Fun kayak excursion even in the cold. Beautiful lake.
Embark on a premium Franz Josef kayak adventure, set upon the reflective waters of Lake Mapourika. It's a unique and unbeatable kayak experience!
The lake sits to the north of the township and is the largest one in the Westland Tai Poutini National Park. It's a kettle lake formed by the retreating glacier which left behind a massive block of ice 14,000 years ago. Now, it's home to an abundance of birdlife including the rare crested grebe, mallard duck, and black swans.
Enjoy 3 hours of gentle exercise and an unbeatable panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. See untouched Jurassic rainforest reflected on the glassy waters and enjoy the sound of native birdsong.
You'll also cruise along a narrow estuary amidst the lush ancient rainforest of the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary. It's home to New Zealand's rarest Kiwi, the rowi, with an estimated population of fewer than 500 birds. It's the only place you'll find this species and is exclusively accessed by kayak – so keep your eyes peeled!
Upgrade your experience with the Kayak & Walk combo, where you'll enjoy exclusive access to a private rainforest trail within the Rowi conservation area, learn about the kiwi conservation and spot native birdlife. You'll get up close and personal with South Westland’s oldest untouched Jurassic age rainforest, curious native birds and maybe even learn some new flax weaving skills with your local, knowledgeable guide.
Total Reviews and rating
The entire trip was amazing and everything was well organized
It was an awesome experience! Our tour guide was awesome too.
Loved it, would give it more than 5 stars if we could. Would 100% recommend
You should definitely take the time and book this trip!
My partner and I loved the trip! It was a beautiful experience
It was great from start to finish. It was my first time and It was a Blast
Fantastic tour. Our guide was fabolous, can't recommend it enough.
Highly recommend this trip! Worth every penny!
Highly recommended trip! One the most beautiful experience of my life.
Like true west coasters – we get out there rain or shine! Rain is the main ingredient in our beautiful temperate rainforest. Lake Mapourika often remains dry while it is raining in town due to being a greater distance from the Southern Alps. We provide full wet weather gear (jackets and pants) to keep you warm and dry.
Bring a snack, a water bottle, camera (if you want your own photos as well as our FREE photos), sunglasses and sunscreen. We recommend no denim, just comfortable pants and footwear.
If they fit our life jackets, they can come along! The youngest explorer we’ve had to date was 1 year old. We always recommend the morning trip times when booking with young children as this is the calmest time of day for paddling. Infants (under 3 years) must join one of our Kayak Discovery Tours.
Yes, this is fine and very common. We will fit you with a PFD suitable for your size. Our guides are trained and qualified in all aspects of paddling instruction and your safety on the water. Our company is Safety Audited through Outdoorsmark NZ. It’s extremely unlikely that you might end up in the water.