Top Tauranga Kayaking Tours

Get active and enjoy New Zealand’s natural beauty on a kayak or canoe tour of Lake McLaren, near Tauranga. See native wildlife and learn about the ecosystem from your guide—something you'd miss on your own. Paddle along the tranquil lakeshore and through Mangapapa Canyon, admiring places you couldn’t reach any other way. Hotel pickup is available for added convenience. Cruise-ship passengers board an 18-seater canoe; other travelers use kayaks.

What sets this Waka Ama experience apart is the opportunity to connect with local Māori instructors while learning the basics of paddling and teamwork in a Waka Ama (outrigger canoe). Guests enjoy a welcoming, supportive environment, making it an easy and confidence-building way to cruise the ocean — perfect for those who may be nervous on the water. Along the way, instructors share the history of Waka Ama and voyaging, insights into Māori culture, and the values of caring for the land and sea, creating a personal, meaningful, and culturally rich adventure.

See the highlights of Rotorua on a full-day shore excursion from Tauranga. Travel to one of New Zealand’s most famous places, Rotorua. Spend the day exploring the otherworldly geothermal landscapes, visiting the Pohutu Geyser at Whakarewarewa, towering redwood trees, and the beautifully manicured Government Gardens. Also receive a traditional welcome at a Māori cultural village, and more. Guaranteed return to your ship at the end of the day.

What sets this Waka Ama Adventure apart is the opportunity to connect with our local Māori instructors and hear stories of our ancestors, their traditions, and the history of Waka Ama and voyaging. Guests paddle together as a crew along the coastline, explore a nearby beach, and take a short guided walk on Mauao while learning about the local environment and our values of caring for the land and sea. This combination of teamwork, activity, storytelling, and cultural insight creates a personal, meaningful, and memorable coastal adventure.