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Kayak into the night to experience the natural wonder of glowworms as they light up in the dark!
Highlights
- Be mesmerised as thousands of glow worms light up in the dark!
- Expertly guided kayak tour through an ancient canyon
- Enjoy paddling along the tranquil waters of Lake Karapiro and the Pokaiwhenua Stream
- No experience necessary
Join Riverside Adventures Waikato for a magical evening kayaking the calm waters of Lake Karapiro and the Pokaiwhenua Stream.
Starting our paddle from the southern edge of Lake Karapiro, your guide will fill you in on the interesting history of the Horahora village as the sun begins to set.
We will make our way slowly up the Pokaiwhenua Stream and through a canyon hundreds of years old whilst enjoying stunning views of native trees and ferns.
Once darkness falls - the magic begins - as thousands of glowworms come to life, sparkling on either side of you like constellations in the night sky.
Also, check out our Daytime Canyon Kayak Tour
All prices are shown in NZD ($)
- Per person$99.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Per person$99.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Per person$125.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Per person$149.00
- Per person$115.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Per person$99.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Per person$99.00 Less than 6 at this price!
- Per person$115.00
- Per person$89.40 Less than 6 at this price!
- Per person$149.00
Authenticated Reviews & Photos All of our reviews are from people who have booked and paid for this activity thru Bookme
Showing all 173 authenticated Bookme reviews
From Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour - Waikato
Thank you so much for your lovely message! We’re really glad to hear you had such a wonderful experience and thoroughly enjoyed the tour. I’ll be sure to pass your kind feedback on to Neil, he’ll be thrilled to hear it. We’re also pleased the halfway treats were a nice surprise! Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to see you back out on the water again sometime.
lenab10 from New Zealand wrote on 23 May 2026
Unforgettable Experience - worth it!
My husband and I booked this kayak tour during our honeymoon vacation in November 2025. We can highly recommend the Kayak Glowworm Tour to everyone! We had a great time paddling along the Waikato river in the evening lights, observing the bird life and hearing stories about the area and the glowworms. The night was very mild and not too cold (though the second layer - as recommended by the guides – was definitely necessary), the mosquitoes stayed away most of the time due to the “homemade mosquito lotion” and the moon was full and bright in all its beauty. But the highlight of the tour were the glowworms that we could see when we were flowing slowly through the old canyon – it was a most magical atmosphere! We just enjoyed the view and the silence. I have not often experienced such a peaceful and harmonious moment. Our expectations were definitely surpassed. The guides were really friendly, helpful and open to all kind of questions. They created a very pleasant atmosphere with their humorous and easy-going nature (including jokes about orcs and elves descending from Tolkien’s fantastic world). So, don’t hesitate and enjoy this unforgettable experience – you will not be disappointed.
Prathamesh Nair from New Zealand wrote on 17 May 2026
100% recommend
Had an amazing time — it was worth every dollar. Our guide was fantastic, and the information and stories she shared were really interesting. We also felt very safe while kayaking. Would 100% recommend!
jaeyoungl3 from South Korea wrote on 12 March 2026
Refund Recommendation for Kayaking Activity
Subject: Refund Recommendation for Kayaking Activity We were advised by the activity coordinator that, due to safety concerns, it would be best to proceed with a refund for the kayaking activity. The coordinator will also be contacting you directly regarding the refund. However, we are sending this email as well to reconfirm and ensure the refund process is arranged smoothly. Please let us know if you need any further information from our side. Thank you for your understanding. Kind regards, [JAEYOUNG LEE] Email: [email protected]
Mengying Zhang from New Zealand wrote on 16 May 2026
A must have kayak trip in New Zealand
I rate this trip as five star because the highest rate is five star! If you are keen on kayaking, glowworm viewing and stargazing, this is the best option for you. Great thanks to Steve who still ran the trip even when we didn’t meet the minimums. It turns out to be a remarkable and extravagant trip. Our enthusiastic tour guide is knowledgeable and professional. She trained us on our kayaking skills and told us a story about Karapiro and glowworms. It’s not only a trip about glowworm viewing. The galaxy is so close that I feel I’m in a spaceship which is so close to the sky. Cameras can’t capture 10% of the beauty of the sky. Choose a date with clear sky, you will be surprised by the stars above your head. They looked so unreal. We kayak with swans and the beautiful scenery alongside the river. 90 m beneath the lake lies a power station. It feels that we were kayaking beyond a lost kingdom. The night can be a bit cold but Riverside provided great gear to keep us warm. If you have wet suit, I recommend wearing it inside so when you get wet, you won’t feel cold. No need to worry about getting wet too much since we only get a bit wet for shoes.But the good thing about the cold night is the mist rising from the surface of lake, and you will be kayaking in the mysterious nature. I recommend this trip to everyone who is still hesitating to take it. Don’t miss it! The character max for review is 700. Otherwise I can write 10,000 words to recommend it!
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mariop1 from Canada wrote on 05 March 2026
Just Amazing!
What a wonderful experience. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Neil was a fantastic guide and the treats half-way through our journey were most unexpected and appreciated!