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.
“Great experience! Well worth it as you spend over 3 hours and get to beach on Cathedral Cove. Brad was a great guide and shared a lot of the history of New Zealand and surrounding islands as well!”
Paddle Lake Karapiro at dusk on a small-group kayak tour, then drift through glowworms and a clear night sky. Gear included.
“Such a fun evening experiencing the magic of the glow words and the history of the area we were in. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff who made the trip memorable.”
Paddle Kaikoura Peninsula by sea kayak in a marine reserve. Small-group wildlife tour with fur seals, birds, and dolphin chances.
“Cam was a fantastic guide and is clearly passionate about the area and the wildlife. For us it was a great introduction into kayaking and has made us keen to do more! Unfortunately we were pretty limited in the distance we could kayak due to the strong waves that day and didn't see much wildlife…”
Pedal kayak in Kaikoura for New Zealand fur seals. Small-group 3-hour tours with dolphins and birds, plus sunset options.
“Conner was an incredible Guide with lots of knowledge! We had such a cool time and saw even a little blue penguin swimming around our kayaks! Thanks for this really enjoyable experience :)”
Paddle Lake Mapourika on a small-group tour from Franz Josef, with gear, guide-led wildlife stops, and digital photos after your trip.
“Great fun, light paddling, informative tour guides, beautiful lake. Short drive to lake, good equipment.”
Kayak Kaikoura’s rugged coast for guaranteed seal viewing, with chances for dusky dolphins and blue penguins. Gear and guides included.
“We had a spectacular morning kayaking to see the seals. Our guide was so knowledgeable and great at keeping the group together! Can’t thank them enough!”
Rotorua glow worm kayak at dusk: calm lake paddling, cave lights, and possible Milky Way star gazing with pickup included.
“We valued that they offered the suitable equipment, which was essential to keep us warm abd somewhat dry. The overall experience was pretty unique. We were lucky enough to enjoy some amazing stargazing as well 😊 The guide Ellie was awesome 🙏”
Night kayaking in Rotorua’s glow worm caves, with gear and pickup included. Follow a guide, see bioluminescent caves, and stargaze if clear.
“This tour goes rain or shine so be ready with a rain jacket or sweater or check the forecast early. It was really cool to see the glowworms in small caves from the water. Our guide was great and we felt well taken care of.”
Jet boat upriver and funyak canoe down the Dart River from Queenstown, with picnic lunch and gear provided in Mt Aspiring NP.
“Just magnificent. Highlight of the trip. Highly recommended. Super fun upstream with Pedro in the jet boat. Incredible scenery. We joined the funyaks as a raft because of the wind, which was fine - social and relaxing. Ella our guide was ace. The side trip to the canyon was amazing. Super pro crew, fun, social,…”
Evening glowworm kayaking on Lake McLaren in Tauranga. Gear and refreshments included, with guided paddling into glowing cliffs.
“An incredible experience not to be missed. I’ve done glow worm tours both in a cave and via this tour in a kayak through the canyon and this one is far and above any cave experience I’ve had. Moonlight kayaking also just cannot be beat! You Read more”
Auckland night kayak tour where bioluminescent plankton light up each paddle stroke. Small group, stargazing, gear included.
“The bioluminescent plankton were amazing to see glowing at night along with the bright stars. The guides Paul and Millie were amazing and very knowledgeable!”
Paddle Lake McLaren at dusk for glowworms in Mangapapa Canyon, plus a local tasting and stories under the stars. 3 hours.
“Loved it!! Very enchanting and the stories were fantastic:):) Mother Nature also gave us a beautiful starry night!!”
Night kayak in Long Bay–Okura to spot bioluminescent plankton near Auckland. First-timer lessons and gear included, 2 hours.
“Not that much bioluminescent compared to other places. Need to do it in Bay of Islands. But for people who have never seen it before it is recommended since it is near the city as well.”
Sunset sea kayaking to Rangitoto Island from Auckland includes equipment, a summit hike, and a kiwi BBQ dinner with city-light paddling.
“An absolutely fantastic experience for those with a decent fitness level. Fun paddling, gorgeous scenery, and an amazing guide in Ben.”
Guided kayak on Lake Taupo to a rock wall of Maori carvings, with scenic bird and volcano views plus snacks and an optional swim.
“The guides were very knowledgeable and helpful, Lisa even brought us to the bank to re-adjust our pedals and the other guide pulled us for a bit!!!”
