Tauranga: Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour

Name: Tauranga: Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour
Price: 225.25 NZD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.87 (307 reviews)

Overview

Available languages

German

English

French

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

15 minutes • Admission Not Included

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.

1 hour • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Light refreshments

Kayak and equipment

Professional guide

GST (Goods and Services Tax)

Options

2023/24

Reviews

4.87

307 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

278

Nighttime glowworm kayaking
O5630IGdanh,,Dec 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We 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
5.00
Eughan ( 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
5.00
An 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
5.00
This 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
5.00
Exceptional 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
5.00
The 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
5.00
We 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
5.00
Kayaking 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
2.00
We 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
5.00
Had 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!