Lake Mapourika Kayak Tour: Scenic Glacier Views

378 Ratings

Franz Josef / Waiau

Save

View Gallery (9)

Embark on a small-group kayak adventure near Franz Josef Glacier. Discover the stunning Lake Mapourika, surrounded by the Southern Alps and Glaciers, and explore a kiwi sanctuary in the pristine rainforest.

Duration: 3 hours

Cancellation: 24 hours

learn more

Highlights

Lake Mapourika - Paddle across the stunning waters of Lake Mapourika with your knowledgeable local guide. Take in views of the glaciers and Southern Alps as you paddle across and explore the rainforest and conservation area on the far shoreline of lake.

What's Included

Private transportation
Fully Guided Activity
Courtesy pick-ups available on request
Courtesy Transport to and from the Lake
High Quality Photos
All equipment provided including dry bags, splash jackets and gloves and hats in the winter

What's Not Included

Lunch
Food and drinks, unless specified

Additional Information

A unique kayak adventure, only minutes from Franz Josef Glacier! Set out across Lake Mapourika’s mirror-like water and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Southern Alps and Glaciers.
Lake Mapourika was created by the mighty Franz Josef Glacier as it retreated some 14 000 years ago, now it sits sandwiched between the Southern Alps and the Tasman Sea….

Location

30 Main Road

Main Road

Please check-in at our office 15 minutes prior to your trip departure time. We are located in the building next to The Landing Restaurant.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings

4.9

(378 Ratings)

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

X6965plsues

Nov 8, 2025

A fun paddle in the lake - Ollie and Farrah were our kayaking guides. It was a sunny start but got increasingly windy. Ollie was cheerful and patient. His humorous but essential guidance really helped. We noted that he made sure that everyone was given sufficient attention and held our interest with his narrative. Farrah was also very informative and formed a nice team with Ollie to convoy us through rather choppy waters on the way back. We all had a great workout and lovely time.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Emsmith7902

Nov 6, 2025

Peaceful lake - We had a great afternoon kayaking on the lake. Although it was raining and we didn’t see the mountains, the misty lake was peaceful and tranquil as we were the only ones out. Kate was very friendly and knowledgeable. I would recommend - great alternative to the helicopters.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Harrison_k

Nov 1, 2025

Absolute bonza - It was an absolute blast ! Ollie our guide was a total legend , great sense of humour and his knowledge of te reo maori was immaculate ! Highly recommend and will be back again for more.

Review provided by Viator

Joanne_s

Oct 14, 2025

Stunning Location! Great way to explore the local area! - Great trip, great guide, all kit you needed was provided. Stunning location! Good knowledge of local flora, fauna and history.

Review provided by Viator

297bellaj

Oct 1, 2025

Very good - We originally planned to take a helicopter ride, but it exceeded our budget. In the end, we chose to take this kayak - the scenery is still charming, and this kind of glacier is not can be seen in China. We strongly recommend it, and the price is also reasonable. We can also share the cost with our classmates, very good

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Adventure597653

Jul 19, 2025

Magical trip through the mist - My family and I had a spectacular morning kayak tour of the lake with the entertaining and humorous guidance of Max. No-one else was on the lake when we did the tour, and the sun glowing through the morning fog made it a magical and serene experience on the water. As the fog burned-off we got to go into the narrow area that feeds the lake and see the mostly unspoiled-by-man plants and bird life. Highly recommended!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Goplaces35514867102

Jun 16, 2025

EPIC - We had an awesome time kayaking with Franz Josef Wilderness Tours! The whole experience was so much fun, even though it was a bit challenging for us since we hadn’t kayaked in a while. But Max, our guide, was an absolute legend! He was super friendly, patient, and made the whole tour enjoyable and easy to follow. Max kept the vibes chilled and fun the entire time, and made sure we were safe while still having a laugh. The scenery was absolutely stunning, and paddling through the peaceful waters surrounded by the mountains and rainforest was unreal. Highly recommend this tour — especially if you get Max as your guide!

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Sarahfabienneh2025

May 7, 2025

Great experience - It was great! We were really lucky with the weather. To hear about the rainforest was also really interesting. I would love to do it again.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Jenju270ox

Apr 29, 2025

High quality tour - a definite highlight from my time in New Zealand - My tour companions and I had a great morning and I would highly recommend Franz Josef Wilderness Tours. The kayaking tour was fun with good equipment provided - tandem kayaks with rudder, lifejacket, spray jacket and skirt. The hike was really enjoyable and Dale provided great commentary and demonstrated a real passion for the area and its wildlife. One of my favourite parts of this tour was that Dale took photos for us both on the water and during the hike which meant we had high quality images to share afterwards. Plus this was included in the overall price and delivered less than 24 hours after our tour - a real bonus.

Review provided by Tripadvisor

Sandy_b

Oct 25, 2025

Fun trip - It was a nice lake kayaking activity, but we could not see the glacier from where we were on the lake.. The Staff were friendly, nice, and informative as well as passionate about the local wildlife and the protection plan to save the Kiwi. It was a rare good weather day.

Review provided by Viator

Check Availability

From $84

up to 15 guests

1 - Adult