What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• A peaceful canyon experience

  christinasT4169HV,Apr 17, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Neil our tour guide did a fantastic job. Explained things clearly yet kept it lighthearted. Made sure we were always safe and in sight. Steve was helpful with kitting us out in our gear and practical stuff

  

  

• Magical Kayak Experience!

  Elizabeth S,Apr 11, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Magical river trip at night! Experienced guides, safety conscious, gorgeous paddle at dusk and in the dark. Glow worms + starry narrow canyon sky + light reflected on the water = an unforgettable experience.

• Easy paddle with...

  Tania P,Apr 10, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Easy paddle with spectacular views, great host with lots of local historical knowledge. The best viewing of the glowworms!

• A Lovely Evening of Exploring Lake Karapiro Followed By An Awe-inspiring Night

  Sherpa57387287957,Apr 3, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  After a long day of travel and a tour of Hobbiton my party and I were already quite tired heading into our twilight glowworm kayak tour however once we arrive we found our two guides Mak and Alice to be so welcoming and engaging during the tour that it really helped us keep up the energy for our tour through the canyon. The tour started with a safety briefing and quick refresher on core kayaking competencies before heading down to the shore and boarding our kayaks and heading down towards the canyon. Along the way our guides shared local history and information about the local ecology along with safety tips about each section of our trip. Kayaking through the canyon during daylight both a beautiful scenic ride as well as a helpful primer on what the overall layout and shape were for the upcoming twilight float allowing us to mostly just sit back and enjoy the "lights reflected on water". Once through the canyon we landed for a light snack and warm beverage while listening to a more thorough explanation about the historical sites we passed by and the glowworm life cycle. Once sundown was approaching we had a safety briefing and clear instructions covering our twilight float through the canyon and return trip before loading back into the kayaks and once darkness had set in taking off for a relaxing trip back through the canyon carefully tended by our guides before paddling back to the lake and doing some bonus stargazing on a perfectly clear and calm night. Overall it was a brilliant experience and a beautiful way to call it a day on the Waikato leg of our journey across the country. Thanks again Mak and Alice for keeping us engaged and safe while providing some truly lovely experiences for us to bring home.

• Our family loved this...

  Peta S,Mar 28, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Our family loved this experience, seeing the glow worms was magical. Neil, our guide was great with stories of the past and really practical on his safety talks. My only recommendation for improvement would be to drop the extra charge for the seat supports and just build it into the price of the adventure because everyone wants them!

  

  

  

• Outstanding experience!

  Voyager34455507338,Mar 26, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Beautiful tour with a small group. Very knowledgeable Guide Neil made us feel safe and comfortable throughout the trip despite it being pitch black! The paddle into the canyon during dawn was gorgeously and the glow worms in the canyon on the way out in the dark were amazing! Highly recommend - one of the highlights in NZ.

• Twilight Glowworm Kayak with Riverside Adventures Waikato

  kathyhC8743FN,Mar 20, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This kayak tour was lots of fun! I've barely kayaked before but felt safe and relaxed under the care of our tour guides. Gliding along the river at night with glow worms shining on the river banks was an amazing experience!

• Must do on your next Hamilton Trip

  Nationsvisitor,Mar 19, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Fun and adventurous, the host was very friendly and caring. It was the moment when we were give. A small cup of warm tea and little snacks which showed how this customer Service stands out compared to to other Tours. Thank you

• Fun and unique experience!

  Melanie H,Mar 13, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  We had a wonderful time. Would strongly recommend this tour. The ladies running the tour were exceptional!

• The tour itself was...

  KaiLi C,Mar 12, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  The tour itself was great. The location is easy to find, there is plenty of parking, and they provide everything you need (dry bags, splash pants, and a safe place to leave keys, wallets, etc.). The glow worms were incredible as well—being out on the water under the starlit sky with the glow worms above was an amazing experience. Overall, the tour was fantastic. Unfortunately, as a solo traveler I was given a single kayak, and the particular one I received was much slower and harder to maneuver than the double kayaks and even the other single kayak. While others were able to glide easily through the water after a few paddles, my kayak had almost no glide and wouldn’t go straight without constant effort. I had to paddle constantly to stay anywhere close to the group. This made it basically impossible for me to take photos without holding everyone up significantly. It also made what I expected to be a leisurely tour feel like a lot of exertion. The guide even commented that the kayak I had required more work than the others because it was so difficult to keep a straight path, which was very validating since it seemed like everyone was having a much easier time. Again, the tour itself was an amazing experience and the glow worms were truly incredible. I would suggest going with a partner so you can use a double kayak, or speaking up if you notice you’ve been given a shorter, wider kayak that may require more effort to paddle.

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