Tauranga
Glowworm canyon and river experiences
Select Your Journey
Evening Glowworm Kayak Tour
Flavour, storytelling, and natural wonder.
$265per person(not incl. booking fees) View Details
Big Kanu Glowworm Tour
A twilight paddle into canyon light and stillness.
$170adult$95child$25infant(not incl. booking fees) View Details
Scenic Lake McLaren Kayak Tour
A slow paddle into still water, birdlife, and canyon quiet.
$175adult$95child(not incl. booking fees) View Details
Wairoa River Kayak Tour
A quiet journey through one of Tauranga's most peaceful waterways.
$120adult$99child(not incl. booking fees) View DetailsEvening Glowworm Kayak Tour
Begin the evening with a short scenic drive through rolling countryside to the tranquil waters of 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. New Zealand Cheeses, Native honey, and artisanal treats paired with refreshments.
As sunset softens over the lake, step onto the water and paddle into stillness toward the hidden Mangapapa Canyon. In this quiet space, thousands of glowworms illuminate the rock walls while your guide shares insights into their remarkable bioluminescence.
The return journey unfolds beneath a starlit sky, with Māori legends and celestial stories guiding the way across the calm water.
- Mangapapa Canyon glowworms
- Tastings included
- All safety equipment & life jackets
$265per person(not incl. booking fees)
Book This Experience
Tauranga
Location to meet
Please meet us at Waimarino Adventure Park, Tauranga.
Big Kanu Glowworm Tour
As evening approaches, you gather with your group and step into a shared Big Kanu. The water is calm, the air is soft, and the last light of day lingers over Lake McLaren.
Paddling together, you move across quiet water surrounded by native bush and birdlife, following your guide into a hidden canyon where the cliffs rise and the world narrows.
Here, darkness reveals its quiet magic. Thousands of glowworms appear overhead. Soft points of light mirrored in still water, transforming the canyon into something otherworldly.
A gentle, shared journey. Easy-paced, atmospheric, and designed for all ages.
- Mangapapa Canyon, Lake McLaren
- Sunset departure
- All safety equipment & life jackets
$170adult$95child$25infant(not incl. booking fees)
Book This ExperienceOptional Add-On: Bay Explorer × Glowworm Kanu Package
A full day of water, wildlife, and light.
Begin on the open waters of Bay of Plenty aboard a wildlife cruise, where dolphins, seabirds, and coastal life unfold around you. A journey through open ocean space. Moving, alive.
Later, as evening settles, you transition inland to Lake McLaren for a completely different world. Here, you step into a Big Kanu and paddle into Mangapapa Canyon. The water is still. The cliffs close in. And glowworms appear above like a night sky brought to earth.
Two experiences. One coastline. From open ocean to hidden canyon light.
- Dolphin & wildlife cruise experience
- Big Kanu glowworm canyon tour
- Guided experiences throughout
- All equipment provided
Tauranga
Location to meet
Please meet us at McLaren Falls Parking, Omanawa.
Scenic Lake McLaren Kayak Tour
Just outside Tauranga, Lake McLaren opens into a landscape of calm water, rolling countryside, and native bush.
You begin at the lake's edge and drift into quiet rhythm, paddling past birdlife, winding inlets, and sheltered waterways that feel far removed from anywhere else.
As the lake narrows, the scenery deepens. Native bush closes in, the water stills further, and you enter Mangapapa Canyon. One of the lake's most striking natural features, where rock and forest meet in a quiet, enclosed space shaped by water over time.
A gentle, unhurried journey designed for all ages.
- Mangapapa Canyon
- All safety equipment & life jackets
$175adult$95child(not incl. booking fees)
Book This Experience
Tauranga
Location to meet
Please meet us at Waimarino Adventure Park, Tauranga.
Wairoa River Kayak Tour
From the upper reaches near Omanawa, the Wairoa River moves gently through shifting landscapes of native bush, open water, and still, reflective stretches. This is a river that invites you to slow down. The current sets the pace and the surroundings do the talking.
You begin in calm water and ease into rhythm, paddling through a corridor of birdlife and quiet riverbanks. The journey is unhurried, with space to pause along the way, take a break, and simply sit with the landscape as it changes around you.
Less about distance, and more about time on the water. Steady, peaceful, and grounded in nature.
You'll paddle comfortable, easy to handle sea kayaks, with doubles as standard and singles available on request for ease and comfort. This tour can be taken guided with one of our team, or unguided at your own pace. Bring your own picnic and enjoy the unbridled journey of exploring the Wairoa River.
- Wairoa River, Omanawa to upper reaches
- Rest and snack break included
- No prior kayaking experience required
- All safety equipment & life jackets
$120adult$99child(not incl. booking fees)
Tauranga
Location to meet
Please meet us at Waimarino Adventure Park, Tauranga.