Waikato River Kayaking: Scenic 2-Hour Guided Tour

Embark on a breathtaking 2-hour guided kayak trip along the stunning Waikato River from Taupo. Discover hidden islands, nature reserves, and swimming spots, and relax in the Natural Hot Pools. Complimentary photos included!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 54 Spa Road - Enjoy kayaking along the stunning Waikato River, where you can relax in the warm, natural geothermal hot pools. Paddle past islands, nature reserves, and beneath the Taupo Bungy and Extreme Swing. Please be aware that a minimum of four bookings is necessary for a tour to take place. For individual bookings, please reach out to us directly. Suitable for ages 4-80.
What's Included
  • Professional guide
  • All equipment
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Discover one of Taupō’s hidden gems—the stunning beauty and peacefulness of the Waikato River’s crystal-clear waters will leave you in awe. Embark on a kayaking adventure starting at the source of New Zealand’s largest river, gliding past islands, nature reserves, swimming areas, and the Taupō Bungy drop zone, before enjoying a swim or dipping your feet…

Location
Canoe and Kayak Taupo
Spa Road
Please meet us at Canoe & Kayak 15 minutes before your scheduled departure.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(170 Ratings)
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Jason_d
Apr 5, 2026
Waikato Paddle - No real kayaking experience required. It is more of a float with some paddling than a kayaking effort. But well worth it and enjoyable.
Review provided by Viator
Kate
Mar 23, 2026
Great day on the river! - An easy paddle downstream, beautiful clear water, with a couple of stops for swimming and a dip in the hot pool. Lovely way to spend a couple of hours on part of the river otherwise hidden from view. Thank you to our awesome guide Glen!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charmainer975
Mar 9, 2026
Awesome - We had such a great time. Our guide was fantastic, the river was beautiful. We all jumped in for a swim which was an awesome experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nellj2026
Feb 18, 2026
Amazing! - Super fun! River was beautiful and Connell was so great and interesting! We had a blast and would recommend to anyone :)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sue_l
Feb 13, 2026
A great trip - even in the rain! - Definitely wear swimsuits and flip flops for this, even if you don’t want to swim at the hot water spot. It much easier to get in and out of the boat. We felt very safe and thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Our guide was really knowledgeable too.
Review provided by Viator
Lucasj500
Feb 10, 2026
A nice relaxing float - The team were amazing and friendly. Connel our guide was super encouraging and friendly and shared lots of info on the area. Really made the experience! The water was clear the hot springs were wonderful. Thanks team
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roy
Jan 31, 2026
Safe, scenic and enjoyable - This was a lovely scenic trip down a gently flowing river. It was well organised, on time and above all we felt very safe. There were families with young kids and they were well looked after too. It was not hard work and you could float most of it if you wished to. The guides gave good information too
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Michael_c
Jan 17, 2026
Great fun! - Relaxing row along a beautiful lazy river with a friendly knowledgable guide. Me and my wife took the early session which ended up being essentially a private tour. Eloise was lovely and shared some interesting facts and took photos for us.
Review provided by Viator
Marcw1467
Jan 13, 2026
Family Adventure - Loved it. Check in and transfer to lake very easy and collection was done at the other end. Great staff and tour guide. Felt right at home and my little boy and wife loved it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ambassador696212
Jan 10, 2026
Highlight of our Taupō trip! - Amazing experience we (my daughter and myself) didn't't want to hop out. Great for young children who have no or minimum experience too! Loved that the kayak is see through too. And we stopped for a swim too. We will definitely do it again. Thanks team!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $53
up to 8 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).