8 Island Kayak Tours in New Zealand Worth Booking

1.Sunset kayak tour to Rangitoto Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 168 reviews · from $152Our pick

From Auckland’s Museum Circuit, you’ll learn basic sea-kayaking skills, paddle roughly 5 kilometers to Rangitoto, eat a Kiwi BBQ, and hike to the summit for sunset. Guides such as Daniel, Byron, Elle, and Eric lead small groups of up to eight. The return paddle is in the dark, with city lights ahead.

“It was a once in a lifetime experience! Challenging with the winds, but our guide Tony was amazing and made sure we had a great and safe trip. He was very knowledgeable about local wildlife and geology.”

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2.Whangamata: Donut Island Guided Kayaking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 143 reviews · 2 hours · from $62Best value

Paddle 600 metres from Whangamata Beach to Donut Island, also called Whenuakura, with a small English-speaking group and guides such as Dylan, Hannah, Mauro, or G. Expect a turquoise lagoon, volcanic rock, native wildlife, and a possible swim. Rough water can block the island entrance, so the tour may visit another beach for kawakawa tea instead.

“Highly recommend! Great day on the water into a cave. Tour guide was lovely”

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3.Day Cruise & Island Tour – Snorkel/Wildlife/Paddleboard/Islands

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 121 reviews · from $89

Spend 3.5 hours cruising the Bay of Islands with a small group of up to 22 people. Stop at Roberton Island and a second island chosen for the weather, then hike, swim, snorkel, or paddleboard. Guides such as Zac, Nicola, Cass, and Josh add local history and practical help along the way.

“Nice island hopping in a small & tranquil group. Great crew who gave some nice explanations about the environment, provided a warm atmosphere and where very helpful. Perfect balance between sailing, exploring and swimming.”

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4.Day sea kayak tour Rangitoto Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 79 reviews · from $152

Paddle across Waitemata Harbour from St. Heliers to Rangitoto Island, hike for about an hour to the volcanic summit, then refuel with a catered Kiwi BBQ before kayaking back. No experience is required, and guides such as Daniel, Chloe, Eric, and Richard provide instruction and safety support. Expect roughly 10 to 11 kilometres of paddling.

“We had an amazing day with Daniel! He’s an amazing guide and knew so much about the plant life, birds and answered any questions we had. The kayak ride was nice and leisurely. The water was quite calm and the weather was ideal. The hRead more”

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5.Auckland: Sunset & Night Sea Kayak Tour to Rangitoto Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $138

Paddle from St Heliers Beach to Rangitoto Island with an English-speaking guide and a group of no more than nine. Hike 2.5 km to the summit for sunset, eat a Kiwi BBQ with hot and cold drinks, then kayak back by city light. Guides such as Daniel, Dan, Eric, and Kobey have been praised for safety, instruction, and good humor.

“Fantastic trip! Kayaking across, hiking up Rangitoto, running down (optional!), then jumping in for a swim before dinner was great fun. The best was kayaking at night on the way back with some waves. Quite an experience!”

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6.Rangitoto Island: Sea Kayak & Summit Hike Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 31 reviews · from $144

Paddle from St Heliers Bay across Waitemata Harbor with an English-speaking guide, then hike Rangitoto’s volcanic summit for 360-degree Auckland views. Guides such as Tony, Ben, Daniel, and Eric have led memorable trips, with a barbecue lunch, hot drinks, and kayaking gear included. Pickup is available from the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

“Amazing day, challenging kayaking conditions but perfect by the time we reached Rangitoto. Also delicious lunch and very knowledgeable guide”

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7.Auckland: Browns Island (Motukorea) Sea Kayak Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 22 reviews · 4 hours · from $89

Meet your English-speaking guide at St Heliers Beach for a four-hour paddle to uninhabited Motukorea, also called Browns Island. After a 30-minute safety briefing, you kayak across the Hauraki Gulf, walk around the volcanic island, and return by water. Guides such as Ryan and Legend have been praised for calm, friendly instruction.

“Excellent day on the water kayaking with Ben and Hailey, panoramic views on the island”

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8.Auckland: Half-Day Sea Kayak Tour to Motukorea Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 4h 30m · from $116

Kayak from St Heliers Beach to Motukorea, also called Browns Island, with an English-speaking guide and a maximum of eight people. You’ll get safety instruction, equipment, snacks, and time to climb the extinct volcano for views of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf. No previous kayaking experience is needed.

“This activity was amazing!! Our guide, Daniel was so kind and informative. He was such a big help in getting us set up in our kayak and getting to go. The kayak ride was about an hour there and back, and it was smooth water so it wasn’t difficult. The island was GORGEOUS. We hiked to the top of the volcano and the views were truly spectacular. It’s a small and beautiful island with the greenest grass I’ve ever seen. I definitely recommend this tour!”

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