Bioluminescence Kayak Tour - Est. 1994
Description
Experience nature’s most enchanting light show with our 2 hour 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 mesmerising glow of the smallest marine creatures. Glide through tranquil waters under the starlit sky and witness other-worldly bioluminescence up close. Perfect for families, friends, or solo explorers. It's very rare for us not to see at least one type of bioluminescence. In the rare case that bio isn't visible we offer either a 50% refund or a complimentary repeat tour. Suitable for children 11 years+ accompanied by an adult. Please contact Canoe & Kayak directly before booking if you wish to take younger children. Our tour has a ratio of 1 GUIDE TO 6 CUSTOMERS, ensuring safety is the priority and every participant gets outstanding personal service. *Lack of bio must be verified by the guide on the night. See our website for tour FAQs.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy a night paddle in the protected waters of the Long Bay - Okura Marine Reserve.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please bring a towel, quick-drying clothing, suitable footwear, and a change of clothes for after the tour
- Kayaking is a wet sport – you should expect to get wet. Wear clothes that can handle splashes
- All of our tour locations are accessible with Uber/Taxi. Or, use AT Journey Planner if using public transportation.
- Moonlight Notice: Moonlight affects this tour and how brightly you will see bioluminescence. When the moon is brighter, the glow can be more subtle, but still visible. We recommend booking near a new moon or on nights with later moonrise for the best effect. Please check the Moon Calendar before booking. In November–April, the glow is often strong enough to enjoy on most nights. These popular dates do fill fast, so booking ahead is a good idea.
- THE LOCATION WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU BEFORE 10 AM THE DAY OF YOUR TOUR. PLEASE ENSURE YOU HAVE ACCESS TO THE EMAIL ADDRESS YOU USED FOR THE BOOKING.
Reviews(204)
If you ever get the chance to experience the bioluminescent waters off Auckland’s North Shore—take it. And if you can do it with Canoe & Kayak Adventures, even better. What made this night truly unforgettable wasn’t just the surreal glow lighting up every paddle stroke—it was Paul and Matt. These two didn’t just guide a tour; they elevated the entire experience into something that felt personal, effortless, and genuinely special. From the moment we arrived at Waiake Beach, their energy was calm, welcoming, and quietly confident—the kind that instantly makes you feel like you’re in the best hands possible. Out on the water, they struck that rare balance: giving us space to soak in the magic while also sharing just enough insight, stories, and humor to deepen the moment without ever overwhelming it. Every question was met with enthusiasm, every detail handled seamlessly, and every guest made to feel like part of something unique. And then there was the bioluminescence itself—like paddling through a sky full of stars that had somehow slipped into the ocean. Every movement created this glowing ripple, and somehow, Paul and Matt made sure we experienced it in the most immersive, unhurried way possible. This wasn’t just a tour. It was one of those rare experiences that stays with you—equal parts awe, peace, and quiet excitement. Massive thanks to Paul for turning a beautiful natural phenomenon into something truly unforgettable. If you’re even thinking about it—just go. And hope you get these two legends as your guides.
Wow! What an awesome review. This means a lot. We’re glad you got to experience the magic of the bioluminescence...it really is something special out there. Even better to hear that Paul and Matt helped make the night feel relaxed, personal, and memorable. I'll be happy to pass this message on to them.
I'm not sure what your justification will be for yet another bad moon experience after reading many of the others complaining about the same issue. This was the only date we could do it with the other company unavailable so we gave it a go anyway, with regret. The moon was indeed big and bright, the water shines so much and you can barely see specks. Unless you guys can take us into caves or something i'm not sure how rafting us up to make shadows helps a bad situation when you are mostly thinking about being wet, cold and mostly unsatisfied.
There is always a level of uncertainty when working with natural phenomena. We cannot simply cancel tours based on the moon phase alone. For example, a small crescent moon can sometimes be very bright depending on atmospheric conditions, while a full moon may not rise until late in the tour or may be obscured by clouds. Our team monitors conditions closely and uses experience and judgement when making decisions about whether to run a tour. In many cases, we have delivered excellent bioluminescence experiences under a wide range of moon conditions. Because these factors can vary from night to night, we now label full moon dates on our booking calendar so guests can make an informed choice about when they would prefer to join us.
I was reluctant again because I already try this last season, but my friends make me try one more. Still no improvement. Once a mistake, twice a coincidence...I won't be back third time
We take comments like yours seriously and are always working to improve our service each season. During the week this review was posted, our guides reported strong bioluminescence sightings on multiple tours, so we would like to better understand your specific experience. Could you please contact us directly with your tour and booking date so we can investigate further? For transparency, we do offer a 50% refund or a complimentary repeat tour if bioluminescence is not seen, provided this is verified by your tour guide on the night. This helps ensure fairness for all guests, as conditions can vary naturally.
Amazing experience! A must do! Seeing the big blue was just ocean magic! Purple team was a vibe on Saturday night and I can’t thank Keith enough for being the best tour guide! His leadership, kindness, knowledge on EVERYTHING. Was truly mind blowing and learnt so much from you. Also thank you to Jane who I paired up with she was a blessing to me. Thank you Keith for making this experience the most memorable 🫶🏼 Purple 5 signing out 💜
What an absolute joy it was hosting this experience for you and your friends. Keith will be super happy to hear this support and feedback from you.
A very well organised and safety conscious activity. Great, friendly and experienced guides. The group max of 6 is the perfect number out on the water. I would recommend going to anyone who has never experienced kayaking in the dark. A really great gift idea (we took 2 kids for their 16th birthday).
It was a pleasure bringing your family out kayaking. Thanks for joining us and leaving a review!
We saw the bioluminescence! It was amazing! Beautiful sky also. Great night!
Thanks for letting us share it with you! We hope to see you on a day tour :)
It was an incredible night! Josh was super cool and had all sorts of tricks that really helped us see more blue! The stars were out in full view as well. Seriously couldn't have asked for better. Make sure you bring shoes you don't mind getting wet though, and please read the instructions on the email! 🙂
Thanks for the review. I'm glad your guide showed you our tricks for creating different displays of bio. It's great when you have a clear sky - stars in the water and the sky!
It was a fantastic night paddle conducted by a well-organised and friendly crew. We felt in absolutely safe hands! We went with our pre-teenage grand children, and they found it very exciting. Even for us locals it was awesome to be out on the water in front of Long Bay/Torbay in the dark, enjoying the bioluminescence as well as the night sky.
Thanks for the review! Sounds like you had a nice, cruisy tour. I'm glad you were well taken care of. Thanks for joining us.
Only nice thing on our tour was the moon, but that's not what we paid for and it made for poor viewing so the guides tried to get us to bunch up to make dark shadows so we could only just see it in the water with some sparse sparkles
We’re sorry to hear the experience didn’t meet your expectations. Bioluminescence is a natural phenomenon and levels can vary from night to night. Our guides use a range of techniques to help bring it out — including finding darker areas, using natural features like cliffs for shadow, and helping your eyes adjust so you can get the best possible view on the night.
I’d give it five stars but there wasn’t enough info about gear for when I was packing. 1. You don’t need to be super fit, if you can sit on a low bench and get back up, you are good, 2. You will get wet and a bit muddy, you can still get an uber (they give you a garbage bag to sit on), 3. Plastic slides, crocs, water shoes are a must, 4. Clothes that dry quick are best. Other than that, you will stay in the estuary and not go out to sea, there are zero scary wildlife situations, 5. The guides are lovely and the water is spectacular.
Thanks for the review and for sharing your tips — we’re really glad you enjoyed the experience, especially the guides and the time on the water! Just to clarify for future paddlers, we do send out a detailed gear list before the tour and include guidance like expecting to get wet (it is kayaking after all!), suitable footwear options (old shoes, water shoes), and wearing quick-dry clothing — no jeans, plus warm layers like fleece or merino, and a windproof or rain jacket. We also operate across a few different locations, so while some tours are in sheltered estuary environments, others are along the coastline where we stay close to shore.
