Tauranga: Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour
Overview
Available languages
3 hours 15 minutes
Mobile ticket
Mount Maunganui and Tauranga are the central areas for this kayak tour - it uses double kayaks on the calm sheltered waters of Lake McLaren. The tour operates in the evening due to the visibility of the glow worms..
As the evening unfolds, begin your journey with a short scenic drive through rolling countryside, you’ll arrive at the breath taking Lake McLaren. Here, you’ll be welcomed with “Te Reka O Te Whenua- the Taste of the Land” a curated tasting session featuring flavours unique to Aotearoa. Savour the flavours of New Zealand Cheeses, sweet RewaRewa honey, and other artisanal delights, perfectly paired with locally brewed kombucha. In the cooler months, sip on warm, spiced 0% mulled wine to keep you warm.
Additional Info
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
A minimum of 2 people per booking is required to commence a tour
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Waimarino Adventure Park
this meeting point is also Waimarino Adventure Park Tauranga's longest established tourism attraction where families enjoy the days activities
McLaren Falls Park
Enjoy light refreshments on the Edge of Lake McLaren prior to departing in double kayaks into the sunset. Here you will discover the birdlife settling for the evening and the gentle splashes of fish (trout) breaking the surface for the final evenings meal. You then paddle to the head of the lake and transition from daylight to darkness through dusk. this is when the stars start coming into view and the glow worms begin to pop from the native bush on the cliffs.
What‘s Included
Light refreshments
Kayak and equipment
Professional guide
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
Options
2023/24
Reviews
310 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great evening experience
Lynn M,,Dec 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an unique experience , thank you , Eoghan , Jack , Oli & Jack , enjoyed the evening so much , from the school bus ride , great local food , getting kitted out to the actual paddling , atmospherical lake experience and those bright little worms , together with the stories , so well told , thank you everyone . X
Please go! It’s truly amazing.
Lynn H,,Dec 20, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jack was our guide for the evening. He was very knowledgeable and kind. It was a 25 minute trip from our pick up location. We stopped and took pictures. Then a short drive to where we were going to launch the kayaks. Before that, Jack provided some tasty snacks at the picnic table. Choices of salami, cheese, crackers, olives, nuts and kombucha. Jack let us pick out our fleece jackets, the kayak skirt, outer wet proof jacket, life vest, hat to keep and our paddles. The park was lovely at dusk with the many varieties of ducks. It was peaceful on the river. It was not too long of a kayak until we got to see the glow worms in a narrow stretch of river. It was spectacular!! Jack told us their Latin name (arachnocampo luminosa) , the biology and life of this species. He told us their Māori history. Going back, we got to view the beautiful night sky. I would highly recommend!!
Magical!
976sues,,Dec 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent adventure. Our guide, Tom, was great: informative, knowledgeable, kind and patient. He took several people who were not experienced kayakers on a pretty strenuous (it was windy and choppy) tour of an absolutely beautiful lake. Then he cooked and served a yummy dinner. He was engaging and fun. The scenery, especially, after the sunset, was gorgeous. We were treated to the most amazing moonrise, it was huge and orange! The glow worms were so cool to see! I went with my daughter. We were soaked and exhausted, but we had the best time and really enjoyed talking with Tom.
Nighttime glowworm kayaking
O5630IGdanh,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great time out on the water tonight with our guide, Jack. He had tonnes of local knowledge which he shared with us during the tour, from botanical facts to Maori legends. His relaxed and easygoing manner put the entire group at ease. The glowworms were magnificent and the clear night sky was the cherry on top. In 10 years of travelling, this was one of the best activities we have done.
Glow worms and kayaks and Scotsmen, oh my!
idaraec,,Dec 7, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Eughan ( Scottish dude- sorry for the mangled misspelling) was terrific. An upbeat and helpful guide with plenty of dad jokes as he did his best to bond our little group. My husband and I had a great boat ride and loved the explanations along the way. Would recommend!!
Incredible!
matthewmA1512QN,,Nov 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00An incredible time! Magical night watching the sun go down while glow worms lit up around us while our guide Henry spoke about the Maori stories. Really breezy kayak, the lake was pristine and we even got tugged some of the way. Beautiful time to watch the moon go down and all the while having great stories, history, and conversation. Would highly recommend!
Perfect and amazing!
713dianaw,,Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such an excellent trip! Our 2 guides were exceptionally educated, helpful, patient (with different levels of kayaking experience), safe, friendly and clearly loved their work and people! The ability to kayak in a river, beginning at dusk, and reaching the cave at nightfall was unparalled. We couldn't have asked for a more amazing experience early in our New Zealand travels.
Great kayaking experience on Lake Rotoiti
Annie N,,Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Exceptional kayak trip with 2 guides just for us. Night kayaking experience, beautiful with bath in the hot pools and in the lake. Meals concocted by the guides on the site of the hot pools. We very much appreciated the comments on the fauna, flora and history of the lake with the Maori. Back at nightfall to visit the Glowworm Cave. We recommend this outing to all. Note: a good physical condition is necessary because you row 2 x 1 hour
Night Kayaking
Jen B,,Nov 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was a lot of fun, and our tour guide was fantastic. The park itself was absolutely stunning—I only wish I had arrived earlier so I could have enjoyed more of it. Highly recommend!
A wonderful experience
cjohns50,,Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a wonderful experience. Seeing the glow worms was mágical and one of the highlights of our trip to NZ. Our guide Derick was superb.He is an Expert on the area and very skilled with kayaks and teaching others to use them. He also is calm , very kind, and very safety-minded and we felt very secure during the entire trip.
-15% off
From NZ$225.25Was NZ$265.00
Want a private experience? Upgrade to a private tour
Related Experiences
Operated by Waimarino Kayak Tours