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Canyon Kayak Tour: Waikato River Adventure
5.0
11 Ratings
Piarere
Join a guided daytime kayak tour along the Waikato River. Discover the history of the submerged village while relishing the tranquility of the water. Leisurely paddle up the Pokaiwhenua Stream and navigate through the canyon, sculpted by water over centuries.
Join a guided daytime kayak tour along the Waikato River. Discover the history of the submerged village while relishing the tranquility of the water. Leisurely paddle up the Pokaiwhenua Stream and navigate through the canyon, sculpted by water over centuries.
Duration:
3 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
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Pokaiwhenua Stream - Embark on a peaceful, family-friendly journey as you leisurely paddle up the Pokaiwhenua Stream, navigating through a breathtaking canyon sculpted by water over centuries, and glide over the submerged Horahora village.
This guided kayak excursion starts at our base on Horahora Road, where you will paddle along the southern…
-
Pokaiwhenua Stream - Embark on a peaceful, family-friendly journey as you leisurely paddle up the Pokaiwhenua Stream, navigating through a breathtaking canyon sculpted by water over centuries, and glide over the submerged Horahora village.
This guided kayak excursion starts at our base on Horahora Road, where you will paddle along the southern shore of Lake Karāpiro, passing over the submerged village and power station that once supplied electricity to the early Waihi goldfields.
Relish the tranquility as your guide shares the unique history of Horahora, before entering the canyon where ferns and trees hang above, and the melody of birdsong fills the air.
What's Included
- English-speaking guide
- Splash-proof gear provided
- Wet shoes provided
- Dry bags provided
- Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) provided
- English-speaking guide
- Splash-proof gear provided
- Wet shoes provided
- Dry bags provided
- Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) provided
Location
362 Horahora Road
Horahora Road
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
5.0
(11 Ratings)
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1 star
Bettybuckle
Mar 12, 2026
We hired 2 kayaks, Steve and Neil were so helpful and we would highly recommend them. - Incredible scenery and the canyon was a real surprise!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Betsey2328
Jan 5, 2026
Fabulous - Fabulous day with my granddaughter. Our guide was delightful, knowledgeable, and fun! I would recommend this tour to everyone. Thank you thank you thank you!
Elizabeth
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trip07077800932
Dec 31, 2025
Great Crew - Great experience lovely nature learnt a lot about the history of the power station.
Great crew….
Muscles were very sore the next day lol
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Onair26536433304
Oct 26, 2025
My first kayaking experience in NZ - Good experience, although it needs some physical fitness. The instructor and stuff are very friendly, attentive and were looking after all of us. A small break with little snacks and a hot drink was awesome. I would recommend the trip to anyone who like to enjoy the view of the beautiful places, some NZ history, and do some physical exercise.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Faraway25528765539
Sep 10, 2025
A great daytime experience! - We had a great time on the daytime tour! The crew were amazing and super helpful, they had great knowledge of the area and its history. Would definitely recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Trek43702703268
Jul 26, 2025
Highly recommend! - The whole day was very well organised and Steve made everything super easy. We did the walk, bike and kayak and enjoyed all three!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J1526vjsarahs
May 21, 2025
Amazing Kayak! - Amazing kayak and trip 10/10 would recommend! I took a group of youth with disabilities on this tour and the team at Riverside were extremely accommodating and great with our group.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bruce_d
Feb 10, 2025
This is not a big fancy... - This is not a big fancy tour company. This has the feel of a family run operation with all the personnel touch you’d expect. We were a little disappointed when we first arrived because it looked like we were kayaking on a big lake. We did launched from there. Then paddled for a bit, with the guide sharing some history about the place. Then we turned up a tributary. It wasn’t long g before we were paddling through an amazing, lush canyon. Our fears were put to rest.
There was a wide range in the kayaking experience in the group. The guides did a masterful and professional job making it enjoyable for all.
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for magical adventure.
Review provided by Viator
Wizzywizz
Jan 3, 2025
Excellent! - Fun kayak tour, friendly informative guides, excellent equipment and suitable for a whole range of experience and skill levels, not too challenging for young kids or beginners. We’ll be back for another.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Travel00784361625
Jan 2, 2025
Outstanding tour - Riverside Adventures Waikato is the real deal! A professional and friendly company who go the extra mile to give you a great experience. We did the daytime canyon kayak tour with our 6 and 7 year olds. A perfect 3 hours on the water. Everything from the booking process, communication, guide knowledge of the area, equipment quality, group size was perfect. The canyon itself is beautiful. Well worth the money you pay. We will definitely be back when the kids are old enough to do the night time glow worm tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
