Rotorua Glow Worm Kayaking Tour: Family-Friendly Adventure in Nature with Unique Sightings
4.8
157 Ratings
Rotorua
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:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
- Rotorua isite Visitor Information Centre - Discover New Zealand’s magical glow worms on this incredible evening kayaking tour with Paddle Board Rotorua. 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 shorelines of Lake Okareka. Upon arrival you will gear-up and prepare for an epic night out with all activity equipment provided. Following the introductions you will gear-up and prepare for an epic night out with all necessary kayaking equipment provided. Your guide will then run through safety and basic kayak instruction before you take the helm on the water. Explore the shoreline and embrace the weather conditions of the evening as you follow your guide around the lake edge as night sets in. Once its 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.
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (if option selected)
- Goods and Services Tax (GST) included
- All equipment provided
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
Additional Information
Paddle Board Rotorua delivers a distinctive tourism experience, treating every tour as a delightful excursion with friends, focused on crafting the ultimate enjoyment. Renowned as a top activity in Rotorua, this adventure offers a spectacular view of mesmerizing glow worms. It’s an activity that is suitable for the whole family, providing a chance to connect with the outdoors, enjoy oneself, and pick up kayaking abilities, all guided by our amiable team.
- Child rate applies only when sharing with 2 paying adults
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- What to bring:
- For kayaking in summer months (Dec, Jan, February) we recommend wearing swim wear with thermal leggings/gym type leggings and a thermal top layer, fleece jersey and light jacket. For Kayaking outside of summer (March-November) please wear swim wear, thermal leggings/gym type leggings and a thermal top layer with a minimum of three upper layers which are preferably fleece or wool. Please also bring a woolen beanie and woolen gloves. If it looks like rain a rain jacket also. Water shoes are recommended, but are provided free of charge if needed.
- Towel and warm clothes to get changed into after the tour.
- A sense of fun and adventure.
Location
Rotorua isite Visitor Information Centre
Fenton Street
The Rotorua information Centre is located at 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua. Please be ready and waiting at least 10 minutes prior to your scheduled activity time.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(157 Ratings)
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Courtney
Apr 21, 2024
A must do in Rotorua - Truely a magical experience! It was a very easy kayak and the glow worms were so bright in the caves.
Forest was an amazing guide and the hot choccy was a great bonus
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rachel_m
Apr 4, 2024
Worth the time - Appreciated the pickup service. Friendly and knowledgeable guides made the experience all the more memorable
Review provided by Viator
Jieqian_z
Mar 31, 2024
A lovely beautiful night - A super lovely night! We saw a fantastic Milky Way on the Kayak, and the glowing worm caves were beautiful.
The guide from Christchurch was very kind and patient with my 7 year old son.
During the of waiting, they prepared game, Starry Sky Explanation and hot chocolate. A very lovely experience, really recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Spring_r
Mar 30, 2024
Precious night on the lake - Forest was knowledgeable, friendly and patient. Glow worms are twinkling stars. The night sky was adorned with constellations. The lake was calm. Although the rain came toward the end of our kayaking session, we all had a marvelous time. After hot cocoa, we paddled excitedly back to shore. What a wonderful night!
Review provided by Viator
Deborah_w
Mar 29, 2024
Magical experience to see the glowworms. - Magical evening kayaking with great guides! They put you at ease, sorted you out with the right gear if you didn't have it and showed us the amazing caves where you enter in the dark (really fun and cool) to see the magical glowworms lighting up the cave ceiling. Even if you've seen them at waitomo it's still worth doing this trip as it's a much more intimate experience to see them, and you have the added bonus of kayaking under the stars which was also awesome in itself! Our guide couldn't have been nicer and shared a hot chocolate treat with us as we took in the special moment! Highly recommend. Thanks paddleboard Rotorua!
Review provided by Viator
Kimberlyjy6989ze
Mar 16, 2024
Magical experience! - The experience was amazing! Being on the lake with a perfectly clear night was magical! Forrest was our guide. He was so knowledgeable about the lake, the constellations and the glow worms. He was very patient with those who had never kayaked including me. He helped a few members of our group who had claustrophobia. We were afraid of being too cold when on the lake but the water was warm.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Angel_j
Mar 9, 2024
DO IT - Forrest was a great guide! Easy paddle out to the small caves. The night sky was AMAZING! One of the highlights of our trip. Definitely recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Audrey
Mar 7, 2024
An experience to live - I highly recommend this activity
We took a kayak tour at night in caves where there are “glowing worms”
The organizers ensure smooth technical progress, lead with good humor and explain educationally everything concerning the lake, the caves and the famous "glowing worms".
It's beautiful and the lake at night is incredible!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_d
Mar 30, 2024
Not Glow Worms - Glowing Poop in Larva organisms - To be fair, it probably is what you expect out of it. I just anticipated it to be a lot more lit up with the "glow worms". I learned that the things you are looking at are actually larva organisms with poop inside them (that is what radiates the visual of the glow). When you break it down to that, I definitely wouldn't recommend. However, we had a lovely evening with a clear sky and you could easily see hundreds of stars up above and many constellations. That in of itself of a spectacular view & experience. Also, if you do choose to go, if you could be so lucky as to get the guide - Nick. I stayed in New Zealand (North & South islands for 3 weeks) and even with my opinion of the tour itself, he was the best tour guide I had throughout my entire holiday. He was a genuinely nice person, cared about every single individual on the tour, and was very active in engaging questions about New Zealand history, culture, "glow worm" education, etc. Couldn't recommend him as your guide if you choose that this experience is for you!
Review provided by Viator
Susan_f
Mar 16, 2024
No refund - Our trip was canceled due to weather and I have been trying to get a refund for over 6 months with no luck. Do I am not happy with Viator or the glow worm caves.
Review provided by Viator
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