Top South Island Kayaking Tours

Tour the western end of Queen Charlotte Sound on a half-day paddling adventure from Picton. Settle into your sea kayak and follow an expert guide from the waterfront to sheltered coves and remote beaches. Search the waters for eagles rays, cormorants, little blue penguins, New Zealand fur seals and dolphins while you learn about the natural history of the Marlborough Sounds. Numbers are limited to ensure a small-group experience.

See the exquisite Marlborough Sounds from the water during a full-day adventure by sea kayak. Depart from the Picton waterfront and prepare to be wowed as you paddle past secluded coves along the western end of Queen Charlotte Sound. Your knowledgeable guide points out marine life such as eagles rays, cormorants, little blue penguins, New Zealand fur seals and more. Stop at a sheltered beach for a delicious lunch with locally sourced ingredients. Numbers are limited to ensure a small-group experience.

Active travelers seeking an easy, family-friendly outdoor adventure will enjoy this half-day kayaking tour of the Abel Tasman National Park coastline. Departing from Marahau, you’ll paddle to the dramatic Split Apple Rock, enjoying beautiful views along the way. Check out sea caves and look out for birds, including graceful cormorants. This is roughly a three-hour tour.

Explore the serene waters of Lake Mapourika in New Zealand’s glacier country on this kayak adventure from Franz Joseph Glacier. Paddle with your guide out onto Lake Mapourika, widely considered one of western New Zealand’s most scenic spots. Enjoy uninterrupted views as your guide explains the region’s fascinating geology, and marvel at the way the mighty Southern Alps are mirrored perfectly in the calm waters. Head into the estuaries of the Okarito Kiwi Sanctuary, and discover some of the country’s oldest untouched rainforest as native birds sing overhead.

This full-day adventure includes a 'funyak' (inflatable canoe) and jet boat ride on the Dart River, situated amid the untamed beauty of UNESCO-listed Mount Aspiring National Park. Travel by coach from Queenstown to Glenorchy, where you speed upriver on a thrilling jet boat before climbing aboard an easy-to-handle funyak. No previous experience is necessary and you paddle with several passengers in a flotilla behind your guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off plus picnic lunch and all equipment are included.

Upon reaching Milford Sound, board a luxurious catamaran. Peer through panoramic windows of a luxury coach while you travel through the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park with a guide, before a memorable sightseeing cruise by Mitre Peak and the magnificent cliff-side waterfalls of Milford Sound.

Cruise Milford Sound and explore New Zealand’s Fiordland on a full-day trip from Queenstown by luxury coach. See some of the South Island’s most dramatic scenery through the glass roof of the coach, then cruise past towering waterfalls and seal colonies to the Tasman Sea, choosing between open decks and cabins that are comfortable in any weather. With pickup and drop-off at selected hotels in Queenstown, this Milford Sound trip is a spectacular day of scenery and wildlife in Fiordland National Park.

Visit ‘The Lord of the Rings’ filming locations in Glenorchy, traveling by 4WD with an informative guide. Departing Queenstown for Middle-earth in the morning or afternoon, this half-day tour includes stunning countryside landscapes chosen by director Peter Jackson. See where famous scenes were filmed, such as the Fortress of Isengard, Lothlorien, Ithilien Camp and Forest of Amon Hen. Enjoy light refreshments and personalized attention on this small-group tour, limited to six passengers per vehicle.

Travel from Akaroa Harbour on this shore excursion through the Banks Peninsula to Christchurch, whose city center was devastated by the 2011 earthquake. Drive past city landmarks in the old CBD and stroll the Christchurch Botanic Gardens with a knowledgeable guide. En route, take in the scenic splendor of the Southern Alps and the Canterbury Region.

See the glowworm caves of Te Anau on an underground adventure sure to charm visitors of all ages. An informative guide joins you on the 2hour and 15 minute Te Anau glowworm caves tour, starting with a cruise across Lake Te Anau. Then marvel at the shimmering illumination of thousands of glowworms as you glide through the quiet darkness of this magical underground world.

Board the TSS "Earnslaw," a vintage steamship, for an evening cruise on Queenstown’s scenic Lake Wakatipu. Arriving at Walter Peak High Country Farm, you’re treated to a sumptuous barbecue dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead. Sink your teeth into roasted meats and seafood, homemade desserts, and a New Zealand cheeseboard. After dinner, see farm demonstrations or purchase a drink and simply relax in the bar.

Arguably the most scenic destination in New Zealand, Milford Sound offers a sweeping landscape of jagged snow-capped mountains, shimmering fjords and lakes, towering waterfalls and emerald greenery. Travel with a small group by coach from Queenstown to Fiordland National Park to explore this lush wilderness, including a boat cruise on the Milford Sound. You also see The Remarkables mountain range, Lake Wakatipu—New Zealand's longest lake, and Lake Te Anau—the South Island’s the largest lake.

Let a professional and courteous driver collect you from the Queenstown airport, help you with your luggage and drop you off at the doorstep of your accommodation. This shared transfer to your Queenstown hotel offers a hassle-free arrival. Shuttles stop just outside baggage claim. Airport transfers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Take a jet boat ride on the Shotover River during an extreme ride, and make use of transport from Queenstown. Experience adrenaline-fueled fun as the jet boat skims the water’s surface at high speed and fishtails into 360-degree spins. Hold on tight as the captain maneuvers the jet boat over rapids and through narrow canyons during one heart-pounding adventure you won’t soon forget.

Located in the heart of Fiordland National Park, Milford Sound forms part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. Explore the stunning fiord by air and water during a half-day excursion. The exhilarating, round-trip helicopter flight from Queenstown includes a glacier landing on Mt. Tutoko. Perhaps spot dolphins, seals, and penguins during an unforgettable cruise.

Explore the coast of Kaikoura from a unique perspective – by kayak. Paddle through protected waters to see an array of wildlife, potentially including dolphins, seals and even whales (in season). With small group sizes and a certified guide leading the way, this half-day tour is perfect for nature lovers who want the chance to get up close with some of New Zealand's most iconic animals.

Explore the Kaikoura coast on a hands-free kayak tour with an experienced guide. Use your feet to pedal your boat, so your hands are free to snap photos of New Zealand fur seals and the scenic shoreline. Choose one of three kayak tours: follow a route to the best spots for viewing seals, penguins and albatross, watch a New Zealand sunset on the water, or opt for a shorter, little-kid friendly spin along the coast. Encounter the South Island’s distinctive wildlife up close in a natural environment that’s unforgettably beautiful.

Channel your inner Hobbit and enjoy outdoor adventure in the heart of New Zealand on this 4-hour Hobbit barrel run rafting tour on the Pelorus River. Pull on your wetsuit and hop aboard your raft, then drift onto the Pelorus River — made famous in the 2013 movie ‘The Desolation of Smaug.’ Stop off at filming locations used in the making of the movie to hear of the ways in which the film was shot, and listen as your guide sheds light on the region’s milling and mining heritage.

Spend your time in port in Akaroa on a small-group shore excursion, sea kayaking around the harbor. Bask in the scenery of remote bays and inlets, and catch a glimpse of local marine life, including penguins, orcas, and endangered Hector’s dolphins. You’ll paddle for three hours with a guide through the basin of an extinct volcano and stop for a snack and swim at a coastal beach. This tour departs within walking distance of the cruise port.

The east coast of the Abel Tasman National Park is lined with white-sand beaches, wild bushlands, and wildlife-filled islands. On this tour, explore the natural landscapes by land and sea, starting with a thrilling kayaking excursion around the islands. Arrive at Observation Beach and enjoy lunch by the beachside, then set out on a scenic hike through the park, following bushland trails, passing streams, and enjoying stunning views along the coast.

Skip the crowded ferry around Abel Tasman National Park and choose a more hands-on, down-to-earth way of exploring the coast on this waka paddling tour. Paddle up to Toka Ngawhā (Split Apple Rock) with your small group and immerse yourself in Māori culture and customs along the way, learning karakia, paddle commands and a waka salute – all in te reo Māori.

Discover remote bays and native marine wildlife in New Zealand on this 3-hour sea kayak tour from Akaroa. Following an orientation session, paddle out onto the waters around Akaroa’s extinct volcanic basin with your guide. Test your newfound sea kayaking skills in the shallows of the harbor. Then, head out onto the gently rolling waves and enjoy panoramic views over the rugged coastline. Watch the skies for native birdlife such as heron, egrets, oystercatchers and bitterns, and keep an eye on the waves for sightings of playful seals and dolphins.

Swap your cruise ship for a kayak on this 3-hour shore excursion from Akaroa and enjoy a thrilling close encounter with native wildlife. Paddle your way around remote bays, inlets and sandy beaches; admire the dramatic scenery of the once-active volcano basin; then cool off with a swim. Along the way, keep a lookout for some of New Zealand’s rarest wildlife sightings, including Hector Dolphins, penguins and orca whales.

This Milford Sound cruise in UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park stops at the Milford Sound Underwater Observatory, accessible only by boat. Your morning cruise on a smaller boat travels outside of peak hours, offering prime viewing and more time on the water than other tours. Hear informative commentary from our passionate skippers on board, and enjoy a provided picnic lunch. Upgrade to include a kayak excursion and paddle Harrison Cove in a small-group limited to 8 people.