Kayaking Lake Rotoiti: Glowworm cave and hot pools soak

Lake Rotoiti at night: kayak, glowworms, hot pools, dinner

An evening kayaking activity on Lake Rotoiti in Rotorua where you paddle toward a glowworm cave, paddle to the Manupirua Hot Pools accessible only by water, eat a gourmet BBQ dinner, and soak in geothermal springs under the stars. The 4.5-hour outing includes a live guide, all meals and drinks, and a lengthy soak in the thermal waters.

The Experience

Lake Rotoiti fills with birdlife as you push off in your kayak in the evening. Your guide shares the myths woven into this landscape while you paddle toward the Glowworm cave, where bioluminescent creatures light the darkness like a scattered galaxy. The cave itself is the draw — those tiny glowing bodies are what make the paddle worthwhile, and they only show once the sun is gone.

After the cave, you paddle to Manupirua Hot Pools, a geothermal site reachable only by water. A gourmet Kiwi BBQ dinner waits there — freshly cooked, eaten on the shore with the lake and forest around you. Then comes the long soak: the thermal pools themselves are the point, and you have time to surrender to them while the moon and stars sit above the water. The warmth is therapeutic, the setting is remote, and the evening unfolds without the rush of a daytime schedule.

The activity runs 4.5 hours from start to finish. You'll need a moderate level of fitness for the paddling, though the pace is set by the guide and the group stays small. Bottled water and snacks come with you on the water; the BBQ dinner and the soak are the centerpiece. Hotel pickup and dropoff are available as an add-on option at checkout.

What’s included

• Bottled water and snacks during the paddle.
• a gourmet Kiwi BBQ dinner at the hot pools.
• a lengthy soak in the geothermal Manupirua Hot Pools.
• a live English-speaking guide who shares the myths and history of the area.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Waimarino Kayak Tours

Is this one for you?The evening timing is what makes the glowworm display visible and the stars bright above the soak — if you want both the cave's bioluminescence and the night sky, this is the only window. The water-only access to Manupirua means you experience the remoteness without driving; the kayak is the transport and the activity at once.

Traveler reviews

4.87★★★★★★★★★★

39 verified traveler reviews

5 ★36

4 ★2

3 ★0

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What are the glowworms like when you reach the cave on Lake Rotoiti?

The glowworms are bioluminescent creatures that emit an ethereal glow in the darkness, lighting up the cave like a galaxy of stars. They are only visible once the sun has set, which is why the evening timing of this activity matters — the display is the whole reason for paddling to the cave.

How do you get to the Manupirua Hot Pools?

The Manupirua Hot Pools are accessible only by water, so you paddle there by kayak across Lake Rotoiti after visiting the glowworm cave. There is no road access to the site, which is why the kayak is the way in.

What kind of dinner is included?

A gourmet Kiwi BBQ meal is cooked fresh and served at the hot pools site, eaten on the shore overlooking the lake. Bottled water and snacks are also included throughout the 4.5-hour activity.

Is hotel pickup available for this evening kayaking?

Hotel pickup and dropoff are available as a purchase option at checkout. You can book the kayaking activity alone or add the hotel transport when you reserve.

How long do you spend soaking in the hot pools?

You have a lengthy soak in the Manupirua Hot Pools after dinner, with time to relax in the therapeutic geothermal waters under the night sky. The total activity is 4.5 hours, and the soak is the final and unhurried part of the evening.

What fitness level do you need for this kayaking?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the paddling across Lake Rotoiti. The guide sets the pace and the group stays small, but the kayak operation itself requires some fitness and mobility.