Tirau Tours
Twilight Kayak Glow worm Tour
5
LIKELY TO SELL OUT*

Twilight Kayak Glow worm Tour

By Riverside Adventures Waikato
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 8-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 3h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Kayak, PFD, Splash Pants/Jackets, Wetshoes


Start:
  • 396 Horahora Road, Waikato 3484, New Zealand
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Service animals allowed
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 102647P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
    • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
    • You need to have a moderate level of fitness and be able paddle yourself for 1 hour at a time.
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
    • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travellers

    • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

    If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 102647P2

    From
    $139.00
    per adult
    Select date and travellers

    Similar experiences

    Itinerary
    • 396 Horahora Road, Waikato 3484, New Zealand
    • 1
      Come along on a daytime canyon kayak tour, a glowworm tour, bike tour or more.
    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Riverside Adventures Waikato
      569
      Tirau, New Zealand
      Joined in May 2013
    • jchh2024
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Family friendly kayaking adventure
      Our kids weren’t old enough for the twilight glowworm kayak tour, so we did the daytime canyon Kayak tour instead. Our guide Daniel was an absolute gem and really patient with us and the kids, and shared so much knowledge about the surrounding plants and geography. The lake and canyon was so beautiful, with just enough of a current to work up a sweat and give us a real sense of achievement when we reached our destination!
      Written 26 October 2024
    • Tourist24766910572
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Amazing experience and company
      Rented a double kayak for the day to go down the waikato river and Pokaiwhenua stream/gorge. Was a great day and one of my favourite things I've done in nz. Staff were great, Steve was the man. Great value for money, a 10/10 experience
      Written 11 September 2024
    • chrisr24236
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Start to NZ Trip
      We booked the Daytime Kayak Tour and it was a GREAT way to kick off our trip to NZ. The guide was knowledgeable, entertaining, and a great trainer for me since I was new to kayaking but my partner was not. The entire team was great to work with in regards to booking, communication and transparency.
      Written 26 July 2024
    • 908alisonj
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      A Great Start to our Ebike Adventures!
      The hiring experince was so easy. We got good instructions on how to use an ebike - it was our first time! Lovely trails and good selection fo cafes at the begining and half way. Beuatiful scenery ! Was lots of fun!
      Written 22 June 2024
    • MarkF_NZ
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Used the shuttle for the Te Awa trails.
      Used the shuttle service to get to the start of Te Awa trail at Karepiro. Great communication before the start, pickup on time, and great chat with Steve on the way down. The van is very comfortable and the bike trailer safe and gentle on the bikes. Totally recommend for all your needs on the Te Awa Trail!
      Written 25 May 2024
    • G6190NSpeterj
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Hauraki Bike Trail - a wonderful experience for all ages
      We did the 4 day tour from Thames to Matamata on e-bikes. We are fit 70s and found the trail very easy physically. Everything was arranged through RAW, e-bikes, accommodation, luggage transfers and shuttles, even a visit to Hobbiton. We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience especially the gorge day. Better than walking and you see so much more than driving. Great cafes and restaurants along the way. Highly recommended and RAW made it so easy.
      Written 7 May 2024
    • HansenClark
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Shuttle Ride
      My husband and I used Riverside Adventures Waikato for a shuttle to the start of the Waikato River trail ride. Communication from the start was easy and also informative. We had one person pull out and a refund was provided no problem. Our drive to the start with Steve was comfortable and on time. We would recommend them to anyone wanting to use one of the services/tours.
      Written 27 April 2024
    • katemF6620UL
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Awesome kayak tour
      Excellent experience. We went on the daytime canyon kayak tour yesterday and had a great time. Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative about the area, history, wildlife and nature. He was friendly, welcoming and funny, and was very patient and supportive with the other members on the tour who were kayaking for the first time. Beautiful area to kayak through and would definitely recommend.
      Written 10 March 2024
    • Daydream61140927712
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The most stunning Daytime canyon kayak tour!
      The Daytime canyon kayak tour was amazing! The lake was beautiful and once the went into the canyon the birdsong’s and Serenity were like nothing else I’ve experienced. Our guide was very informative and easy going which made our family trip awesome! Thank you
      Written 7 March 2024
    • RandGP
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great bike hire for riding the Te Awa trail
      We hire bikes for the day to ride part of the Te Awa trail. The on line booking was clear and precise. The staff excellent. We found their prices much cheaper than the other competitors. The trail is superb - goodness knows what it cost but what a super facility for anyone wanting to cycle the Cambridge and Hamilton area.
      Written 14 February 2024
    • GoPlaces47663434597
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommend!
      Te Awa Ride: Shuttled from Cambridge to start the trail at Ngaruawahia, and then took our time riding the trail back to Cambridge. Hired ebikes. Fantastic Ride. Easy to book. Lofty our shuttle driver was helpful /informative. Our bikes worked well. Beautiful scenery! A really enjoyable day!
      Written 10 February 2024
    • olgapA3347CP
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Highly recommend!
      Awesome experience with the Riverside adventures. We did a full day kayak hire. All staff were super friends, helped us out to the water, everything was explained very clearly. Beautiful day and spot to kayak through. Highly recommend, we will definitely be back again!
      Written 10 February 2024
    • Jenny B
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Riverside adventures
      Excellent e-bike instruction by Steve of Riverside adventures, brilliant half day ride, gravel grade 3/4. Recommended!
      Written 7 February 2024
    • P4462WVmariop
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Extraordinary experience
      Dan and group did a wonderful job. They educated us and then showed us a view many humans will never see. The canyon of glow worms then a wonderful sky for of stars made for an unforgettable experience. We learned about the history of the power station, the vegetation, animals, glowworms and stars. A nice snack and break was given also! Thanks for an extraordinary experience
      Written 4 February 2024
    • lauraf6902
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience
      We had a great experience with Riverside Adventures. They are very friendly and have great communication. Highly recommend.
      Written 19 January 2024
    See all 569 reviews
    These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

    Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

    Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    We perform checks on reviews.
    Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
    Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
    When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
    Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
    Learn more about our review moderation.
    5.0
    5.0 of 5 bubbles417 reviews
    Excellent
    398
    Very good
    17
    Average
    2
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    0

    Chlöe A
    Manchester, UK28 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2022
    My friends and I had a wonderful time at the glow worm kayak tour. The stories of the flooded village and dam, the hot beverage and kiwi snacks, the beautiful trip in daylight upstream were all absolutely amazing. Then the downstream gliding trip surrounded by stars above, glowworms either wide of the river and reflections of the stars and glowworms in the water - it was all incredible! I could not recommend more! Also, if you were thinking of going without a tour I'd say it seems very difficult to navigate through the lake back in the dark without a tourguide - so I recommend the guide!
    Written 7 March 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Awesome feedback. Thanks so much for coming along.
    Written 29 March 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Barbara D
    Auckland, New Zealand22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We had a wonderful night on the kayaking tour. Steve was an amazing guide. He was so calm and reassuring and even though some of our party were a little nervous , he settled all nerves. The experience is a must do. It is hard to explain the tranquil nature of the tour. For some of us who are not as athletic as we used to be; Steve made it so easy.
    Written 9 January 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks Barb. Glad you all had a wonderful time.
    Written 11 January 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Dick q
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Apr 2022 • Friends
    We were a group of 7 golden oldies who started our adventure with the glow worm kayak tour at dusk and then the next day cycling from Atiamuri to Mangakino, and the
    next 2 days The Timber Trail and the 4th day again the River trail back to Riverside Adventures base. So basically 2 trails amounting to 160 ks over 4 days.
    Steve, Sally and Mermorie were great to deal with and went out of their way to make sure we had an enjoyable informed experience. (and Lofty our glow worm tour guide)
    The accommodation at Hidden Lakes Hotel in Cambridge and the Timber Trail Lodge was great and we had very warm hospitable hosts at the BnB in Mangakino
    We would certainly recommend dealing with this company for a trouble free, well organised experience.
    Their shuttle service was excellent with punctual collects and drop offs.
    Written 22 April 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Dick, Thank you for your feedback, it was an absolute pleasure working with your group and glad that you all enjoyed your time here. Hope to see you all again soon.
    Written 25 April 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    mickwhitehouse
    15 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020
    I highly recommend this trip. Our guide Steve was very friendly and professional in welcoming the group and assessing their abilities. Once on the water he gave lots of information about the area, the sunken village and the wildlife. The kayak back downstream in the dark was truly amazing, seeing so many glowworms lighting up the sides of the canyon was a memorable experience. We had a lovely clear night and the view of the stars when we got back on the lake was so vivid and this made a great end to the trip.
    Written 12 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks Mick, Glad you had an awesome night. The stars are really the icing on the cake. :)
    Written 14 February 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Hannah
    Buckeye, AZ3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    My fiance and I hired paddleboards here while he was visiting from the states. I live in Hamilton currently and can't believe I hadn't done this sooner! The route we were given was so beautiful and so peaceful, we had the best time! The owner Steve was fantastic and made sure that both my partner and I had a great experience. I would 100% recommend this and I will definitely be gifting my parents the glow-worm kayak tour!
    Written 23 February 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks for coming along. Glad you guys had a fantastic time. We look forward to meeting your parents when they come out.
    Written 28 February 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Lesleyann J
    Tauranga, New Zealand7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2021
    Four of us shuttled from Matamata to Te Aroha with Lake District Adventures.
    Steve was very helpful , we postponed from our first booking due to weather and re booking was very easy. Steve is a very good tour guide and pointed us in the right direction. Thanks for making it all really easy Steve.
    Written 26 March 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    You're so welcome. Glad you enjoyed your ride. Hope to see you again soon.
    Written 27 March 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Explorer495257
    6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    So breathtaking was this experience we completed last night, the best way to see glowworms in nature. We were blow away. From the teams communications and our tour guide Lockie, we were kept updated and educated on everything glowworm. We paddled up river and waited for the sun to set before it was time to turn back and see the amazing glowworms do what they do best. Thank you again for a magical memory.
    Written 3 August 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    You're so welcome!! Thanks for coming along. Glad you loved the tour as much as we do! :)
    Written 4 August 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Fran
    Auckland Central, New Zealand4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A fantastic family activity. Well organised, good communication, all equipment provided. An easy paddle down the lake at twilight, followed by a magical float down through a glow worm studded gorge. Highly recommended.
    Written 5 January 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks for taking the time to write a review. We're glad you enjoyed the tour. :)
    Written 7 January 2022
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Paul Oulton
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Mar 2021
    Drifting silently down the dark chasm of glowworms was memorable. Then, to arrive at the lake made like glass from the totally still air and a sky of stars rising out of and reflecting from the water was a wonderful bonus. It is truly a fantasy experience.
    Written 14 March 2021
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Hi Paul, Thanks very much. It definitely is a special experience. We're glad you could all enjoy it.
    Written 15 March 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Abhi
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sept 2020 • Friends
    I literally read most of the reviews (all positive) and one thing every review had in common was of the company being run by a awesome and friendly family that doesn't want this to become any other commerical and profit oriented organization. Instead my entire experience with them was like I would get with my friends taking me to a local terrain where they live at. The name of glow worm kayaking itself speaks volume and believe me it will match or even exceed your expectations. It is a mesmerizing experience and highly encourage all to try this especially due to the family's humble and friendly approach to the visitors.
    Written 23 October 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
    Thanks soooo much! You have hit the head on the nail, and that is exactly how we want everyone to feel. :) We are so pleased that you had such an awesome time.
    Written 26 October 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Showing results 1-10 of 413
    *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

    Twilight Kayak Glow worm Tour provided by Riverside Adventures Waikato

    All things to do in Tirau
    RestaurantsFlightsTravel StoriesCruisesCar Hire