New Zealand · CANOES & KAYAKS
Abel Tasman in the morning is about as flat as sea water gets, and Milford under the cliffs is another thing entirely. The 15 below are compared on paddling distance, guiding and whether the water shuttle is included.
Paddle to Cathedral Cove through sea caves and marine reserve waters, with wildlife views, small groups, and hot drinks on the beach.
“Fantastic experience, and amazing staff from the get-go. AJ was our main tour guide, and Mason was also helping. From start to finish we loved the friendliness, professionalism, and entire experience. Honestly, wouldn’t change a thing. I am sRead more”
Review of Lake Karapiro’s twilight glowworm kayak tour, with practical details on price, paddling, guides, weather, and what to expect.
“Never done a kayak before and the first time was both tiring and fun. The lake view was so beautiful and I saw many glowworns glowing like stars. In the night there was also silver river in the sky and kayaking under the silver river was unforgettable. Our guide was very interesting and knowledgeable, I learned a lot from this tour. I highly recommend this!”
Review of Kaikoura’s 3-hour wildlife sea kayaking tour, with seals, dolphins, guides, gear, weather tips, price, and practical advice.
“This is an excellent paddling adventure with knowledgeable friendly guides. We paddled with Holt and Finn who had the answers to our questions about NZ history and Māori culture as well as many details about the various bird species that Read more”
Pedal a kayak along Kaikoura’s coast, spot fur seals and dolphins, and enjoy a friendly three-hour wildlife tour for $83.78.
“Great kayaking trip! Saw a bunch of seals and overall had a really nice time on the water in Kaikōura.”
Paddle Lake Mapourika from Franz Josef, spot native wildlife, explore ancient rainforest, and enjoy glacier views with guides and photos included.
“Great trip, great guide, all kit you needed was provided. Stunning location! Good knowledge of local flora, fauna and history.”
Paddle Kaikoura’s coast with fur seals, dramatic cliffs, and possible dolphins or penguins on this friendly 3-hour wildlife kayak tour.
“Transportation was clean and comfortable, safety/instructions were thorough, and the kayaks were in very good condition. Guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Although there wasn’t as much sealife as I’d hope to see on the day I went, it was still a great outing!”
Kayak Lake Okareka at dusk, visit glow worm caves, and stargaze under New Zealand skies on this gentle Rotorua night tour.
“This was probably my favourite excursion of my whole trip! We were lucky, we had a clear night that was not too cold. Before we started onto the water, they offered warm rainproof jackets and pants, which helped. We wore water shoes, but they didn't even get wet. We were on double sit-on-top kayaks. The lake was calm. We started off in twilight and ended when it was dark. Everyone wore headlamps that we could use out on the lake, but not in the caves as that would confuse the glow worms. We were guided into 2 tunnels and 4 or 5 small caves with glow worms, and the guide…”
Review of the Dart River jet boat and funyak tour from Queenstown, with practical tips on scenery, effort, gear, lunch, price, and pickup times.
“We had an amazing trip! All of the staff were upbeat and knowledgeable! Ellie and JJ were an absolute blast. The sand flies were a pest but not enough to make the trip bad. Our favorite park was kayaking into the chasm and taking a dip in the crystal clear waters before lunch. Highly recommend this duo trip of jet boat and funyak to experience all the Dart river has to offer!”
Review of Rotorua’s Glow Worm Kayak Tour, with pricing, gear, cave access, stargazing, weather tips, and advice on who should book.
“An extremely beautiful and serene experience. Gorgeous views, engaging and knowledgeable staff, and not too strenuous.”
Paddle Lake McLaren at sunset, then enter a glowing canyon on Tauranga’s memorable evening kayak adventure.
“A great tour, however a bit expensive. The 2 guides were very knowledgeable. We had an amazing display of the glow worms. The kayak was peaceful on the lake. We had to find our own way to the meeting point. Which was approximately Read more”
Paddle Auckland’s dark coastal waters as bioluminescent plankton glow beneath the stars on this guided evening kayak tour.
“A fun and truly unique kayak tour. We had a beautiful, dark sky full of stars and a bay all to ourselves. Legend and C. were informative, friendly, and helpful without interrupting the amazing setting. Thank you!”
Paddle Lake McLaren at sunset, taste local New Zealand treats, and see thousands of glowworms beneath the stars near Tauranga.
“A relaxed kayak in beautiful surroundings of McLaren falls park. Ellie & Lucy were superb with expert guidance and support. Recommend to everyone. Diolch. J”
Paddle Auckland’s night waters to see bioluminescent plankton, with guides, gear, and small groups included in this two-hour kayak tour.
“Not that much bioluminescent compared to other places. Need to do it in Bay of Islands. But for people who have never seen it before it is recommended since it is near the city as well.”
Review of Auckland’s sunset kayak tour to Rangitoto, with BBQ dinner, summit hike, night paddle, fitness advice, price, and practical tips.
“We wanted to do something adventurous and this paddle and hike fit the bill! Make no mistake, this is a strenuous activity, with over two hours of paddling, and a steep hike. But the overall experience was a memory we will always treasure, especially the paddle back in the nighttime under a blanket of stars with the city lights leading us on. Our guide Daniel was energetic, friendly, helpful and thorough with his safety prep and practices - and he grills a delicious steak!”
Paddle Lake Taupo to Maori Rock Carvings on a friendly half-day kayak tour with snacks, photos, volcano views, and an optional swim.
“the trip is great very enjoy the time on the kayak paddling on the lake of Taupo. Laura has been an awesome guide, telling the story about Taupo and cravings.”
Pick a coast, a crater or a cellar door.
