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‘s Included
Light refreshments
Kayak and equipment
Professional guide
GST (Goods and Services Tax)
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.
Options
2023/24
Reviews
301 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
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.
Beautiful scenary, speccy glowworms. Loved kayaking in the dark.
karendQ7965BI,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kayaking in the dark was definitely an experience. It was amazingly quiet and peaceful. I loved it. The glowworms were spectacular. Our guide Aaron was great fun. He had lots of info on the plants and birds as well as the Maori legends about the glowworms and how the Kiwi lost its wings. While being fun and laid back, Aaron was very safety conscious. Made sure we knew how to put on all of the gear and checked everything was fitted correctly. No prior experience is needed. The lake is calm and peaceful and it is an easy paddle. Aaron towed us through the tricky part.
Poor value price relation but excellent tour guide
NorthStar64550500463,
Oct 17, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00We had high expectations for this tour, especially considering the price, but unfortunately they were not fully met. Our guide Henry did an excellent job — he was entertaining and knowledgeable, sharing many interesting facts and stories about the river, forest, and glow worms. The equipment and provided snacks were also of good quality. A special highlight was the beautiful night sky, which was stunning to see on the water with absolute darkness. However, the overall experience felt too short and unspectacular for the cost, as the view on the glow worms was often covered by branches. We spent about 70 minutes on the water and roughly 15 minutes viewing the glow worms, plus a 40-minute car ride to/from the lake.
Amazing Experience
M8915OVsarahc,
Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Had an incredible time! Kayaking at night was so peaceful and the water was extremely calm so it was easy. The glow worms were so beautiful to see. Our guide, Henry, was very friendly and we had lots of fun with him. Was one of the highlights of our trip and I would highly recommend!
Glow worm kayak tour - Tauranga
Judie C,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Henry our guide was excellent! He got us to Mc Laren Falls and back safely and efficiently with no issues. He explained all the safety protocol and proper gear fittings with our equipment and lead us to the canyon where we saw all the glow worms. It was a very cool and educational experience and we even got a complementary cap with our tour. We highly recommend Waimarino kayak tours to everyone and would return again in the future.
Fantastic experience with Henry
B3399JIsarahj,
Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an incredible experience! Henry our guide was fantastic, very knowledgeable and funny. Would definitely recommend!
First time kayaking
555kyliej,
Jun 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The experience was amazing. For first time kayaking our guide was both patient and brilliant. The calmness just made you stop and take stock of all your senses. Definitely recommend
Amazing evening under the stars
Beckytraveler1847,
Jun 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Tour was fantastic! Guides were super nice, provided extra gear to stay warm, taught us a few things on the water, enjoyed the sunset, glowworms, and stars. Put this in your list!
Beautiful scenic tour for the glow worms and stars
A2202ZLmattw,
Apr 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Beautiful evening kayak, seeing the glow worms and then kayaking back seeing the stars come out was beautiful. Highly recommend. Would book again.
From NZ$265.00
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Operated by Waimarino Kayak Tours