Kayak into the night to experience the natural wonder of glowworms as they light up in the dark!
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 ($)
Very friendly staff who were extremely detailed during the tutorial before we got into the kayaks. They not only made it easy for kayak newbies to enjoy the experience, but also made the trip more interesting with their knowledge of the local village, plants, and especially the glowworms. Even though it was tiring and cold during the midway break, the hot drinks and snacks were so relaxing and got us prepared for the next part of the adventure. All in all, I highly recommend it—whether you’re from overseas or living in nearby cities, it’s always a fascinating adventure for a vacation.
Lovely tour. Well worth the money. Very serene way to experience glow worms, gently drifting down the river through the caves as they surround you. Tour guides were knowledgeable and made the experience interesting and enjoyable. The snacks and drinks were a nice touch. Good fun kayaking around.
Brilliant, informative tour hearing about and seeing native plants and wildlife as well as the history of the lake and area. Our guides were highly skilled and engaged, keeping us all entertained and feeling safe during our kayaking experience. The glow worms were incredible and we will be back again and again with more family and friends! Thanks so much to the staff for taking such good care of us all!
Great experience
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Jung sun Park from New Zealand wrote on 08 February 2026
Fantastic
Amazing, fantastic. Glow worms. Very good ,kind staff. It was good evening. Recommend this adventure.