Based in beautiful Tauranga, the heart of the Bay of Plenty, Waimarino Kayak Tours offers some of New Zealand’s most breath-taking kayak adventures. We have 4 kayak tours in Tauranga, including glow worm and scenic kayak tours on Lake McLaren, sea kayaking on Tauranga Harbour as well as the Wairoa River kayak tour. We also head to Rotorua for the Lake Rotoiti hot pool and glow worm kayaking tour. Both freedom and guided kayak tours are available.
Waimarino Kayak Tours has some of the best kayak tours in New Zealand. We cater to Tauranga cruise ship passengers looking for cruise ship shore excursions, plus we also offer tailored kayak tour packages for educational groups and corporate functions. Book your kayak tour today.
Price: $140 Per person – $90 child
Departs: 9:00 am
Duration: 3 Hours
Enjoy the wonderful calm Lake McLaren where serenity takes a new name. Gently paddle a kayak past a multitude of birdlife, literally within paddles’ reach. Sheer cliffs break the stark lush native bush as gentle streams enter the lake’s edge. Kayak into the stunning Mangapapa canyon with water as deep as the cliffs on the sides, where the native bush appears to touch and form a cave. The Tauranga Scenic Lake McLaren Kayak Tour is a must-do Tauranga tour activity.
Price: $140 Per person – $90 child
Departs: 8:30 am & 1:30 pm
Duration: 3 Hours
Neighbouring the famous LakeRotorua, our Scenic Lake Rotoiti Day tour offers both an experience in two of New Zealand’s best kept secrets.
Paddle past the cascading native bush admiring the classic kiwi baches dotted along the cliffs and coves. Learn the myths and legends of the Maori people linked to the area while exploring the quiet lake and it’s abundance of birdlife, before entering the glow worm cave. Glide further across the lake before you arrive at the Manupirua Hot Pools which are only accessible by water. This gives you a chance to relax with the locals in the natural geo-thermal pools while you admire the beauty of your surroundings.
The tour is led by our professional guides and is suitable for all ages
What to bring: We provide: Relax on the edge of tranquil Lake McLaren, enjoy locally produced refreshments while watching the ducks and swans go about their evenings preparations. At dusk our kayak tour guides will lead you onto the lake to watch the sun set over the rolling hills. Gently paddle on your kayak into the night and discover the magic of the enchanting glow worm canyon… Magical, Enchanting, Surreal, Amazing! If any of the above words described the activity you and your group are looking for, then the Glowworm Kayak Tour is for you. Enjoy delicious refreshments on the edge of Lake McLaren. Our kayak tour guides will prepare and brief you on how to kayak effectively before launching you onto picturesque Lake McLaren at twilight to paddle your kayak to the mysterious glow worm canyon. Paddling a kayak may be something you have tried before, but you probably haven’t kayaked at night (we provide head-torches) and certainly not have kayaked in the dark to see constellations of glow worms. It is a fully guided kayak tour, with our professional kayaking guides leading your group and providing a fascinating & informative brief about the life cycle and peculiarities of the New Zealand fungus gnat (glow worms). A truly magical & unique experience; not to be missed!
Tauranga Glow Worm Kayak Evening Tour
Price: $155 Per person
Departs: 7:00 pm (times vary with sunset hours
Duration: 3 HoursThis is a truly unique experience; while you can see glow worms elsewhere in New Zealand, and you can paddle a sea kayak in many places around the world, this is the only place when the two combine for a magical & truly unique experience. This glow worm kayak tour is great fun with great refreshments, beautiful scenery, fantastic birdlife and awesome glow worms.
The glow worms are situated in a narrow, high-sided canyon at the top of the lake, not in a cave, so our kayak tour only departs once a day before sunset so by the time we get to the glow worm canyon it’s completely dark, as required to see the glow worms to the best effect.