Our amazing Glow Worm Kayak Tour is an evening adventure that takes you along the beautiful shorelines of Lake Okareka in a guided scenic kayak tour during sunset/dusk. Once night sets in you discover hidden small caverns home to galaxies of glow worms, exploring these caves is a once in a lifetime experience. This tour is one of the most unique and magical ways to see New Zealand’s glow worms.

A must do Rotorua experience!

 

Activity Details:

Your friendly guide will pick you up and shuttle you from Rotorua, past the iconic Redwood forest as you make your way to our base on the shorelines of Lake Okareka. Upon arrival you will gear-up and prepare for an epic night out with all activity equipment provided. Your guide will then run through safety and basic kayak instruction before you take the helm on the water. You will then begin exploring the shoreline and embracing the weather conditions of the evening as you follow your guide around the lake edge as nightfall sets in. Once it’s dark, discover your adventurous side as your guide leads you inside small hidden caves, home to galaxy formations of glow worms. Take ample time to enjoy the magical moments inside the caves, surrounded by Mother Earths beauty. If it is a clear night the magic continues as the stars come out and the cloudy appearance of the Milky Way fills the sky. Upon returning to the base you will feel like you have been in another world for the past few hours and will likely have made some new friends through the wonder of this shared experience.

Tours Operate Daily:

Pick up & return transfers included from the Rotorua Information Center

Address: 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua

Departing times:

  • Summer 8:00pm, 8:50pm, 9:40pm (Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb)

  • Daylight Savings 7:20pm, 8:10pm (March, Oct)

  • Winter 5pm, 6pm (April, May, June, July, Aug, Sept)

Allow 3 hours for the round trip from Rotorua

  • • Sunset/Dusk/Night Kayaking

    • Incredible Glow Worms

    • Star Gazing (if clear skies)

    • No experience required

    • An approved navigation safety licence for night operation

    • Perfect for all ages (5 years and over)

    • Pick-up & return transfers from Rotorua Information Centre

    • Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Award

    • Only 15 minutes from Rotorua

  • For kayaking in summer (November - February): We recommend wearing light-weight clothing. Shorts/pants/leggings for your bottom half and at least two layers for your top half. Water friendly shoes are recommended, but are provided free of charge if needed.

    For Kayaking outside of summer (March - October): Please wear warm clothing (thermal if possible). Pants/leggings for your bottom half and a minimum of three layers for your top half (which are preferably thermal, fleece, or wool). Please also bring a warm hat and gloves. During our coolest months you will be provided a wetsuit to wear over your clothes. Water friendly shoes are recommended, but are provided free of charge if needed.

    Extra Items:

    • A towel

    • A water bottle

    • A rain jacket if it looks likely to rain

    • A change of clothes (just incase)

    • A sense of fun and adventure!

  • • We recommend that you arrive at least 10 mins prior to the meeting time at the Rotorua Information Centre. Once you meet your guide, you can forget about time altogether! 

    • Booking is essential. We recommend booking in advance to secure your spot due to popularity as on the day bookings can miss out as we may be fully booked.

    • Allow at least 3 hours for the round trip leaving from and returning to Rotorua.

    • We will do our best to get in touch well in advance if the weather looks bad, unfortunately sometimes mother nature wins. If our regulations allow us to operate then we will operate.

    • Suitable for all ages above 5 years old (inclusive)

    • All participants 16 years and under must be supervised by a responsible adult 18 years or over

    • The kayaks are ‘two person sit-on-top kayaks’ a weight limit of 220kg (total per kayak) applies

 
 

Looking for even more fun with Paddle Board Rotorua? Make sure to also check out our amazing Waimangu Valley Walk & Steaming Cliffs Kayak Tour !

Some fun Glow Worm Facts!

  • Glow worms have silky mucus like sticky threads that hang from the glow worm that catch insects such as mosquito’s and flies which are food for the glow worm to eat.

  • The glow worm's tail glows because of bioluminescence created by a reaction of proteins within the digestive system of the worm.

  • The Glow Worm is the larvae of a fungus gnat fly.

  • The Fungus Gnat Fly lives for a short period of time (2-3 days) however its larvae, the glow worm, lives for around 6-9 months before the metamorphosis into the adult fly stage of its life cycle.

  • The life cycle of the Fungus Gnat has four stages, the Egg stage (2 weeks), the Larvae stage (6-9 months), the Pupae stage (2 weeks) and the Adult Fungus Gnat Fly stage (2-3 days)