Glow Worm Kayak Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Come and explore the Rotorua Lakes on a truly unique and magical kayaking experience. This amazing evening adventure takes you along the lake shorelines in a guided scenic kayak tour as you discover small caverns home to a galaxy of glow worms. One of New Zealand's premium glow worm experiences this tour is designed to create a magical and special trip for every customer. Groups are limited in numbers to each of our personal and expert guides ensuring your adventure is the very best it can be. Our authentic, eco-friendly outdoor tours are led by grassroots leadership. We are an activity provider who strives daily to lead by example creating strong connections, positive contribution, and thoughtfulness to the environments we explore.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult - A minimum supervision ratio of one (1) adult to one (1) child under the age of 16 is required at all times.
What to bring:
For kayaking in summer (November - February) we recommend wearing light-weight clothing. Shorts/pants/leggings for your bottom half and at least two layers for your top half. Water friendly shoes are recommended, but are provided free of charge if needed.
For Kayaking outside of summer (March - October) please wear warm clothing (thermal if possible). Pants/leggings for your bottom half and a minimum of three layers for your top half (which are preferably thermal, fleece, or wool). Please also bring a warm hat and gloves. During our coolest months you will be provided a wetsuit to wear over your clothes. Water friendly shoes are recommended, but are provided free of charge if needed.
You are welcome to bring a towel and change of clothes for after your experience (it is not often someone gets wet enough to require these items)
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Your friendly guide will pick you up and shuttle you from Rotorua, past the iconic Redwood forest as you make your way to our base on the lake shorelines. Upon arrival you will gear-up and prepare for an epic night out with all activity equipment provided. Your guide will then run through safety and basic kayak instruction before you take the helm on the water. You will then begin exploring the shoreline and embracing the last light of the evening as you follow your guide around the lake edge. Once it’s dark, discover your adventurous side as your guide leads you inside small hidden caves home to galaxies of glow worms. Take ample time to enjoy the magical moments inside the caves before returning along your course in the dark. If it is a clear night the magic continues as the stars come out and the cloudy appearance of the milky-way fills the sky. Upon returning to the base you will feel like you have been in another world for the past few hours and will likely have made some new friends through the wonder of this shared experience.
What‘s Included
All equipment provided, no experience required, perfect for all ages (5+ yrs)
Incredible Glow Worms experienced by kayak
A Sunset/Dusk/Night Adventure with Star Gazing (if clear skies)
Pick-up & drop-off transfers from Rotorua Information Centre included: 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua
Experience our Taiao Adventures values, connection, contribution, thoughtfulness to the environment
Small group tours with exclusive lake access (1 guide per 8 kayakers)
Food and drinks
Options
Glow Worm Kayaking Tour
Glow Worm Kayaking Tour
Pickup included
Reviews
331 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Fun Kayaking at night
Judy Y,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The girl guide was v informative and caring. We’ve got to see a lot of glowworms closely inside caves. The lake is calm and the sky is really starry and beautiful
Amazing!
Lynette L,,Dec 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00One of the best experiences I have had. Absolutely amazing! A must do! Everyone was so professional and informative.
Glow Worm Tour - Our Highlight in Rotorua
Joseph C,,Dec 25, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This 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 clusters of glow worms lighting the banks. Our guide, Kaisha, explained their ecology in simple, interesting terms — that glow worms are the larval stage of a native gnat species and use bioluminescence to attract prey. Understanding how and why they glow added real depth to the experience. The group size was small (only eight people), which made the tour feel relaxed and personal. Kaisha was an outstanding guide — knowledgeable, attentive, and genuinely invested in making the experience enjoyable for everyone. Well organized, informative, and unique. I would strongly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Rotorua.
Spectacular, WOW!!!
Monica S,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It really is a different and very well organized activity, experience totally recommended and unique.
Sparkling stars
Carrie S,,Dec 19, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The agency gives you rain/wet resistant clothing to wear so no need for your own. It’s quiet and beautiful on the lake. They go out if it is sprinkling as NZ weather changes fast. You go into three caves to see glow worms.
Must Do if you are in Rotorua
RobR158,,Dec 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did this tour during our family vacation to NZ. It was awesome! The staff was friendly and competent, supplied gear, and were very professional with safety briefings. The whole experience of paddling in the dark with headlamps and having the guide steer us into lakeside caves with the glowworms was just wonderful. The guide kept up a nice narrative on glowworms. We were in NZ for 3 weeks doing various tours and this was in the top 3. Very highly recommended!
This is a great choice to see glow worm magic!
Voyage26007165054,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had heard great things about glow worm experiences in NZ, but this trip exceeded our high expectations. The company was very well organized, had quality kayak equipment (including helpful attire), and our guide Marina was superb - knowledgeable, friendly, helpful. The night kayaking was easy and safe. The glow worms were so beautiful!! Thank you for a wonderful experience!
Amazing experience
RobertBLee,,Dec 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00So cool! Friends and one of our party had done and enjoyed the large cave walk/floats in other areas. This was a unique experience. We're experienced kayakers but had never paddled in the dark. The guides did a good job of getting everyone geared up and a basic dryland paddling/safety at the lakeshore. Some had never kayaked and there were some boat bumps. The caves show only as faint reflections at the edge of the leaf canopy. When the guide pulls your boat into a cave it's like stepping into the cockpit of a small sci-fi ship. The glow worms (glow-butt maggots we now call them) are all over the ceiling and just above your head. Some are close enough to touch but DON'T. Our guide, Ellie, had answers for all our scientific questions regarding their life cycle and behaviour. A highlight of our trip.
Gorgeous glow worms and stunning stars
amvAberdeen,,Dec 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent adventure led by a great team who are really laid back but clearly committed to giving guests the best and safest experience while respecting the environment. The glow worm light reflected in the water of the caves was magical. Equally magical was the starlight display- we had a perfect, still cloudless night and the moon didn’t interfere. Big thanks to Forest, Ellie, Sam, Zoe and Rani for making this so good.
Canceled
Bethany L,,Dec 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00I had called the booking company and was told this was gonna be canceled secondary to weather and that I would be refunded. I never received a cancellation email or a refund of my money.
From NZ$195.00
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