Bioluminescence Kayak Tour - Est. 1994
4
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 11-120, max of 24 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Live guide: English
More
- All kayaking and safety equipment
- Stable sea kayaks or sit-on-tops are used
- All tuition from our experienced qualified kayak guides
- Guaranteed good time!
- 1-6 Ratio (Guide-Guest)
What's not included- Gratuities
- Start:
- 2/20 Ascension Place, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 0632, New ZealandThe tour will take place within a 10km radius of the North Shore Canoe & Kayak shop at 2/20 Ascension Place, Mairangi Bay. THIS IS NOT THE TOUR LOCATION, THE LOCATION WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU BEFORE 3.30PM ON THE DAY OF YOUR TOUR.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 104422P2- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- 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 24 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: 104422P2
From
$119.00
per adult
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Itinerary
- 2/20 Ascension Place, Mairangi Bay, Auckland 0632, New ZealandThe tour will take place within a 10km radius of the North Shore Canoe & Kayak shop at 2/20 Ascension Place, Mairangi Bay. THIS IS NOT THE TOUR LOCATION, THE LOCATION WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU BEFORE 3.30PM ON THE DAY OF YOUR TOUR.
- 1Enjoy a night paddle in the protected waters of the Long Bay - Okura Marine Reserve.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- aligatoo0 contributionsYou'll learn more than you think!The guide (Paul) was perfect, not over-explaining and great at answering each person's questions. Felt like we learned a lot, even though I've kayaked before. I feel more confident taking myself and my kids along now. Excited to do more with this shop.Written 4 November 2024
- X6999HScarolf0 contributionsHighly recommended!Very good course for beginners! We learned many paddling skills and other important things. Highly recommended for beginners. The instructors were very nice and skilled.Written 31 October 2024
- G2435BPtaniar0 contributionsSafe and professionalThe one day Beginners Course was thorough and professionally delivered. It has a massive content of knowledge they demonstrate and then we practiced it while they observed and critiqued. All the gear was provided and it was a great touch having a spray jacket provided on a coolish windy day. I thoroughly recommend this course.Written 27 October 2024
- MeganW27560 contributionsLearning awesome kayaking skillsProfessionally run kaykaing skills refresher course by experienced kayak guides keen to share knowledge and experience and supportive of developing all skill levels. Keen for everyone to enjoy kayaking safely.Written 20 October 2024
- Seshav50 contributionsOkura kaya - AmazingEase of booking, good communication, timely confirmations, friendly crew who took care of everyone safety and made our trip memorable while we were new to kayaking, the crew helped us experience the same and also enjoy. Appreciate the professionalismWritten 11 April 2024
- Discover421371951170 contributionsAwsome GuideAwsome Time Must do. Very friendly guides. Great time. Experience is just breathtaking and people guides makes the whole experience worth the time.Written 29 January 2024
- Dreamer058600202040 contributionsBrilliant!This is a magical experience, and one not to be missed. The guides took the time to explain everything to us, and made us feel very safe. We were fortunate to get to see some bio under an incredibly beautiful, starry sky with a brilliant full moon. Loved it!Written 26 January 2024
- chrissZ6298JQ0 contributionsGreat day outattended the beginners /training day Excellent professional instructors who shepherded the older weaker participants (me) inspiring confidence . Lots of skills and self rescue techniques in a friendly fun filled day Excellent value and highly recommended.Written 7 January 2024
- GregKnox19760 contributionsGreat experience and teamOur guides did a great job managing the groups of boats and ensured we made it to places where we could see some bioluminescence. Unfortunately it was windy then rainy near the end , we didn’t get to see it as well as had hoped but that is Mother Nature. Our guides were also very friendly, took time to talk to their clients and provided any assistance they could.Written 29 December 2023
- Trek019978910760 contributionsEssential skills course.A worth while skills course that provides all the basics you need to kayak safely. Rueben is a friendly capable guide who makes the course fun. Aside from essentials like learning the correct paddling techniques and manoeuvring your kayak. Crucial safety skills are covered such as self rescue and helping others back into their kayak at sea. Highly recommended.Written 26 March 2023
- Suecdouglas0 contributionsEssential skills for kayakersI did the fundamental skills sea kayaking course and learned more than I thought there was to know about kayaking. Most importantly, I overcame my fear of falling out and not being able to get back into a sea kayak. Also learned all about paddles and different paddle strokes, preparation, safety on the water, how to help others back into a kayak, and different types of kayaks. An enjoyable day with plenty of practical experience.Written 4 March 2023
- Arrrrrrrrrgh0 contributionsKayaking fundamental skills course with Canoe and KayakWith a cyclone on the way Canoe and Kayak adapted, still finding a location suitable for learning the skills we had come to practice. Even with a previous kayaking experience there was much I could learn. The fundamentals of paddling found room for improvement with expert tuition. And being in a group environment gave me more confidence to test tip out recovery techniques than I'd be inclined to do on my own. I think most people would find this water sport experience worth the time and money invested.Written 12 February 2023
- O4508PLlindam0 contributionsHighly Recommended ... Well Trained Instructor Made One Feel Safe ... AlwaysInstructor very well trained and informative, in teaching us safety and maneuvers in Kayaks (edging, back rowing, sweep, plus more), how to re-board our Kayak ourselves or with support from a buddy and what that assist us to do so, the different flotation devices available and how to use, items to take or attach under nets, etc. on Kayak (such as paddle bag, water bottle, dry bag containing safety 'equipment (such as: a press button pre-paid cellphone and the reasoning why a smartphone may not work, pen and paper ((for recording Incidents)), torch, PLB, sweets, etc. to name a few), how to load Kayak/s on to a vehicle by self (roller type 'gadget,' also if you had a helper, (including how the straps need to be tied at the certain points properly, otherwise your Insurance may be void, Apps to use to check weather (especially the wind in the very area we would be Kayaking), plus a Topo 50 App, the importance to inform someone reliable prior of where we were going, the time of return so that help would be called if not returned, how we could 'line up' as a group on the water (for a group chat, etc. Team work/encouragement the order of the day ... including fun and laughter. Sore muscles and bruises at the end of the day to prove that I listened to the Instructor and did the best that I could. I now have a list written of equipment/accessories, etc. required to Kayak safely. Thank you so much to the Instructor that day (Reuben), Canoe & Kayak, Waikato. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COURSE BEFORE ONE VENTURES OUT IN A CANOE/KAYAK. Plus after completing the course, there are Refresher courses, plus it enables one to join Yakity Yak Kayak Club for trips from hours to days. Ps.: the course is for teenagers (certain age and upwards),Written 22 January 2023
- kjaum0 contributionsGreat for novicesReally enjoyed the course. As a newby with no prior experience learnt heaps at a good pace for me. Great instrucor with learning in a safe environment.Written 14 January 2023
- jaoden0 contributionsFrom a kayak you will see what you will never see from a carIt was a well organized and well run introductory session for those wishing to experience the great pastime of kayaking. Instructor Sam professionally and intelligibly explained the peculiarities of behavior on the water, paying special attention to safety issues and trying to convey to us that in any non-standard situation, the main thing is self-control and the absence of panic. For the sake of this, we spent part of the time in the water, outside the kayak, which, of course, was not very warm, but absolutely necessary in order to fully experience all the delights of this kind of activity. It was a great day for me, I haven't been in a kayak for several years and it was great to have a paddle in my hand again.Written 20 November 2022
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.
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4.0
87 reviews
Excellent
59
Very good
4
Average
3
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5
Terrible
16
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Herzenity
Los Angeles, CA22 contributions
Nov 2024 • Solo
A thrilling experience, highly recommended! I was not able to capture night photos, but I will never forget the magical moments of seeing the sparks and glowing glitter as we paddled under the stars. The tour guides were super helpful and thorough. They brought extra paddle jackets to help customers us keep dry(er). Honestly, in December, the water is quite a lovely temp. I was paired with a very sweet mum whose daughter and husband were in another kayak. It's been years since I kayaked and the quick lessons in how to paddle and steer were all I needed. This is the one thing I was looking forward to most, because it is such a rare opportunity, and it was so much fun!
I'm in my 60s, pretty fit from water jogging and hiking, but paddling uses muscles I don't normally use that way, so my shoulder muscles are sore today, but it's worth it! I feel more alive and younger than I have in years. So glad I came to New Zealand for my winter/summer vacation!
I took the bus from Takapuna to Waiake Beach for the day. Auckland has great public transportation. I recommend buying an AT HOP card at the airport and downloading the mobile app in advance - the journey planner is outstanding! If you're not in a hurry, like to be eco-minded and enjoy a bit of walking, it is an excellent choice. We finished kayaking between 10:30-11pm and I was able to catch the last bus back, only 2.34 NZD vs 31.02 Uber.
I'm in my 60s, pretty fit from water jogging and hiking, but paddling uses muscles I don't normally use that way, so my shoulder muscles are sore today, but it's worth it! I feel more alive and younger than I have in years. So glad I came to New Zealand for my winter/summer vacation!
I took the bus from Takapuna to Waiake Beach for the day. Auckland has great public transportation. I recommend buying an AT HOP card at the airport and downloading the mobile app in advance - the journey planner is outstanding! If you're not in a hurry, like to be eco-minded and enjoy a bit of walking, it is an excellent choice. We finished kayaking between 10:30-11pm and I was able to catch the last bus back, only 2.34 NZD vs 31.02 Uber.
Written 30 December 2024
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.
Mark E
Palm Springs, CA23 contributions
Our kayak tour began at Waiake Beach and we were treated to nearly 2.5 hours of time in the water searching for bioluminescence. Our lead guide Peter handled all of the required paperwork and safety briefings in a serious and professional manner. We were provided with waterproof jackets and of course flotation devices to wear. Participants were paired into two person kayaks with further safety and paddle instruction provided by additional guides Melissa and Josh. We were assigned to a guide throughout who monitored our whereabouts.
We were encouraged to leave cameras, phones, shoes and most everything behind in their secured vehicle. Pictures wouldn’t come out very well in the dark anyhow. You will get a bit wet so swimming attire is best worn. On the night of our visit the water was quite warm and calm.
The paddle took us along the shoreline for a bit before we found the amazing bioluminescent plankton. A small “show” at first then some amazing sparkle and light as we spent more time exploring the water. It was great fun throughout. We even saw several bright meteorites soar across the sky as well as a sighting of the international space station.
Our guides provided plenty of information regarding the bioluminescent phenomenon and were eager to make the night memorable. Thankfully the plankton did not disappoint.
I guess the departure location can vary based on where the plankton are. We were sent an email to confirm our location around 4pm on the night of our paddle. We took a 40 minute bus ride to our departure location (Waiake Beach) from the CBD. An Uber was called for our return trip (although the bus was still operating to the CBD). The location had changing rooms, toilets and an outdoor shower. Consider bringing a change of dry clothes and a towel (your driver will appreciate it).
We were encouraged to leave cameras, phones, shoes and most everything behind in their secured vehicle. Pictures wouldn’t come out very well in the dark anyhow. You will get a bit wet so swimming attire is best worn. On the night of our visit the water was quite warm and calm.
The paddle took us along the shoreline for a bit before we found the amazing bioluminescent plankton. A small “show” at first then some amazing sparkle and light as we spent more time exploring the water. It was great fun throughout. We even saw several bright meteorites soar across the sky as well as a sighting of the international space station.
Our guides provided plenty of information regarding the bioluminescent phenomenon and were eager to make the night memorable. Thankfully the plankton did not disappoint.
I guess the departure location can vary based on where the plankton are. We were sent an email to confirm our location around 4pm on the night of our paddle. We took a 40 minute bus ride to our departure location (Waiake Beach) from the CBD. An Uber was called for our return trip (although the bus was still operating to the CBD). The location had changing rooms, toilets and an outdoor shower. Consider bringing a change of dry clothes and a towel (your driver will appreciate it).
Written 4 February 2024
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.
Bethan C
Auckland, New Zealand20 contributions
Jan 2025 • Friends
Lovely, friendly and super professional staff, good equipment. Super cool they included history on flora, fauna and Matariki/ the stars. Bioluminescence was gorgeous as the night got darker.
Note to let them know in advance if you and your friend/ partner have a combined weight of over 200kg as you will need a larger canoe.
Note to let them know in advance if you and your friend/ partner have a combined weight of over 200kg as you will need a larger canoe.
Written 22 January 2025
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.
Delhi Dancer Xo
India1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Business
The tour was very average and totally overrated. You wait around for so long on the beach, and the guides keep telling about the 4 glowing types on the shore only, not even on the water. Then when we finally got on the water, we barely saw even 1 type, and that too only a few speckles.
I feel like this free repeat tour offer is more of a damage-control move than a genuine kind gesture. Like that’s going to help foreign travelers! It’s like saying, "Oh, I made your curry too spicy. Kha lo, and I’ll give you a free curry next time you come back." No, thank you!
Also, I checked into this company who is claiming their guides are very knowledgeable and skilled through this so-called NZKI certification. But guess what? The certification itself is governed by the Canoe and Kayak business people only! Matlab, self-promotion much? Moreover, they misleads people into a 1-6 guide-client ratio, yet we are simply 1 large group of 12 people with 2 guides. On top of that, I dug a little deeper and found out some of their main images of the plankton are just stock photos. Don’t they know this is illegal under Trading Fairly Acts? This is clearly bait advertising and using images that can't be substantiated, na?
YES, people do read reviews and take them seriously, kyunki this is what helps us decide where to book!
Haan, the guides are nice people and all, but seriously, niceness only gets you so far.
I feel like this free repeat tour offer is more of a damage-control move than a genuine kind gesture. Like that’s going to help foreign travelers! It’s like saying, "Oh, I made your curry too spicy. Kha lo, and I’ll give you a free curry next time you come back." No, thank you!
Also, I checked into this company who is claiming their guides are very knowledgeable and skilled through this so-called NZKI certification. But guess what? The certification itself is governed by the Canoe and Kayak business people only! Matlab, self-promotion much? Moreover, they misleads people into a 1-6 guide-client ratio, yet we are simply 1 large group of 12 people with 2 guides. On top of that, I dug a little deeper and found out some of their main images of the plankton are just stock photos. Don’t they know this is illegal under Trading Fairly Acts? This is clearly bait advertising and using images that can't be substantiated, na?
YES, people do read reviews and take them seriously, kyunki this is what helps us decide where to book!
Haan, the guides are nice people and all, but seriously, niceness only gets you so far.
Written 3 January 2025
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.
Bioluminescence is viewed at natures whims, so sorry you did not see much, this is unusual as you can see from the feedback we get. We offer a free repeat and when approached kindly will also do whatever we can to look after our customers.
Re the 'waiting around' on the beach, while sometimes there are delays this is usually caused by customers and us sorting out issues like they still have keys or a different kayak to suit them etc. We also have to go through the processes and briefings that keep us all safe and some customers find this takes too long, but safety first! Once it is dark it is harder to do this on the water.
As far as ratios. We do advertise a one to six person ration and we DO always maintain that, at times we keep the groups together, most of the time this is because we have an uneven group of friends who would like to paddle together and the only way of accommodating this is to combine the groups.
We have been using an internal guide certification system for nearly thirty years, which has pasted countless external audits and meets all government requirements.
The pictures on our website are a true representation of what we see on a good tour, you apparently did not see these so we offered a free repeat. Off course on a night that nature does not perform you will not see a 'good days' picture.
Peter Townend
Managing Director.
Written 5 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trevor K
1 contribution
Sept 2024 • Couples
You will get wet! The Kayaks are not very comfortable, you will get a sore back. We did not see much bioluminescence apart from small specs. The weather was not very good for a kayak tour at night time and we expected the guides to know more about the algae (do not think it was worth what we paid).
Written 27 October 2024
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.
Note for Future Guests: We encourage you to read through our other reviews to see how we consistently prioritize safety, comfort, and customer satisfaction. This review is an exception, and we’re committed to providing all our guests with a memorable experience.
Thank you for your feedback. We’re sorry to hear the tour didn’t fully meet your expectations! Natural conditions, especially with bioluminescence, can sometimes vary, but we always strive to make each adventure as enjoyable as possible. Our offer for a free repeat tour still stands, and we’d love for you to experience it again under better conditions.
Our kayaks are designed with comfort in mind, and our NZKI-certified guides are highly knowledgeable about the region’s layout and ecosystem. Next time, we recommend following their guidance closely, as it can make the experience even safer and more rewarding!
Thank you again for your feedback. It helps us continue improving, and if you’d like to discuss this further, please reach out directly.
Written 29 October 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SlimJim79
1 contribution
Dec 2024 • Family
Frustrating operator that advertises "Waiake Beach" as the meeting location (or quote: "different locations near Waiake Beach") yet changes you to a location manually via email to what was for us at least a 10min drive. I wouldn't define "near" as 10mins drive. Frustrating when people have prior plans, you only give 12hrs (we received less notice than this) and when weather can be predicted reliably more than 12hr out
Written 8 January 2025
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 sorry you found this frustrating. While weather forecasting is good, the closer we are to the departure time the better it is. To see bioluminescence a 15 degree shift in wind direction can be the difference of a great or bad nights viewing. This is why we leave the final location to the same day and often to the mid afternoon before making the call.
We will look at making it clearer on the marketing info, to define the travel times to address your concerns.
Thanks for the feed back.
Cheers Peter
Written 13 January 2025
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alex H
1 contribution
The tour was adapted to the weather conditions. It was quite stormy and very bright full moon, so we could not go to the sea and there were also relatively poor conditions for sighting the phenomenon. Nevertheless, the tour guides were very dedicated and friendly. Shortly before the start we were informed of the new, adapted location. We could see some types of bioluminescence. We also saw some fireflies and paddled through the unique nature of New Zealand. Even a small obstacle could be overcome together. The evening was a lot of fun. Thanks for that!
Automatically translated
Written 20 November 2024
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.
Reece S
1 contribution
Jan 2025 • Friends
The full moon made it even harder to see the already minimal bioluminescence, and the experience didn’t quite meet my expectations. While the setting was pleasant, the tour fell short of how it was advertised. I’d recommend checking the moon cycle before booking and avoiding tours during a full moon.
Written 16 January 2025
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.
Mary R
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Friends
My friend and I added this as our very last activity in Auckland before we flew back to the US. Our guide was so friendly, informative, and made sure everyone was having a great time the entire night. It started raining during our trip so the bioluminescence was a little hard to see but it was still such a fun evening. He even offered to let us come back to try again when the weather was better. To top it off, he found our waterproof camera in the kayaks and reached out to make sure it got back to us. Highly recommend for the experience AND the absolutely stellar guide.
Written 30 November 2023
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.
Kaitryn J
1 contribution
Nov 2024 • Friends
Our group of four from the States came on this tour and had an AMAZING time! The guides were very informative, friendly, and made it an adventure to remember. You can tell they love what they do and enjoy sharing their knowledge and experiences. The bioluminescence in the water was unbelievable and SO magical! I’m so happy we chose this tour and would 10/10 do it again! Thanks for taking us on such a fabulous excursion!
(Blue group ROCKS! #Blue2)
(Blue group ROCKS! #Blue2)
Written 22 November 2024
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.
Is it easy to get transport, if you don’t have your own vehicle, back to Aukland city centre at the end of the bioluminescence tour.
Written 2 February 2025
PressEnter
Santiago, Chile
Is it possible to arrange transport from Auckland downtown?
Written 1 December 2023
I just took an Uber there and back super easy.
Written 2 December 2023
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