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.

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…
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,…
What's Not Included
  • 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…

Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.8
(317 Ratings)
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Eatruntravel17
Nov 23, 2025
Magical! - Absolutely amazing experience! I highly recommend this tour and doing it late at night. Not only did we have great viewing of the glow worms, but we had spectacular star gazing. Also, if you’re a bit claustrophobic like me, it’s so dark you can’t tell how small the cave openings and instead you can just enjoy the beauty of what feels like stars dotting the caves.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Vuwetzel
Nov 23, 2025
Real Deal Glowworm Kayak Trip - Definitely go! If you’re in Rotorua and thinking of going all the way to Waitapo, don’t bother. This is the real deal and you’ll see thousands of glow worms without driving anywhere. And kayak for about 1.5 hours on top of it. No 10 minute crap you’ll read about elsewhere.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
976georgiae
Nov 18, 2025
Glowworm kayaking tour - Jacob was a great tour guide and made us feel very comfortable on the tour. The hot choccie was a great surprise and made the experience of seeing the glow worms even better.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephen_d
Nov 17, 2025
Like nothing else - Incredible experience - both caves and starry skis but wrap up warm even now especially when skies are clear.
Review provided by Viator
Emma_a
Nov 17, 2025
Glow worm kayak experience. - I was very much looking forward to this experience, the guides were brilliant, provided a lot of knowledge, and were very kind. Once in a lifetime experience to go and see these creatures in their natural habitat. And with a super clear sky the stars were also an amazing sight.
Review provided by Viator
Dayna_w
Nov 17, 2025
Amazing Natural Wonderment - If you get the perfect night like we did, not only do you get to experience of the magic of the glow worms we also got to see the most amazing shooting star over the lake. The hosts were wonderful with lots of information. Overall I highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Brad
Nov 9, 2025
Possibly the high point of our New Zealand visit! - This was truly like entering another world... paddling along the shoreline of a lake at midnight and entering little caves and being completely surrounded by glowing organic LED lights! Time truly seemed suspended in that atmosphere. Our two guides Matt and Ellen were very chill and facilitated the peacefulness of the whole experience. This might have been the high point of our visit to New Zealand!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charlotte_p
Nov 5, 2025
Great way to view glow worms close to Rotorua - Fantastic way to see glow worms 15 minutes from Rotorua (rather than 2 hours to Waitamo!) There is a no photography policy (which is understandable as it alters their behaviour), so if photos are your core focus then maybe not for you.
Review provided by Viator
Cnbcc
Nov 4, 2025
Amazing adventure - The guides were super friendly and helpful. They gave us gloves, booties and wetsuits . Kayaking and night and going into glow worm caves was the most amazing experience . Much better than the touristy waitomo caves.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sandy_s
Nov 23, 2025
Great but keep your temp preferences in mind - We met at the designated spot and got driven in a bus to another location to suit up - literally. You can choose your own adventure with a wet suit or rain pants + coat, in addition to the clothes you wear there. There are cubbies to store your belongings. No phones are allowed for photos in the caves. We did the 9:40 tour so I was quite cold and wished I did the wet suit (high 50s F). The kayaking is very easy and the caves were very cool. Some were smaller than others so if you are claustrophobic keep that in mind. We got to meet Forest, Sam, and Kelsey, all of which were so friendly and helpful! The glowworms themselves my partner and I found a bit underwhelming but it was a late night for us so perhaps our moods were a bit off. Despite wearing water protection, you still do get a bit wet/damp. Overall definitely recommend if you’re traveling to Rotorua as this tour meets in the town center.
Review provided by Viator
From $106
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).