NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand's best.
New Zealand's 15 most popular canoes & kayaks tours, in one place. What each one is actually like, who runs it, and what you will pay.
Kayak from Hahei Beach to Cathedral Cove in the Te Whanganui-a-Hei Marine Reserve. Hot drinks, snacks, caves, and wildlife.
“Due to weather , we were allowed to do kayaking at a different sight . But the experience was amazing and crew was very friendly as well”
Paddle Lake Karapiro at dusk on a small-group kayak tour, then drift through glowworms and a clear night sky. Gear included.
“No kayak experience required. Guides were excellent instructors and knowledgeable about the area and glow worms. We saw so many glow worms! Was amazing!”
Paddle Kaikoura Peninsula by sea kayak in a marine reserve. Small-group wildlife tour with fur seals, birds, and dolphin chances.
“All you need to being with you is water, camera, and maybe snacks. Cam and Charlie were awesome guides!”
Pedal kayak in Kaikoura for New Zealand fur seals. Small-group 3-hour tours with dolphins and birds, plus sunset options.
“Levi and Richie were extremely friendly, informative, knowledgeable and professional. All safety regulations were followed. Kaikoura is a truly beautiful place to kayak. Sadly, we had a flat car battery on return. Levi and Richie immediately came to assist, with Richie jump starting our van. More than 5-star care.”
Paddle Lake Mapourika on a small-group tour from Franz Josef, with gear, guide-led wildlife stops, and digital photos after your trip.
“The guides were wonderful but this is a rather boring and unattractive lake to kayak on. The water is brown and not much to see in the way of scenery. There are many places that are much better for a kayak tour. The free photos were a nice touch.”
Kayak Kaikoura’s rugged coast for guaranteed seal viewing, with chances for dusky dolphins and blue penguins. Gear and guides included.
“Such a good way to spend a morning out on the water. Both guides were super easy going, patient, and made all the effort to keep an eye out for whales and any other wildlife to ensure we all got the most out of our experience. 10/10 recommend”
Rotorua glow worm kayak at dusk: calm lake paddling, cave lights, and possible Milky Way star gazing with pickup included.
“The entire experience was awesome. The pickup was excellent, the driver very courteous and advised what was going to happen. Guides were awesome, explained the entire process. Provided boots, rain pants and rain coats to keep us dry. Made us feel at ease. The glow worm caves were above and beyond what we were expecting.…”
Night kayaking in Rotorua’s glow worm caves, with gear and pickup included. Follow a guide, see bioluminescent caves, and stargaze if clear.
“This night kayak tour was one of the highlights of our time in Rotorua. We launched after sunset and paddled under a clear night sky with excellent star visibility. With very little light pollution, the stargazing alone made the evening worth it. As we moved along the shoreline and under low vegetation, we saw dense…”
Jet boat upriver and funyak canoe down the Dart River from Queenstown, with picnic lunch and gear provided in Mt Aspiring NP.
“The jet boat was 10/10. It was thrilling but also felt safe. The funyaks were hard work. Not as easy or as relaxing as I expected. At a few points we had to drag the funyaks over rocks for approximately 10 meters. It was a full body workout, Read more”
Evening glowworm kayaking on Lake McLaren in Tauranga. Gear and refreshments included, with guided paddling into glowing cliffs.
“Amazing experience! Saw thousands of glow worms ! I recommend wearing the fleece provided as I got soaked even with the kayak skirt. Also I would have appreciated the guides explaining more what we were doing.”
Auckland night kayak tour where bioluminescent plankton light up each paddle stroke. Small group, stargazing, gear included.
“You can tell they truly love what they do, and it made the experience that much better. I walked away with new facts, great memories, and a deeper appreciation for the place”
Paddle Lake McLaren at dusk for glowworms in Mangapapa Canyon, plus a local tasting and stories under the stars. 3 hours.
“Ellie, our guide, was amazing. she picked us up, fed us, cleaned up, got our kayaks ready and gave us a quick training, put us in kayaks, helped the slow and stranded, guided us through the glow worms caves. knowledgeable, entertaining and interactive. she was awesome. Great adventure kayaking in the dark, with stars lightening…”
Night kayak in Long Bay–Okura to spot bioluminescent plankton near Auckland. First-timer lessons and gear included, 2 hours.
“This is an easy experience (perfect for first-time kayakers) that is absolutely stunning. Our tour guide was so excited to show us the bioluminescence- it was great to see! Even after years of being a tour guide, he still loves it just as much as the first time he saw it. The bioluminescence looks like…”
Sunset sea kayaking to Rangitoto Island from Auckland includes equipment, a summit hike, and a kiwi BBQ dinner with city-light paddling.
“We had great guides, Daniel and Byron. They both did an excellent job describing what we would be doing on our sunset paddle. They kept the group together on our crossings to and from the volcanic island. I enjoyed dinner followed by a hike to the top with stunning views of Auckland. Our return paddle…”
Guided kayak on Lake Taupo to a rock wall of Maori carvings, with scenic bird and volcano views plus snacks and an optional swim.
“Great guide and beautiful kayaking trip! Seeing the Maori carvings was such a cool experience! Highly recommend this tour!!”
