Taupo Tours
Kayak the Waikato River Taupo
4.5

Kayak the Waikato River Taupo

By Taupo Kayaking Adventures
Recommended by 94% of travelers
94% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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About

Ages 0-99, max of 16 per group
Duration: 2h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More


  • Full instructions and commentary
  • Professional and experienced guide
  • Top quality kayaking equipment
  • Safety gear
  • Muffins or a light refreshment
  • Coffee and/or Tea
  • Transport to starting Point: On request only (if you don't have your own car) Call to arrange.
  • Gear List: Please refer to our Gear list tab on our website for what to wear and bring.


Start:
  • Gates Park, Rangatira Park, Taupō 3330, New Zealand
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

    • Wheelchair accessible
    • Stroller accessible
    If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 36755P2

    • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
    • Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
    • Most travelers can participate
    • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
    • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled 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 travelers

    • 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: 36755P2

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    About the operator
    Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
    • Taupo Kayaking Adventures
      267
      Taupo, New Zealand
      Joined in December 2013
    • Culture36885698794
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great time and a good workout 🛶
      Sensational scenery, awesome artifacts and I couldn't have asked for a better tour guide. It was so relaxing to be out on the lake, I haven't felt that calm in a while. I also really enjoyed learning about the history / meaning behind the various carvings and statues we saw from the kayak. Good workout and an even better time. 10/10 would do again.
      Written September 22, 2024
    • RandyOToole
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Valentine’s Day, what else would you be doing…
      Under the watchful eyes of Shane & Ollie, our team of 2 x pairs rowed across a very calm Lake Taupo on a beautiful summer’s day. With very little kayaking experience between us and a c.10km voyage to navigate, we were in safe hands all the way. The mid-point stopover for coffee, muffins and a dip in the lake broke things up nicely for us. And thankfully there was a back-up motor option for let’s say pair #2 to keep up with the main flotilla…Ollie was standout in getting Huey & Duey back on track. Thanks again guys - you made it a great experience!
      Written April 18, 2024
    • catherineee1
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Self guided morning to Mine Bay Rock Carvings
      Great morning out on Lake Taupo! We hadn’t booked, but just rocked up and knocked on the door where a lovely guy helped us to rent the kayak. Based on other reviews, we did ask about the rudder which was a little bit sticky on two of the kayaks we were offered, but worked absolutely fine once out in the water. Took about an hour 10 mins to get to the Mine Bay Rock Carvings and we were really lucky to be the only ones out there!! Water was really flat and the kayak was relatively easy to moderate
      Written April 3, 2024
    • Journey53694693156
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Taupo kayak adventures
      I was so stoked to be able to do this trip. The views and scenery were super cool and the staff were kind and helpful and had heaps of awesome facts which made the trip interesting. Big thank you to the team over at Taupo kayak adventures for the trip and being so accommodating they are a really good bunch. I would 100% recommend this trip to anybody in the Taupo area it was an awesome way to spend the day.
      Written February 3, 2024
    • lizf660
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      New Years paddle
      We hired kayaks and went on our own. The booking and information before paddling was good. We had a great morning out paddling around to the carvings and sitting on the beach for a while. The lake had lots of interesting things happening on it being New Year. Lisa changed our singles to a double kayak which was great. Made paddling very easy. Lisa also gave some good information about other activities to do in the area
      Written January 4, 2024
    • Carjusripsing
      0 contributions
      3.0 of 5 bubbles
      Check tour running before booking online as they dont update their website
      We tried to book a number of tours using their online booking which happily took our money but the tours were not running. Our money was refunded but a lot of wasted time and thought this must be a backyard operation of which it actually is. We ended up hiring kayaks from them and doing our own paddle to the caves which is very easy where the tour guide is not required if your competent on a kayak. The lake is ok but very windy trip paddling to the carvings. Nice seeing snow capped mountain in the distance over the lake.
      Written January 4, 2024
    • paulaoG859YC
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Sunday out!
      We did this tour on Sunday 17th December and we were nervous going into it as I’m 4 months pregnant and not super fit. It was a great day activity where we both were able to have a great time and get some exercise. The motor didn’t work perfectly but that was fine and we had a good laugh trying to sort it. The carvings were amazing and the little tea break was just what we needed :) I also loved the splash skirts! Very handy for someone who was worried about feeling freezing out on the water!
      Written December 17, 2023
    • Josh H
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      An amazing morning trip!
      Absolutely amazing trip on a beautiful sunny day. Our guide was phenomenal and made us feel super comfortable and safe throughout - with brilliant knowledge and stories about the area. The kayaking was very fun and a moderate physical workout! But it did have a motor if we needed it, so no issues if you need a break! Would wholeheartedly recommend!
      Written October 10, 2023
    • SarahtheJerseygirl
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great experience with a brilliant guide
      Janet was a brilliant guide and we had a great paddle over to the carvings, then a lovely stop on the way back with drinks and muffins. Brilliant trip - thank you!
      Written September 30, 2023
    • 16marshalr
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Great Kayak to carvings
      Great trip with knowledgeable guide. Had the jacket, life vests and skirt that made it much more pleasant. The 10k trip was a nice workout for us, has motor for guests that get tired. The carvings are great and Linda has unique insight from people related to the carvers. Beautiful setting on Lake Taupo.
      Written August 12, 2023
    • holidays24yay
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      This tour was absolutely fantastic!
      The water was so calm on the way out to the carvings and the rest stop was wonderful. On the way back, there was heavy rainfall and waves which just made the experience even more memorable. We want to say a huge thank you to our guide, Pallidon (sorry if that is spelt wrong!) for being so wonderful throughout this activity. He had great knowledge, stories, and fun facts about the lake and New Zealand in general, which made our experience so much better.
      Written May 14, 2023
    • LilShroom
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Memorable in so many ways.
      My whanau and I had a wonderful experience with Legend and Joe. They gave me lots of calm reassurance and the knowledge to be able to kayak confidently. Seeing Ngatoroirangi was awe-inspiring, even more so with the added background that Legend shared with us during our journey. Ka Mau te Wehi!
      Written March 1, 2023
    • picol_13
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      The stuff of Legend
      Our guide Legend, made this trip special. He was so knowledgeable, jovial and kind. A pleasure to be with. Even without Legend though, the lake is gorgeous. Crystalline water that changes color with the passing clouds and sun rays. We thought it would be a silly touristy thing to do, but it actually expanded a place in our hearts for Taupo.
      Written February 28, 2023
    • Kayleen A
      0 contributions
      4.0 of 5 bubbles
      Experience to be had on Taupo
      Our guides were well organised and equipment was first class. Our expectations as far as view was different but not bad.
      Written February 22, 2023
    • GlobeTrotting688670
      0 contributions
      5.0 of 5 bubbles
      Fun!
      So fun! Even with slightly rainy weather we went out and had a blast! Our instructor Legend was very informative about the culture and a really nice guy!
      Written February 10, 2023
    See all 267 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 wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

    Popular mentions

    4.5
    4.5 of 5 bubbles19 reviews
    Excellent
    16
    Very good
    2
    Average
    0
    Poor
    0
    Terrible
    1

    Casey G
    Cambridge, New Zealand187 contributions
    1.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2023
    Prices on this website are wrong and they will not honour the listed prices. We we so disappointed- we came to Trip Advisor to plan our holiday and liked the look of this trip. When I went to book the prove went up 25% or so. I contacted the company and they would not honour the Trip Advisor price. So disappointed we decided to spend our op money elsewhere.
    Written January 8, 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.
    Hi Casey, Thank you for your response, unfortunately, we are sorry we couldn't grant these prices for you - around the time of this review being posted we were in the process of changing our prices, so this error was more than likely miss-communicated with our admin team.
    Written May 28, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Saaga
    Auckland Central, New Zealand2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jun 2020
    This is my 1st time kayaking experience. Thanks to my instructor and to the good weather. Waikato river float will calm your mind for sure. A serene and beautiful experience. We stopped at a hot pool for about 20 minutes. At the end, the team was waiting with muffins, hot chocolate, coffee and tea.
    Written June 3, 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.
    Hi there, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. It is great to hear that you had a lovely and relaxing time with our guides on the Waikato River Float Trip. We hope that this is the first of many adventures kayaking for you! Many thanks again.
    Written January 20, 2021
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Brendan579
    Martinborough, New Zealand5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2023
    We spent a wonderful day with Legend kayaking the Waikato and visiting the Orakei Korako thermal park. We originally booked The Squeeze but we couldn't do it post Cyclone Gabrielle and so the company offered us the Waikato/Orakei Korako tour as a substitute and it was fabulous. Full marks … and a lovely lunch … ! Thanks, guys … !
    Written March 5, 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.
    Hi Brendan. We are very stoked to hear that you enjoyed your time on the river with Legend, and we will be sure to pass these words onto him! Thank you for taking the time to make a review.
    Written May 28, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Greg B
    Launceston, Australia25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A relaxing way to see the thermal springs and the beautiful river. Gentle paddle with teenage daughters.
    Written December 25, 2018
    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 Greg, Thank you for taking the time to leave a review. We are really glad that you and your family enjoyed and had a chance to unwind during the 'Waikato river float' tour! Thank you for coming on a tour with us.
    Written June 21, 2019
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    MrsWinter4
    Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK67 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2018 • Family
    I'm not a strong kayaker but I didn't need to be - this was a wonderful, gentle paddle down the Waikato river with lots of fun with the youngsters along the way! It's a great opportunity to see the Taupo Bungy from a different angle (we paused along the way to watch and listen to the screaming jumpers!) and the river current moves you along at a steady pace.
    Plenty of fun to be had for the youngsters - paddle splashing each other and even stand up 'kayak' boarding! Despite shouts of "Stand Up Auntie", I declined and remained safely seated whilst watching them paddling, wobbling and eventually falling in! Lifejackets are mandatory so it's all safe.
    There's an opportunity to stop on the way down to rest and relax in the hot, hot pools - what a treat for those who wanted to.
    Great way to spend an afternoon even when it started raining - even more magical in my view.
    Guides were knowledgeable, fun and strong enough to pull large adults back into their kayaks! And they provided hot drinks and fab chocolate muffins at the end!
    Written January 22, 2018
    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.
    We also think it is a great activity to do! Watching the Bungy is always a great laugh. Glad you had fun!
    Written March 9, 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Caroline D
    Wellington, New Zealand100 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We floated down the Waikato with Phillip, and it was a fantastic trip which my eight year old daughter and I really enjoyed. We shared a kayak and it was an easy trip, on the clear river. We stopped so my daughter could use a rope swing and jump into the river, and to enjoy the hot water springs and were met at the end by Jake with hot drinks and muffins. We enjoyed them, and another rope swing, while the guides packed up the kayaks. They also took photos and shared on FB, so we had pictures without risking our camera.
    I recommend this trip for a really enjoyable, kid friendly two hour trip while in Taupo.
    Written January 18, 2018
    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.
    So happy you enjoyed your float trip! You can never play on enough rope swings!
    Written March 9, 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Michelle
    Arbroath, UK85 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2020 • Couples
    A fabulous few hours kayaking slowly down stream (I’m not fully mobile but I still managed) stopped off at thermal pools (these were very busy) but it was a nice break from paddling the kayak. Guild takes pictures of the tour and we really enjoyed this trip. Definitely recommend.
    Written January 7, 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.
    Hi there. It's great to hear that you had relaxing trip on our Waikato River Float tour, the hotpool stop is definitely a great way to unwind. Thank you for the kind feedback.
    Written February 9, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Ash
    Napier, New Zealand6 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Oct 2017 • Family
    Really enjoyable float along the Waikato in kayaks; It was a great activity for our kids aged 10 and 11 years; we enjoyed the hot springs.
    Written October 25, 2017
    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.
    Glad you had a good time! The hot springs are awesome! thanks
    Written March 9, 2018
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    49Happygirl49
    Brisbane, Australia3 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Jan 2023 • Couples
    Beautiful river and enjoyable kayak! Joe was awesome guide and did an awesome job of giving us a tailored, professional experience. Some more information of where to meet sent to an email could be a bit better but it all worked out in the end!
    Written January 6, 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.
    Hi There, It is great to see that you enjoyed your time on the river with Joe, and we are happy to see you enjoyed his expertise. Furthermore, thank you for taking the time to make a review - we will be sure to reconsider the information sent out in the email to ensure it is easier for future customers to find where to meet. Hope to see you again soon!
    Written June 28, 2023
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

    Aaron W
    Orem, UT29 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Feb 2020
    A great trip, then scenery was beautiful and (very) well guided. Loved Rob as our guide: Happy, friendly, knowlegable
    Written February 12, 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.
    It's great to hear you had an enjoyable time paddling down the Waikato River. We will be sure to pass on your very kind words to Rob.
    Written February 18, 2020
    This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

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