Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Bioluminescence is like Pandora of “Avatar” and scenes in “Life of Pi”
Escape with us to the most pure and otherworldly experience that natural New Zealand has to offer.
See the plankton glow in the dark from your first paddle stroke on the bioluminescent kayak tour. As the night grows dark, step into your very comfortable kayak and get ready for a personal encounter with this remarkable phenomenon.
Our professional guide will lead you to the best spots where the glowing algae accumulates. You will be enchanted by how every stroke of your paddles leaves behind a glowing swirl of bluish light, and fish light up their path like shooting stars in the water.
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Okura
Auckland Bioluminescence Kayak Tour. Experience Bioluminescent Night Cruising. Be one of the few to see this natural phenomenon known as ‘Sea Sparkle’ or ‘Marine Aurora’. This bioluminescence kayak tour in Auckland is an inspiring night paddle. Watch as your kayak leaves a glittering wake behind you of luminous plankton.
Life jacket, kayak, paddle
Toilets
Meet: end of Okura River Road
Starting point:
1 Okura River Road, Okura, Auckland 0792, New Zealand
Meet at Waiake Beach
Starting point:
Waiake Beach, Tāmaki-makau-rau 0630, New Zealand
41 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sunshine38824078214,Apr 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
I had an absolutely incredible experience on this kayak tour in Auckland, and a huge part of that was thanks to our guide, Caleb. From the outset, he was exceptionally kind, warm, and had such an engaging personality that immediately put everyone at ease. Despite less-than-ideal weather conditions, he remained enthusiastic and fully committed to ensuring we still had the best possible experience. Caleb also had a fantastic sense of humor and a very natural ability to connect with the group, which made the entire tour feel relaxed, enjoyable, and full of laughter. With 6 of us in the group, he created such a welcoming and engaging atmosphere, made good conversation and jokes with the others and taught me some New Zealand slang. What truly stood out would have been his depth of knowledge. He was not only well-versed in bioluminescence and explained it in a way that was both accessible and fascinating, but he also demonstrated impressive knowledge of the constellations above us. Being able to learn about both the natural phenomenon beneath us and the night sky above added a really magical dimension to the experience and made it feel genuinely unforgettable. His passion and willingness to share his knowledge were truly impressive. He also made a clear effort to take us to locations where he knew we had the highest chance of witnessing bioluminescence, and his guidance throughout the night felt both intentional and thoughtful. He maintained great conversation throughout and balanced being informative with being personable, which made the whole experience feel very authentic and well-curated. It is evident that Caleb takes pride in what he does and genuinely cares about the experience of the people he guides. In my opinion, people like him deserve recognition for the impact they have, because he is truly excellent at his job. Seeing bioluminescence has been something I have been looking forward to for months, and I feel incredibly grateful to have even witnessed a few glimpses of it. It was surreal and deeply memorable being out on the water in such a unique setting. I am planning to return to Auckland in about a month, and I would absolutely do this tour again with my friends for another opportunity to see more. Thank you, Caleb, for making this experience so meaningful and unforgettable for me.
angelag988,Mar 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
It was totally FUN! After we geared up (lifejackets and little lights attached to the jackets turned on) and got the kayaks into the waters, we pushed off into the dark. The kayaks were for 2 people. The back person had a bit of rudder steering. It was sometimes hard to hear the 2 guides (sorry, I can't remember names). One lead us around, looking for a prime spot for the biolum-s and the back person helped corral the wandering patrons. I think there might have been 12 kayaks that night. They did a great job of keeping us from spreading out too much, getting lost in the dark, or just wandering off alone. :) They taught us a bit of the area and the biolum-s we were hunting. As we wandered, everyone shared their experiences with kayaking or stargazing or just chatted. Then we found them... Once I finally figured out what they were trying to show us, I started playing with the water. Patting it with my paddle and swirling my hands in the water. All combinations of water splashing and movements were tried. It was so fun to see the sparks and glows that came about our efforts. Sometimes, it was just the kayak splitting the water that caused the glow. Magical. I'd do this again in a heartbeat.
GrandTour47525145253,Mar 18, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
A fantastic tour that I would highly recommend. Peter and Conrad provided clear instructions and shared their knowledge with genuine enthusiasm, making the experience both enjoyable and informative. It was a pleasure to be guided by people who truly love what they do. The evening was memorable, with the incredible opportunity to witness bioluminescence firsthand. Being out on the water on a calm, clear night was also wonderfully relaxing.
Sarah B,Mar 16, 2026
- Review from Viator
Amazing experience. It was like looking at stars in the sea. The guides gave us plenty of time to play with the algae.
rory s,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
This was a very cool experience both being out on the open ocean at night and seeing the bioluminescence activity. Our guide made it feel very relaxed and comfortable.
goonz2,Mar 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
All necessary instructions are clear and simple. The instructors were very knowledgeable, helpful, friendly and passionate about the environment. They were very fit, fun and careful. The experience is absolutely incredible. This is one experience where you have to be there and do it to understand the fascination. It is money well spent and an experience to treasure. I highly recommend it whether you are with somone or alone.
Leo S,Mar 8, 2026
- Review from Viator
Meet the van out on Waiake beach, there is a changing room at the beach, you will get wet just sitting in a wet kayak. We took an "uber" from Aukland, about 25 minute ride. The tour guides were very friendly, after a short "lesson" we paddled out into a very calm bay and stirred up the plankton to create the bioluminescence. It was a 1/2 moon on a very clear night so lots of stars, so lots of light, so not the absolute best viewing of the plankton but it got better as it got later/darker.
Emma T,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Viator
Excellent experience, the bioluminescence was sparkling beautifully. The guides were lovely. The only thing I’d advise other travellers is to wear water shoes as there is a rocky surface to walk on and sinking mud to get into the water when it’s low tide. Also look up at the sky aswell it was amazing.
H3620PNjoshp,Feb 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
Incredible experience and great guides, they were great at helping us find the bio and we learnt some interesting stuff about it. Would recommend for pairs, family’s and solo travellers. Even without the bio the stars were great and kayak was fun
Jennifer K,Feb 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
Kaleb and Legend are fantastic young men who live and love what they do. I am a solo traveler and it was a great experience. They provided lighting, life jackets and kayaks and paddles. I'm a chicken on the water and I felt confident in the location choice (nice calm water) and their abilities to navigate us, as well as the lovely group of folks I met. Great young men running this show. Thank you.
Operated by Social Nature Movement