After hotel pickup in Rotorua, you’re transferred to the kayaking headquarters for a safety briefing and paddle instructions provided by an experienced guide. From the launch site at nearby Lake Rotoiti, don a life jacket and climb into your kayak to paddle at a leisurely pace across the picturesque lake.
Follow your guide past holiday homes that sprinkle the lakeshore, and learn about regional history, Maori legends, and New Zealand's native flora. About halfway into your kayak excursion, arrive at natural hot springs where you can soak and swim in the pools fed by Lak Rotoiti's thermal waters.
At the hot pools, dig into a barbecue picnic that may include steak, gourmet sausages, a choice of salads and dessert.
After dinner, paddle to several caves that can only be reached by boat. Be mesmerized by the light of glowworms illuminating cavern walls, then continue to a second cave inhabited by koura—small freshwater crayfish. Marvel at the sunset reflected on the water and, as evening turns to dusk, follow your guide back to the boat launch.
Back at the base, you can change into dry clothing before being transported back to your Rotorua hotel.
