Rotorua: Evening Starlight Gourmet Kayak Tour Glowworms

Overview

Available languages

English

4 hours 30 minutes

Mobile ticket

Embark on a mesmerizing evening adventure kayaking across Lake Rotoiti, New Zealand's gem. Immerse yourself in the breathtaking scenery and the symphony of birdlife as you paddle towards the mythical Glowworm cave, a spectacle of bioluminescence. After a sumptuous BBQ dinner at the secluded Manupirua Hot Pools, accessible only by water, surrender to pure relaxation as you soak in the therapeutic warmth of the natural geothermal springs. As the moon and stars twinkle above, witness the lake's magical transformation. This enchanting experience is a perfect harmony of nature's wonders, leaving you with cherished memories of tranquility and awe.

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for pregnant travelers

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Bottled water

Snacks

Dinner

Gratuities

What To Expect

Embark on an unforgettable evening adventure kayaking on the pristine waters of Lake Rotoiti, nestled amidst the breathtaking landscape of New Zealand. As you set off on your journey, be captivated by the awe-inspiring scenery that surrounds you. While paddling gracefully, you'll be enchanted by the symphony of birdlife that fills the air, adding a harmonious touch to the already picturesque setting. Your experienced guide will share with you the fascinating myths and legends that are intricately woven into the fabric of this area's rich history. Next, venture towards the Manupirua Hot Pools, a hidden gem accessible only by water. Here, you will indulge in a sumptuous BBQ dinner, savoring the flavors of freshly cooked delights while surrounded by the serenity of the lake and the lush surroundings. You will also get a lengthy soak in the healing waters of the hot pools. Prepare to be spellbound by the enchanting display of bioluminescent creatures lighting up the darkness like a galaxy of stars. The ethereal glow emitted by these tiny creatures creates an otherworldly experience, leaving you in awe of nature's wonders.

Sample Menu

main

Gourmet Kiwi BBQ Meal

Options

Tour with Hotel Pickup/Dropoff

Hotel Pick up/ Drop off

Rotorua: Evening Starlight Gourmet Kayak Tour Glowworms

Reviews

4.85

33 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

A wonderful experience
Renee R,
Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We did the starlight gourmet kayak tour Lake Rotoiti. Henry our guide was a top bloke. He made everything easy even when it didn’t feel like it! He makes a pretty good salad too. The experience is one of a kind and well worth it. We had everything we need to stay safe and warm including extra clothing, jackets and gloves that hooked onto the oars. Our light went out on our kayak on the way back and Henry still kept us on track and calm. A great experience. Thanks for keeping us safe, fed, watered and entertained!
Worth doing!
Meriel G,
Jul 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Kayaks were great and extra gear (jumper & jacket) was very handy. Tour guides were both super. We kayaked over to the hot springs 10/10!! Super quiet when we went, gorgeous spot, lake was fab for cooling down too. Dinner was delish. Headed to see the glow worms after that, v cool experience, learnt more about them too, both the Māori and the scientific versions. The Māori story was definitely nicer! Weather wasn’t ideal on the way back, but with all the extra gear we were all dry-ish and cozy, so it just added to the adventure! Only thing which brought the review down a bit was that on the way back, we (myself and the other girl in the kayak) felt like we were being slightly left behind. Apart from that, 10/10!
Fantastic experience.
ourgreatadventures,
Jun 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Craig, our guide, was fantastic. From the beginning of our tour, we knew this was going to be a memorable experience. We paddled across Lake Rotoiti to the hot pools where Craig cooked up a BBQ for us, and we relaxed in beautiful hot pools. After relaxing and some food in our stomachs, we paddled across to the glow worm caves. It was nothing short of spectacular. After leaving the glow worm caves, we came out to a beautiful clear night of stars. We couldn't have asked for anything more. Craig was very informative and a great guide. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves kayaking and beautiful scenery. Thank you so much.
Best part of our entire visit to NZ
patricktM5077GX,
Apr 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Cam gave us an absolutely outstanding experience, highlight of our entire tour to NZ. Can't recommend highly enough! Breathtaking views, hard graft and a sense of achievement, and truly otherworldly cave kayaking.
Fantastic
Trip43463633114,
Apr 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic trip with awesome knowledgeable guides who made it fun and engaging and snacks to start where delicious and more glow worms than I had ever seen
Excellent
Rusovarela,
Feb 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Excellent and different tour. We did it as a family with two children aged 10 and 12. Great guides. A first kayak tour is made to the hot pools. I think the loosest point is this, great place but the pools themselves are ugly. I'd improve the facilities here. Very good dinner. Then comes the second part of kayaking to enter the caverns with the worms which is epic. He rows back at night, which makes him unforgettable. Good physical condition is required to paddle
Magical Kayak Adventure
santafekk,
Feb 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Beautiful evening, first kayaking to a hot spring pool. After a tasty dinner, we kayaked to glow worm cave. It was a magical experience. Kayaking back to the meeting spot under the rising full moon and under the stars was just an unexpected gift.
Was cool to see.
Karen G,
Jan 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
What a great experience. 10k kayaking trip. We kayaked to the hot pools where you can relax in different degrees of warm water and also enjoyed going down a water slide into the lake. The tour guides cooked a great meal. The glow worms were really cool to see. Ended late. I was definitely ready to be done at the end but happy I went.
Glow worms galore
Carter S,
Jan 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Amazing guides and a beautiful experience. There were way more glow worms than expected and the food was delicious. Warning the hot springs have a strong sulfur smell
Fun evening kayaking on a beautiful lake to see glow worms
Stillergrl,
Jan 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Cam and Georgia were great guides! They gave us a lot of good information throughout the evening and kept us motivated and entertained. We’ve kayaked a few times but nothing this far. It was challenging at times but the geothermal hot pools and glow worms made it worth it. Highly recommend.