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