Bioluminescence Kayak Tour – Auckland
Discover the Magic of Bioluminescence on Our Kayak Tour!
Experience nature’s most enchanting light show with our bioluminescence kayak tour. As the sun dips below the horizon, join us for a serene and awe-inspiring evening paddle, where you’ll witness the mesmerizing glow of the smallest marine creatures.
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What to Expect?
- A Magical Evening: Glide through tranquil waters under the starlit sky and witness the other-worldly brilliance of bioluminescence up close.
- Unforgettable Adventure: Perfect for families, friends, or solo explorers. Our knowledgeable and friendly guides ensure a comfortable, safe and memorable experience.
- Two Hours of Wonder: Enjoy a peaceful two-hour tour as you discover the glow of bioluminescent organisms in their natural habitat.
What is Bioluminescence?
Bioluminescence is a captivating natural reaction that produces light within an organism’s body. Bioluminescent plankton light up the evening, creating a dazzling display of natural wonder.
Chance of Seeing Bioluminescence
With over a 95% chance of spotting bioluminescence our tour promises an extraordinary experience that you won’t forget. If you happen to be unlucky and be on one of the 5% trips that don’t see bioluminescence, we offer a complimentary repeat trip. Conditions apply*.
Please Note
- Our standard kayaks in our fleet will take most paddlers pretty well! However, if you weigh over 120 kg please let us know so we can make sure that we can best accommodate you with a comfortable time while on tour with us!
- A reasonable level of fitness is required i.e. happy to walk nonstop for 30 minutes and able to sit on the ground and get back up unaided. If you have any doubts about being fit enough, please call one of the Canoe & Kayak team for a chat and they will let you know if the tour is for you.
Join Us
Come and embark on this spectacular adventure! Experience the glow of bioluminescence and create unforgettable memories with your loved ones or on your own. The tour is suitable for children 11 years and over but must be accompanied by an adult. Younger children are welcome but you must contact Canoe & Kayak directly before booking.
Canoe & Kayak Ltd have been operating kayak tours since 1994 and is still owned by Peter Townend an original founder. You will often find Peter leading or supporting these trips.
As the Managing Director he insists on a very low guide ratio of 1 GUIDE TO 6 CUSTOMERS, this ensures that safety is first and that every participant gets personal service that is second to none.
*Lack of bioluminescence must be verified by the guide on the night.
From our gallery
Tour Plan
What’s Included?
- All kayaking and safety equipment
- Stable sea kayaks or sit-on-tops are used
- All tuition from our experienced qualified kayak guides
- A guaranteed great time!
What to bring:
- Swimming togs and Towel
- Warm extra layers; avoid wearing cotton/denim jeans
- A lightweight windbreaker/raincoat is recommended
- Well-fitting wet shoes (old sand shoes) for kayaking, and walking shoes
- Water bottle
- Personal medication, waterproof camera, and polaroid sunglasses
- Spare warm clothes to change into when finished.
- For Spring & Autumn Tours (Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr), make sure to have extra warm layers and a beanie.
Tour Location
The tour is based just 25 minutes north of Auckland in the Long Bay Okura Marine Reserve, which is boarded by the Long Bay Regional Park, the Okura Bush Scenic Reserve, Karepiro Esplanade Reserve, Dacre Cottage Historic Reserve.
Meeting location:
The 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. This allows us to see the most up to date forecast and get the best location for your viewing pleasure. The weather in Auckland changes quickly and predicting these changes is best done as close to the activities time. If you need more advanced notice for any reason please contact us.
Magnificent night out
I had a magnificent night out on the water. It was 100% worth the time and money. It was my first time to see bioluminescence in person, and what a treat it was.
Willem H
This is such a worthwhile experience. The guides were wonderful and spent time explaining things to us, giving helpful tips and pointing out things. They didn’t hurry us along which was great. Thoroughly recommend.
Anne
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!
Ljv
This adventure was amazing. Our guides were amazing! We had the pleasures of experiencing two different types of bio plankton, one of which most of our guides hadn’t been able to experience themselves. The vibe was great for our group of 12 too. You will get wet, it’s not a bad thing, just you’re on the ocean with waves (and you have to get the kayak into the shallows of the beach), so plan accordingly for clothing and/or bring a change of clothes! Our guides made sure everyone was comfortable and able to be successful when kayaking too, even for beginners but it is a work out, so be prepared to work a little to get out of the bay (small waves/wind). 10000% this was amazing, we would do it again in an instant. Double perk for our adventure was star gazing, seeing all the starts over the ocean was fantastic too.